Double wrappers from Octave Uzanne (1852-1931), Dictionnaire bibliophilosophique, typologique, iconophilesque, bibliopégique et bibliotechnique à l’usage des bibliognostes, des bibliomanes et des bibliophilistins par Octave Uzanne, polybibliographe et philologue (Paris: Imprimé pour les sociétaires de l’Académie des beaux livres, Bibliophiles contemporains, en l’an de grace bibliomaniaque, 1896). Copy 89 of 176. Graphic Arts Collection (GAX) Z992 .U93 1896.
Octave Uzanne (1851-1931) loved books. Long before Forest Gump, Uzanne compared a good book to a superb box of chocolates. He read them; he wrote, edited, and designed them; and he collected them. Uzanne founded several small literary magazines including L’Art et l’idée and Le Livre moderne as well as founding the Société des Bibliophiles Contemporaines (followed later by the Société des Bibliophiles Indépendants).
When he was forty-five, he prepared this dictionary to all aspects of the book world, including authors, illustrations, bindings, paper, and much more. Note below right “Un Auteur qui désire garder l’anonyme” (the author who wishes to remain anonymous), which is a portrait of Uzanne.
