English Book Collectors

"English Book Collectors" by William Younger Fletcher is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book examines the lives and libraries of notable English book collectors, shedding light on their contributions to preservation and scholarship. Fletcher aims to compile scattered information about these individuals and highlight their unique personalities alongside their collections. The opening portion of the book introduces the author's intention to present the histories of significant English book collectors from the period after Henry VII's reign, offering insights into their lives, the rarity of their collections, and the impact they had on preserving literary heritage during turbulent times. Fletcher emphasizes the importance of these collectors in rescuing valuable manuscripts and printed works from loss or destruction, particularly during the Reformation period. He notes that the current bibliophiles owe a debt of gratitude to these early collectors for their efforts and establishes a foundational understanding of the tradition of book collecting that the subsequent chapters will explore in detail.