author
Bernard Quaritch
1819–1899
A self-made rare-book dealer who helped shape the antiquarian trade in London, he built a reputation for handling remarkable manuscripts, early printed books, and scholarly catalogues. His name lived on through the famous bookselling firm he founded in 1847.
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About the author
Born in Worbis, Germany, in 1819, Bernard Quaritch trained in the book trade before moving to London in 1842. After working for the publisher Henry Bohn, he opened his own business in 1847 and went on to become a naturalized British subject.
Quaritch became one of the best-known antiquarian booksellers of the 19th century. He was admired for his deep knowledge of rare books and manuscripts, and for the catalogues he issued, which helped collectors and institutions discover important works. His firm developed an international reputation, especially in the world of early printing and valuable literary and historical material.
He died in 1899, but the business he founded continued after him, keeping his name closely tied to the history of rare-book collecting and bookselling.