1811 – Bibliomania – Thomas Frognall Dibdin | Rare Book Collecting Manual

Bibliomania is an early 19th-century book by Thomas Frognall Dibdin written in the form of dialogues from fictional book lovers. First published in 1809, Bibliomania or Book Madness, is an important work on the history of book collection. Dibdin describes the efforts that book collectors go to, to acquire rare books and notes the characteristics that collectors possess as they seek out rare first editions.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Bibliomania; or, Book-Madness: A Bibliographical Romance in Six Parts
• Author(s): Thomas Frognall Dibdin
• Publisher: London; Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, W. Savage
• Edition: Second Edition, 1811
• Binding: Leather
• Format: (8vo), single volume
• Size:  8.5 in × 5.5 in (21.6 cm × 14 cm)
• Collation: ix, 782 pp
• Contents Include:
  • Prefatory dialogues on bibliomania and collectors
  • Six-part narrative exploring the mania for rare books
  • Observations on first editions and typographical perfection

Condition:

Good condition overall. Full leather binding shows heavy rubbing to boards, corners, and edges; the text block remains tight and secure. Pages clean with expected age toning consistent with early nineteenth-century paper. No noted losses or repairs.

Why Collect This?

• Seminal early nineteenth-century study of book collecting
• Sought by collectors of book history and bibliographic literature

Item Number: #29674