J. Herbert (John Herbert) Slater

John Herbert Slater (1854–1921), usually published as J. Herbert Slater, was an English lawyer and writer who became known for books about book collecting, bibliography, and print collecting. Contemporary and library records identify him as both a lawyer and a writer on book collecting, and his work ranged from practical guides to more anecdotal books for curious readers.

He wrote titles including Book Collecting: A Guide for Amateurs, The Romance of Book-Collecting, Round and About the Book-Stalls, Engravings and Their Value, and The Library Manual. His writing suggests a talent for making specialist subjects feel welcoming, especially for readers interested in rare books, early editions, and the habits of collectors.

Although a full modern biography is not easy to verify from the sources found here, the basic outline is clear: Slater was born on April 10, 1854, was called to the bar in the 1880s after earlier work as a solicitor, and died in 1921. No clearly suitable verified portrait image was available from the pages checked, so none is included here.