French bibliophile societies and journals in the years 1820-1939

Abstract

The article presents in-depth characteristics of the bibliophile movement in France in the years 1820-1939. The author describes activities of national and local bibliophile societies and organizations from the 19^th century, e.g. the Society of French Bibliophiles (La Société des bibliophiles françois, established in 1820) and the Book Friends Society (La Société des Amis des Livres, 1874). He also devotes a lot of attention to the organizations founded after World War I, a part of which united only members of one profession, e.g. doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, jewelers. There were also a few bibliophile associations of women. Activities of these numerous organizations resulted in publishing their own, “perfect with typography”, luxury bibliophile editions. The other part of the article concerns the characteristics of such editions. The third part includes analysis of French bibliophile journals, from the oldest one concerning bibliophilism, librarianship and bibliography „Bulletin du Bibliophile et du Bibliothécaire” (established in 1834) up to „Le Bibliophile, revue artistique et documentaire du livre ancien et moderne”, published in Paris since 1931.