P. B. M. (Philip Bertram Murray) Allan

Philip Bertram Murray Allan (1884–1973) was a British writer, publisher, and lepidopterist. He is especially remembered by general readers for The Book-Hunter at Home, a lively reflection on the pleasures, habits, and small obsessions of book collecting.

Beyond his literary work, Allan was also deeply involved in the study of butterflies and moths, and wrote on that subject as well, sometimes using the pen name "O.M.H." for "Old Moth-Hunter." He also ran Philip Allan and Company, linking his life as a writer with the practical world of publishing.

That mix of scholarship, curiosity, and affection for his subjects gives his writing its charm. Whether he was describing rare books or the life of insects, he wrote like someone eager to share a lifelong hobby with fellow enthusiasts.