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Which bibliophile societies were founded during the 19th century?

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View a tutorial on the safe handling of rare books, manuscripts, and prints by the staff of the Folger Shakespeare Library — book collecting A tutorial from the staff of the Folger Shakespeare Library on the safe handling of rare books, manuscripts, and prints.

During the 19th century, the hobby of book collecting became increasingly formalized as collectors sought to share their interests and establish standards for book production. Several prominent bibliophile societies were founded during this period, many of which remain active today:

Roxburghe Club (1812) in England1
Société des Amis des Livres (1874) in France1
Grolier Club (1884) in the United States, named in honor of the 16th-century bibliophile Jean Grolier de Servières12
Gesellschaft der Bibliophilen (1899) in Germany1

While European societies often focused on the production of fine books due to concerns over declining craftsmanship, American organizations like the Grolier Club emphasized public education through lectures, exhibitions, and the publication of bibliographic works.1