Who were the greatest book collectors of all time? What books could be found in their libraries, and what made their collections unique? If you've ever wanted to know more about the lives and collections of other book collectors, these books offer an overview of some of the most famous collectors of books and literature. You'll also find tips and tricks from book collectors as they search the world for unique books. Read on.
1. Great British Book Collectors and Their Libraries
by Koichi Yukishima (Editor), and David Slade (Editor). Thoemmes Press. From the publisher: "Merryweather, Burton, Elton, Fletcher and Hazlitt relate their own and other collectors' interest, both in Britain and abroad. Together they form a biographical dictionary of pioneers in the accumulation of culture and learning."
2. Patience and Fortitude
by Nicholas A. Basbanes. HarperCollins. In this book, the author explores the obsession to collect books. Basbanes writes about book collectors, highlighting one eccentric collector who bought a rare book "by selling bottles of his own blood."3. A Pound of Paper
by John Baxter. St. Martin's Press. John Baxter writes about his travels around the world in search of books. From the publisher: "In this brilliantly readable and funny book, John Baxter brings us into contact with such literary greats as Graham Greene, Kingsley Amis, J. G. Ballard, and Ray Bradbury."4. Dictionary of American Book Collectors
by Donald C. Dickinson. Greenwood Publishing Group. This dictionary features biographical entries for more than 350 book collectors. Also find bibliographical details about the articles, books and catalogues by the collector.