Donald C. Dickinson
Henry E. Huntington's Library of Libraries
$21.95, £12.95 paperback
978-0-87328-203-1
Available Now
304 pages, 7 x 10 inches, 59 b/w illustrations
January 1995, Available worldwide
Categories: History; Autobiographies & Biographies; California & the West
January 1995, Available worldwide
Categories: History; Autobiographies & Biographies; California & the West
"Sumptuously illustrated in black and white, this is a finely printed, wide margined, well-written study of the book-buying activities of the magnate Henry Edwards Huntington (1850-1927). Huntington's collecting is placed in the context of the book trade and its personalities during the first three decades of the 20th century. Dickinson's book is indispensable for all libraries with materials on the history of the book, the study of cultural artifacts, collecting, and cultural and library history."—Choice
"This handsome work merits the attention of anyone who can appreciate the role of libraries and literature in human affairs."—Books of the Southwest
"All lovers of great books will enjoy these pages, illustrated throughout with pictures of some of the Library's treasures."—California Historian
"Allows one to devote full attention to the story of the Huntington's rapid development into one of the great independent research libraries."—Libraries & Culture
"This handsome work merits the attention of anyone who can appreciate the role of libraries and literature in human affairs."—Books of the Southwest
"All lovers of great books will enjoy these pages, illustrated throughout with pictures of some of the Library's treasures."—California Historian
"Allows one to devote full attention to the story of the Huntington's rapid development into one of the great independent research libraries."—Libraries & Culture
Henry E. Huntington was one of the most important book and manuscript collectors of the twentieth century. After making a fortune in the railroad industry, he set out to build a rare book and manuscript library. He succeeded in gathering his unequaled collections over a period of only fifteen years, a result not only of personal determination and almost unlimited means but of fortunate timing. In 1911, as he began to develop a serious interest in rare books, important private collections came on the market. In that year, Huntington acquired the most important rarities from the Elihu D. Church and Robert Hoe collections. When other libraries became available subsequently, he responded decisively with en bloc purchases, and the "library of libraries" was born. Between 1911 and 1917, Huntington dominated the book markets of New York and London.
This book recounts the story of those tumultuous years in the book trade. The reader is taken behind the scenes at the auction houses, and the strategies of the major book dealers of the early twentieth century—especially George D. Smith and A. S. W. Rosenbach—are revealed in fascinating detail.
This book recounts the story of those tumultuous years in the book trade. The reader is taken behind the scenes at the auction houses, and the strategies of the major book dealers of the early twentieth century—especially George D. Smith and A. S. W. Rosenbach—are revealed in fascinating detail.