J. Herbert (John Herbert) Slater

J. Herbert Slater, also listed as John Herbert Slater, was a British writer born in 1854 and died in 1921. His surviving books show a strong interest in bibliography, collecting, and the world of booksellers and print enthusiasts.

He wrote guides such as Book Collecting: A Guide for Amateurs (1892), The Romance of Book-Collecting, How to Collect Books, Round and About the Book-stalls, and Engravings and Their Value. These titles suggest the range of his interests: not just rare books, but also early editions, book-hunting, and prints.

Slater also wrote at least one legal work, The Law Relating to Copyright and Trade Marks (1884), which points to a broader professional side beyond literary collecting. Today he is remembered mainly for making the pleasures of collecting feel approachable, especially for curious beginners rather than elite specialists.