Christopher de Hamel On Printed Books

Christopher de Hamel, The Smithsonian Book of Books

[Michael Olmert] (New York: Wings Books; 1992), p. 14.

‘There is an overwhelming fascination in the infinite choice of printed books.

There are probably more books than any other human artifact on earth.

Collectors can assemble shelves of bindings, private-press books, illustrated books designed by great artists, inscribed copies, books from a particular locality or publisher, books on specific subjects, books of special sizes (not at all as silly as it sounds), books in particular languages or typefaces, or just books for the love of books. All book collections are to be saluted. . . .’

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