Bibliomania; or Book-Madness (ePub)

Thomas Frognall Dibdin (1776-1847) was an English bibliographer, born in Calcutta to a naval officer. Educated in England, he pursued a career in the church, but his passion for books and bibliographic scholarship outshone his religious vocation. A prominent figure in the bibliophilic and antiquarian circles of the early 19th century, Dibhin's influence extended through his writings and his involvement in literary societies. His seminal work, 'Bibliomania; or Book-Madness' (1809), illuminated the fervent obsession with book collecting in his era. In this treatise, Dibdin merges wit with erudition to portray the lengths to which collectors would go to acquire rare volumes, thus shaping scholarly discussion on the nature of book-collecting and the bibliophilic impulse. Dibdin's florid and often anecdotal style captures the spirit of his time while also documenting the eccentricities of the bibliomaniacs he encountered or read about. This work, alongside others such as 'Bibliographical Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany' (1821), has positioned Dibdin as a central figure in the study of book history and bibliography. His contributions have been pivotal in laying the groundwork for modern bibliographic studies. Dibdin's narratives are as much travelogues of personal scholarly adventure as they are studies in the history and passion for books. His legacy endures in the rich lineage of bibliographic scholarship and the enduring romantic image of the book collector.