William Blades

Born in 1824, William Blades was an English printer, bibliographer, and writer whose career grew out of the family printing business. He became especially interested in the history of printing and devoted much of his research to William Caxton, England's first printer.

Blades earned lasting notice for his careful bibliographical work and for making specialist subjects readable to ordinary book lovers. His writings on printing history and book collecting helped shape Victorian interest in rare books, while The Enemies of Books became a classic for its practical, witty reflections on the many ways books are damaged or neglected.

He died in 1890, but his reputation has endured among librarians, collectors, and readers interested in how books are made, preserved, and passed down. His work sits at the meeting point of scholarship and hands-on craft, which gives it an energy that still feels fresh.