The Book-Collector / A General Survey of the Pursuit and of those who have engaged in it at Home and Abroad from the Earliest Period to the Present Time

A wide-ranging survey of book-collecting that combines historical overview, practical guidance, and anecdote. It treats printed books and manuscripts as distinct fields, compares strategies for modest and wealthy collectors, and outlines market mechanisms such as auctions and the concentration of rare volumes in urban centers. Chapters address libraries, bindings, special copies, inscriptions, and methods for sourcing and assessing items, while appended notes and an index supply further bibliographical detail. The writer leverages long practical experience to offer recommendations, case studies, and reflections aimed at readers who wish to form, catalogue, or better understand private and public collections.