Volume I begins with a basic introduction into the general topic, in order to present the handbook's scope and implications and to specify the various situations where it is applicable in practice. Then all aspects of illegal trafficking of cultural goods are discussed from a de facto and de jure perspective: cultural theft, illegal export of valuable cultural goods belonging to the respective national heritage, looted art, cultural flight assets, stolen art and 'degenerate' art, illegal nationalization of art works and colonial cultural goods transfers.