Dibdin

1809 · 20580 — London:: Printed for Longman Hurst Rees and Orme by W. Savage 1809. First edition. 8vo. Hardcover. Fine binding modern quarter calf over marbled boards gilt rules at spine ends and gilt black title label. New endpapers. Title page and B1 printed in black and red. Outer margin textblock edges uncut not uncommon .A2 & B1 with tiny repair to outer margin edge no affect. Some minor foxing. Presentation inscription from author removed from original front pastedown and adhered to new pastedown. A nice copy of a rare first edition signed by the author. Ã’Thomas Frognall Dibdin 1776-1847 English bibliographer who helped to stimulate interest in bibliography by his own enthusiastic though often inaccurate books by his share in founding the first English private publishing society and by his beautifully produced catalog of Lord SpencerÕs library which collection later became the nucleus of the John Rylands Library Manchester. His father the captain of a sailing ship was the inspiration for his uncle Charles DibdinÕs song Ã’Tom Bowling.Ó Both of DibdinÕs parents died on the passage from India to England in 1780 and at age four he became the ward of his motherÕs younger brother Charles Compton. Educated at St. JohnÕs College Oxford Dibdin began a legal career but took holy orders in 1805. His Introduction to the knowledge of rare and valuable editions of the Greek and Latin Classics 1802 attracted the notice of Lord Spencer through whose patronage Dibdin obtained a clerical appointment in London. His Bibliotheca Spenceriana 1814Ã15 became famous for the high quality of its printing. Dibdin traveled widely in search of books and manuscripts and his Bibliographical Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany 1821 is typical of his work in containing much lively anecdote many factual errors and some excellent engravings. His Bibliomania 1809 contributed to the publicÕs interest in old and rare books. Among his many other works is the two-volume autobiography Reminiscences of a Literary Life 1836.Ó -Britannica. Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme by W. Savage, hardcover