W. (William) Roberts

Born in 1862, William Roberts was an English writer, cataloguer, and journalist who became known as the sales-room correspondent of The Times. He also contributed articles to the Dictionary of National Biography, showing the range of his interests and his skill as a literary researcher.

Much of his writing circles around the history of books, collectors, and the trade that connected them. Titles such as The Book-Hunter in London, Book-Verse, Rare Books and Their Prices, and Printers' Marks reflect his gift for making bibliography and book culture feel full of character rather than dry scholarship.

Roberts also wrote on British art and worked in the art trade, preparing catalogues and studies connected with collectors and painters. He died in 1940, leaving behind work that still appeals to readers curious about the hidden stories of libraries, auctions, and the long life of books.