THE BIBLIOMANIA; OR, BOOK-MADNESS; CONTAINING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY, SYMPTOMS, AND CURE OF THIS FATAL DISEASE [with] BIBLIOMANIA; OR BOOK-MADNESS; A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ROMANCE IN SIX PARTS ILLUSTRATED WITH CUTS

London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, 1811. 19th century quarter calf over marbled paper-covered boards, leather spine label with author and title in gilt, second edition date of 1811 at foot of spine, gilt borders on spine, marbled paper pastedowns and endpapers, all edges gilt. 8vo. 19th century quarter calf over marbled paper-covered boards, leather spine label with author and title in gilt, second edition date of 1811 at foot of spine, gilt borders on spine, marbled paper pastedowns and endpapers, all edges gilt. (iv), ix, 782, (2); iv, 87, (1) pages. In an Epistle addressed to Richard Heber, Esq. "Dibdin's Bibliomania, first published in 1809, is an anthem to the printed book, a warning to the unwary about the perils of obsessive book-collecting, and the confessions of a rabid book-collector" (Danckwerts, p. vii).



First and second editions, bound in one volume. (Windle A11a / A11c; Jackson no.16 / 18; S-K 1523 for binding reference). The first and second edition of perhaps the most famous book that Dibdin wrote. Some minor wear to edges. Leather lightly scuffed. Very clean internally.



In laying out the symptoms and cures for this "disease," Dibdin provides useful and informative facts and definitions that still have value to this day, even though, according to Jackson, they "need to be checked." Inspired by John Ferriar's poem with the same name (1809). Contains biographical information on the collectors of his day although not to the same extent as later editions. Written in less than a month, The Bibliomania marks "the first full flowering of Dibdin's love affair with books" (Windle and Pippin, p. 35); it had the effect of "producing much innocent mirth and exciting a general curiosity after rare and precious volumes" (Dibdin, Reminiscences of a Literary Life, p. 272).



The second edition, considerably rewritten and much enlarged, is bound first, with the first edition immediately following the errata page of the second edition. Using the basic information presented in the first edition as a foundation, the second edition contains the original definitions and history, then expanded and interwoven with a romanticized tale of nineteenth century book collectors. The key players were loosely based upon Dibdin's friends and contemporaries and caused much consternation among the ranks of London bibliophiles. Numerous black and white illustrations and plates throughout. With chronological, bibliographical and general indexes.



Dibdin, a clergyman and inveterate book-lover, was a lively and engaging writer whose works enjoyed great popularity and helped to stimulate enthusiasm for book collecting in the nineteenth century.