1896 Enemies of Books William Blades Bibliophile Biblioclast Conservation



“The Enemies of Books” by William Blades, with illustrations by Louis Gunnis and H.E. Butler, is a fervent call to arms in the cause of book preservation. Initially published in a printer-centric periodical, “The Printers Register,” this treatise found an enthusiastic audience, prompting Blades to enrich it with additional anecdotes and insights for a wider audience of bibliophiles. The book is a heartfelt testament of Blades, an ardent 19th-century bibliophile and collector renowned for his preservation of works by William Caxton, an eminent English printer. The pages bristle with Blades indignation at the mistreatment of books, presenting a vehement discourse against biblioclasts — those responsible for deliberate destruction of books.



Each chapter delves into various enemies of books, from natural elements like fire and water to societal elements such as ignorance and bigotry, and from bookworms and other pests to careless or ill-informed bookbinders, collectors, servants, and children. The book resonates with a powerful plea for respect towards old books, an appeal that Blades felt was desperately needed in his era.



Item number: #41103

Price: $399



BLADES, William; GARNETT, Richard (Contrib.); GUNNIS, Louis (Illus.); BUTLER, H.E. (Illus.)



The Enemies of Books.



Chicago: A.C. McClurg and Co.; London: Elliot Stock, [1896].



Details:

Collation: Complete

xviii, 151, [1]

30 engravings (9 full-page)

Provenance: Armorial bookplate – Louise Crawford

Motto: GOD SHAW THE RIGHT

Language: English

Binding: Hardcover; tight and secure

Red cloth

Size: ~9.5in X 6.75in (24cm x 17cm)



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