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What did Thomas Frognall Dibdin mean by bibliomania and bibliophily?
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book collecting
A tutorial from the staff of the Folger Shakespeare Library on the safe handling of rare books, manuscripts, and prints.
Thomas Frognall Dibdin, an influential English bibliographer, is credited with bringing the terms bibliomania and bibliophily into common English usage during the early 19th century. His writings helped popularize book collecting as a widespread pastime.1
- Bibliomania: Dibdin defined this as "book-madness," or an uncontrollable, extreme passion for collecting books. While the term implies an obsessive preoccupation, it was associated with the "golden age" of collecting (1790ā1830), during which collectors like Sir Thomas Phillipps demonstrated a zeal that often saved significant historical materials from neglect or destruction.1
- Bibliophily: Dibdin used this term to describe the "love of books". Unlike the compulsive nature of bibliomania, bibliophily generally refers to a deep appreciation for books, often focusing on their qualities of format, history, or content.12
Through his work, such as his 1809 book titled Bibliomania, Dibdin stimulated significant public interest in the acquisition of old and rare volumes.31