J. Herbert (John Herbert) Slater

John Herbert Slater (1854–1921), usually published as J. Herbert Slater, was an English author with a deep interest in books, prints, and bibliography. A contemporary legal directory records that he was born on April 10, 1854, was called to the bar in 1883, and had earlier worked as a solicitor.

He became especially known for writing accessible guides for collectors and readers, including Book Collecting: A Guide for Amateurs, The Romance of Book-Collecting, Round and About the Book-Stalls, The Library Manual, Book Plates and Their Value, and Engravings and Their Value. Title pages and library records also show that he served as editor of Book Prices Current and was formerly editor of Book Lore, placing him close to the world of auctions, bibliography, and the late-Victorian book trade.

Slater's books are appealing because they mix practical advice with enthusiasm. Rather than treating collecting as an elite hobby, he wrote for newcomers as well as seasoned hunters, explaining how to notice editions, values, and the pleasures hidden in secondhand shops and sale catalogues. He died in 1921, but his work still offers a vivid window into the culture of book collecting at the turn of the twentieth century.