A. S. W. Rosenbach

Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach ( July 22, 1876 – July 1, 1952, in Philadelphia ) was an avid American collector, scholar, and seller of rare books and manuscripts. Abraham was the youngest of the eight children of Morris Rosenbach (May 14, 1820 – May 8, 1885) and Isabella H. Polock (November 26, 1834 – July 25, 1906), who were married on November 11, 1857. As a child Abraham spent much time in the shop of his maternal uncle, Moses Polock (May 14, 1817 – August 16, 1903), a well-known and somewhat eccentric antiquarian bookseller. Polock's famous shop was located at 406 Commerce Street in Philadelphia. Abraham got his start collecting while a freshman in college at the University of Pennsylvania . His company, simply called the Rosenbach Company , went on to help assemble the extensive collections of the Huntington Library and the Folger Shakespeare Library . He also worked for private clients such as J. Morgan , Lessing Rosenwald and Harry Elkins Widener . Rosenbach is credited with popularizing the collecting of American literature at a time when only European literature was considered collectable. He also advanced the idea of book collecting as a means of investment.

Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach ( July 22, 1876 — July 1, 1952) was an avid American collector, scholar, and seller of rare books and manuscripts. Abraham was the youngest of the eight children of Morris Rosenbach (May 14, 1820 — May 8, 1885) and Isabella H. Polock (November 26, 1834 — July 25, 1906), who were married on November 11, 1857. As a child, Abraham spent much time in the shop of his maternal uncle, Moses Polock (May 14, 1817 — August 16, 1903), a well-known and somewhat eccentric antiquarian bookseller. Polock's famous shop was located at 406 Commerce Street in Philadelphia. Abraham got his start collecting while a freshman in college at the University of Pennsylvania . His company, simply called the Rosenbach Company , went on to help assemble the extensive collections of the Huntington Library and the Folger Shakespeare Library . He also worked for private clients such as J. Morgan , Lessing Rosenwald , and Harry Elkins Widener . He published several articles and even books in order to reinforce the interest in rare books and manuscripts. Rosenbach is credited with popularizing the collecting of American literature at a time when only European literature was considered collectable. He also advanced the idea of book collecting as a means of investment.

Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach (July 22, 1876 – July 1, 1952) was an American collector, scholar, and seller of rare books and manuscripts. In London, where he frequently attended the auctions at Sotheby's , he was known as "The Terror of the Auction Room." In Paris, he was called “Le Napoléon des Livres”, which translates to “The Napoleon of Books." Many others referred to him as “Dr. R.”, a “ Robber Baron ” and “the Greatest Bookdealer in the World”. Rosenbach is credited with popularizing the collecting of American literature at a time when only European literature was considered collectible. He also advanced the idea of book collecting as a means of investment and published several articles and books to increase interest in rare books and manuscripts. He bought and sold numerous items throughout his life, including eight Gutenberg Bibles , more than 30 Shakespeare's First Folio , a copy of the Bay Psalm Book and the manuscripts of Ulysses and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland . The life-time total of his purchases is estimated to be worth more than $75,000,000 in 2019. His philanthropic contributions include donating his collection of children's books to the Free Library of Philadelphia , establishing the Rosenbach Fellowship in Bibliography at the University of Pennsylvania and willing his estate to the Rosenbach Foundation, which established the Rosenbach Museum & Library . Dictionary of American Antiquarian Bookdealers .

American collector (1876–1952) Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach (July 22, 1876 – July 1, 1952) was an American collector, scholar, and dealer in rare books and manuscripts. In London, where he frequently attended the auctions at Sotheby's , he was known as "The Terror of the Auction Room." In Paris, he was called "Le Napoléon des Livres" ("The Napoleon of Books"). Many others referred to him as "Dr. R.", a " Robber Baron " and "the Greatest Bookdealer in the World". Rosenbach is credited with popularizing the collecting of American literature at a time when only European literature was considered collectible. He also advanced the idea of book collecting as a means of investment and published several articles and books to increase interest in rare books and manuscripts. He bought and sold numerous items throughout his life, including eight Gutenberg Bibles , more than 30 Shakespeare's First Folios , a copy of the Bay Psalm Book and the manuscripts of Ulysses and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland . The lifetime total of his purchases is estimated to be worth more than $75,000,000 in 2019. His philanthropic contributions include donating his collection of children's books to the Free Library of Philadelphia , establishing the Rosenbach Fellowship in Bibliography at the University of Pennsylvania and willing his estate to the Rosenbach Foundation, which established the Rosenbach Museum & Library . Rosenbach was also closely involved in the founding of the American Jewish Historical Society (established 1892), and his early donation of printed books and ephemera relating to American Judaica provided the core of the original rare book collection. Rosenbach Collection of American Judaica includes over 350 books and pamphlets published in America before 1850 that relate to Jews or their experiences in the Americas. Dictionary of American Antiquarian Bookdealers . "The American Jewish Historical Society at Ninety: Reflections on the History of the Oldest Ethnic Historical Society in America" .

American collector (1876–1952) Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach (July 22, 1876 – July 1, 1952) was an American collector, scholar, and dealer in rare books and manuscripts. In London, where he frequently attended the auctions at Sotheby's , he was known as "The Terror of the Auction Room." In Paris, he was called "Le Napoléon des Livres" ("The Napoleon of Books"). Many others referred to him as "Dr. R.", a " Robber Baron " and "the Greatest Bookdealer in the World". Rosenbach is credited with popularizing the collecting of American literature at a time when only European literature was considered collectible. He also advanced the idea of book collecting as a means of investment and published several articles and books to increase interest in rare books and manuscripts. He bought and sold numerous items throughout his life, including eight Gutenberg Bibles , more than 30 Shakespeare's First Folios , a copy of the Bay Psalm Book and the manuscripts of Ulysses and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland . The lifetime total of his purchases is estimated to be worth more than $75,000,000 in 2019. His philanthropic contributions include donating his collection of children's books to the Free Library of Philadelphia , establishing the A.S.W. Rosenbach Lectures in Bibliography at the University of Pennsylvania and willing his estate to the Rosenbach Foundation, which established the Rosenbach Museum & Library . Rosenbach was also closely involved in the founding of the American Jewish Historical Society (established 1892), and his early donation of printed books and ephemera relating to American Judaica provided the core of the original rare book collection. Rosenbach Collection of American Judaica includes over 350 books and pamphlets published in America before 1850 that relate to Jews or their experiences in the Americas. Dictionary of American Antiquarian Bookdealers . "The American Jewish Historical Society at Ninety: Reflections on the History of the Oldest Ethnic Historical Society in America" .