author
Charles Dexter Allen
1865–1926
A Connecticut writer, editor, and collector, he is best remembered for lively books about bookplates and the culture of collecting. His work helped turn American bookplates into a serious subject for readers, librarians, and fellow enthusiasts.
1 Audiobook
American Book-Plates: A Guide to Their Study with Examples
by Charles Dexter Allen
About the author
Born in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, on March 8, 1865, he was educated in Hartford’s public schools and worked in banking before moving into literary and editorial work. Contemporary biographical sources describe him as an editor as well as a writer, and later archival records note his long interest in prints, books, and drawing.
He is chiefly known for books on bookplates, including American Book-Plates, A Classified List of Early American Book-Plates, and Ex Libris: Essays of a Collector. He was also associated with prominent book and collecting circles, including the Grolier Club, and his writing helped document the history and appeal of bookplate design in the United States.
Allen lived in Connecticut throughout his life and died on September 10, 1926. A clear, verifiable portrait was not readily available from the sources consulted, so no profile image is included here.