Quaritch, Bernard

Bernard (1819-1899), a famous bookseller. He was born in a village of Prussian Saxony. He learned the bookseller's business with a firm in Berlin and established himself in London in 1846. In the following year he sent out his first list--a single page--of old books. His latest Catalog of Old Books and Manuscripts was issued in 1887-8 in seven volumes. He was a noted dealer in rare books, a well known figure at book auctions. His knowledge of binding and editions was remarkable. He paid and exacted fabulous prices for rare publications. The leading librarians, booklovers, collectors, and even royalty, were his patrons.