Andrew Lang THE LIBRARY 1881 First Edition Andrew Dobson Modern English Illustrated Books Book Collecting Bibliophilia Illustration Collecting

Title: The Library
Author: Andrew Lang - Andrew Lang was a Scots poet, novelist, literary critic, and contributor to the field of anthropology. He is best known as a collector of folk and fairy tales. The Andrew Lang lectures at the University of St. Andrews are named after him., Austin Dobson - Henry Austin Dobson, commonly Austin Dobson, was an English poet and essayist. At the beginning of his career, he continued to study at the South Kensington School of Art, in his spare time, but without definite ambition. In December 1856 he entered the Board of Trade, gradually rising to the rank of principal in the harbour department, from which he retired in the autumn of 1901. In 1868, he had married Frances Mary, daughter of the distinguished civil engineer Nathaniel Beardmore (1816–1872) of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and settled at Ealing. Dobson died in 1921 and his funeral was held on 6 September at St Peter's Church, Ealing. He is buried in the Westminster Cemetery, Uxbridge Rd, Hanwell, Middlesex.
Publisher: Macmillan & Co.
City: London
Year: 1881
Printing Information: First Edition
Binding Style: Hardcover
Pagination: 184 pages, plus advertisements
Width: 5" Height: 7.25"
Book Details: "With a Chapter on Modern English Illustrated Books by Austin Dobson".

This antique volume is bound in blue cloth with decorative black inlay and title on the cover and title on the spine. The pastedowns are of colored paper. This volume is adorned with an engraved frontispiece and many other illustrations including full-page illustrations and a gilt lithograph, ornaments, headpieces, and decorated capitals.

“The Library†by Andrew Lang is a late 19th-century book published by McMillan & Co. as part of the “Art as Home†series. Continuing the tradition of de Bury’s The Philobiblon and Dibdin’s Bibliomania, The Library is a half-serious look at the craft of book-collecting for the amateur bibliophile. Lang’s book is both an investigation of the “gentle-madness†of book collecting and a staunch defense of its practice. At times, Lang describes book-hunting as a sport, somewhat analogous to fishing, in which patience is paid off with a rare find. He also describes the pleasure of book-hunting through the book stalls of Paris and other cosmopolitan cities.

While often written in the language of hyperbole, Lang’s descriptive choice of words paints a picture of the collector’s love of books. In contrast to Lang’s musings on the joys and sorrows of the bibliophile, Dobson’s treatment of illustrated manuscripts is more languid in language but factual and somewhat helpful to the amateur collector. In his chapter on illustrated English manuscripts, Dobson gives clear examples of the artwork he is describing, allowing the reader to understand and follow the development of illustration.
Condition / Notes: This antique volume shows nicely with mild/moderate signs of age and wear, including shelfwear and rubbing. The hinges are partially cracked, and there are some separated but present pages, especially at the rear of the volume. Text and illustrations remain clear and crisp through mild age toning.

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