Thomas Frognall Dibdin

Born in Calcutta in 1776 and later active in England, Thomas Frognall Dibdin became an Anglican clergyman as well as a noted bibliographer. He is best known for writing about old and rare books with unusual energy, helping to spark wider interest in bibliography and book collecting.

His best-known works include Bibliomania; or Book Madness (1809) and Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany (1821). Britannica notes that his books were often enthusiastic and influential even when they were not always fully accurate, which is part of what makes him such a vivid figure in literary history.

Dibdin was also closely connected with major collectors, especially Earl Spencer, whose library he cataloged in a beautifully produced work. He died in London on November 18, 1847, but he remains an important name for readers interested in the history of books, libraries, and the pleasures of collecting.