Bibliophilia is the passion for reading and books themselves.
The love for collecting books is called bibliophilia . This is the tendency developed by the person who enjoys searching for and hoarding different specimens, especially those that are rare.
Passion for books
An individual who has bibliophilia is referred to as a bibliophile . These subjects usually have a passion for literature , but above all for the book as an object. Its libraries, in this framework, stand out for the quantity and variety of volumes.
Those who enjoy bibliophilia aim to find original editions . It is also common for him to study and research the works : many times, the collection even focuses on a theme that constitutes his main area of interest.
On a general level, the bibliophile is a lover of reading since he obtains pleasure from the implementation of this activity. But, as we said above, it goes much further, because it is attracted by the typography of the books, the binding, the characteristics of the paper and other details.
This passion can be compared to many others that many people feel for their favorite activity and the objects that represent them. This does not indicate that there is a superficial relationship with literature; Almost on the contrary, the attachment that is generated between a person and a book is that of an emotional bond. Feeling a fascination with material aspects does not occur at the cost of ignoring or undervaluing literary ones, but rather as a complement.
Origins
It is usually stated that bibliophilia was born between the 14th and 15th centuries , with the Renaissance . Members of the monarchy and nobility, in this context, used to investigate incunabula and manuscripts to add them to their compilations.
According to Samuel Pepys
The diarist Samuel Pepys , born in London in 1633, left us a portrait of the classic bibliophile, whom he described as a lover of reading, but also of admiring books. It is someone who generally builds a large collection focused on certain very specific topics.
Furthermore, the classic bibliophile is able to distinguish and identify the works he treasures, since he explores them repeatedly and in depth . Note that, according to Pepys, bibliophilia does not always entail the purchase or acquisition of all the beloved books; In some cases, the relationship occurs in public libraries .
Although it does not always happen, in some cases the form does outweigh the content, to the point of pursuing rare editions , such as being the first or those that are associated with very particular stories that are difficult to obtain, that have belonged to people highlighted or that contain an autograph of the author, among other possibilities.
It is not uncommon for bibliophiles to have large collections of books.
Bibliomania
It is important to distinguish between bibliophilia and bibliomania . While bibliophilia is an attachment to books, bibliomania is linked to the exaggerated accumulation of these printed materials. That is why there is a negative connotation in the notion of bibliomania, since the concept refers to a mania : an excessive or unhealthy attraction. The bibliophile, on the other hand, does not register this pathology .
Today, we could affirm that bibliomania is more common than ever. Although this does not mean that in the past there have not been people with the pathological tendency to accumulate excessive amounts of books, the possibilities offered by the Internet and the current market in general are much greater. It is enough to enter a website, choose the books we want and receive them at our home without further hesitation. We don't have to carry them, we can act much more impulsively because we don't have to talk to anyone, and we can do it alone, from our home.