The Bibliomania or Book-Madness
Thomas Frognall Dibdin
A new annotated edition of this extraordinary classic of bibliophilia, bibliophobia, bibliosophia, bibliography and Bibliomania. A must for all book-collectors, bibliophiles, librarians, bibliographers and, of course, bibliomaniacs. The casual reader will also find much to entertain him.
The text of this edition is based on that of the first edition of 1809 which is shorter and livelier than the later editions. The book gives a fascinating insight into antiquarianism and book-collecting over several centuries. Dibdin refers to many eighteenth-century book sales and notes the prices which some of the books achieved. Copious notes and an index are provided.
'a usefully annotated edition' – Financial Times
'If the editor has allowed himself to become as Dibdinesque as his subject, then it is all part of the fun of a work where references and citations run back and forth like so many ink rollers on a printing press.' – Rare Book Review