Bibliophilia, bibliophilia – literally: love of books. Bibliophile – a person who collects rare and valuable publications; sometimes they collect collections of publications of one author, illustrator, etc. Book collectors collect not only books, but also periodicals, chromolithographs, leaflets, comics, etc. Rare books are especially popular among bibliophiles. Refined execution of type and illustrations is taken into account.
Mad bibliophile
First edition by William Shakespeare.
For bibliophiles, the author’s first and lifetime editions, as well as books with autographs, are of interest, but there is already a close intertwining with collecting autographs. Small-circulation books often attract collectors, although they are not always rarities. Still, in the world of rarities of the book world, there are some persistent landmarks, for example, incunabula, aldins, elzevirs, plantains, etc. Many old, like second-hand books, have completely different prices, just as there is no hard enough catalog. Undoubtedly, the Gutenberg Bible, the Ostromir Gospel, the first editions of Shakespeare, etc., will serve as a dream and a symbol of the book collector’s wealth.
Bibliophiles play an important role in the accumulation and preservation of rare copies and collections of books of cultural and scientific value. Private collections, either by directives or bequests of the owners, formed the basis of many public libraries.
Extreme forms of bibliophilia
The encyclopedia highlights such an extreme form of bibliophilia as bibliolatry, and also gives a description of such types of book collectors as bibliomania and bibliotaph.
Biblíatria – “superstitious admiration for the book, reverence for sacred or divine books, as well as books that have supposedly magical sorcerous powers. In a figurative sense – addiction to books, brought to an extreme degree. “
Biblioman is “a type of book collector who, in his extreme enthusiasm, transcends the boundaries of a reasonable attitude to the purpose and meaning of collecting.” A person who is primarily interested in the external aspects of books.
Bibliotaph – “a type of bibliomaniac, whose instinct for the owner has acquired an absurd, ugly hypertrophied form. The librarian does not allow anyone to use their books. “