The Book-Hunter in London Historical and Other Studies of Collectors and Collecting

About this book

The work is a scholarly survey of book‑collecting in London, first published in 1895 by the bibliographer William Roberts, author of The Earlier History of English Bookselling and Printers’ Marks. It opens with a transcriber's note on textual corrections, followed by a prefatory statement in which Roberts declares his aim to give a “comprehensive” yet necessarily selective account of the city’s collectors, booksellers, auctions and related customs. The contents list reveals a systematic structure, ranging from early “book‑hunting” after the invention of printing to chapters on women collectors, thieves, humorous catalogue entries, and a selection of modern bibliophiles. The introductory essay then sets the tone, contrasting the motives of genuine scholars with those driven by vanity or fashion, and promises a richly illustrated narrative supported by portraits, engravings and primary sources.

Roberts writes in a measured Victorian prose style, blending factual enumeration with occasional literary flourish and occasional digressions into anecdote. His voice is that of an informed enthusiast who values accuracy yet acknowledges the limits of his knowledge, inviting readers to point out any errors. The book will appeal to historians of the book trade, librarians, antiquarian collectors, and anyone fascinated by the social networks and personalities that shaped London’s literary market in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.