A. S. W. Rosenbach
Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 July 1876 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | 1 July 1952 (aged 75) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Rare book dealer, collector, academic |
| Known for | Rare books and manuscripts dealing; founding the Rosenbach Museum & Library; promoting American literature collecting |
Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach (July 22, 1876 – July 1, 1952) was a distinguished American connoisseur, academic, and dealer specializing in rare books and manuscripts. In London, he earned the nickname "The Terror of the Auction Room," while in Paris he was dubbed "Le Napoléon des Livres" ("The Napoleon of Books"). Additionally, he was referred to as "Dr. R.," a "Robber Baron," and hailed as "the Greatest Bookdealer in the World."
During a period when European literature largely dominated the collecting scene, Rosenbach played a pivotal role in elevating American literary works within the collector community. He also championed book collecting as a form of investment and authored numerous articles and books to foster greater appreciation for rare books and manuscripts.
Over the course of his career, Rosenbach acquired and traded significant treasures such as eight Gutenberg Bibles, more than thirty Shakespeare First Folios, a Bay Psalm Book, along with manuscripts of Ulysses and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The total value of his collected items is estimated to exceed $75 million as of 2019.
His philanthropic efforts include donating children's literature to the Free Library of Philadelphia, founding the A.S.W. Rosenbach Lectures in Bibliography at the University of Pennsylvania, and bequeathing his estate to establish the Rosenbach Foundation, which later created the Rosenbach Museum & Library.
Rosenbach was also a founding figure of the American Jewish Historical Society in 1892, contributing essential printed works and ephemera that formed the core of its rare book holdings. The A.S.W. Rosenbach Collection of American Judaica comprises over 350 pre-1850 publications related to Jewish life across the Americas.
Early life and education
Born on July 22, 1876, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach was affectionately known as "Abe" in public and as "Rosy" or "Abie" among family and friends. He was the youngest child among eight siblings born to Morris Rosenbach and Isabella H. Polock. His mother was deeply involved in Philadelphia’s Jewish community, while his father—originally named Meier—immigrated from Gunzenhausen and later entered the shirt manufacturing industry under the name Morris.
At nine years old, Rosenbach began gaining experience at his maternal uncle Moses Polock’s antiquarian bookstore in Philadelphia. There he developed skills in book appraisal, bibliography, and interaction with collectors. By age eleven, he had started his own collection by acquiring an illustrated edition of Reynard the Fox, purchased through an installment plan arranged by Polock.
He completed his education at George Meade School in 1889 and proceeded to Central Manual Training School where he served as editor-in-chief for The Argus, the student newspaper. As a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, Rosenbach made a notable acquisition: a first edition of Dr. Samuel Johnson's Prologue, printed by Horace Walpole’s Strawberry Hill Press. He bought this rare item for $3.60 and later declined an offer of $5,000 for it.
While attending Penn, Rosenbach became a member of the Bibliophiles Club and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1898. He received the Harrison Fellowship in English literature and completed his doctoral studies in 1901 with a dissertation entitled "The influence of Spanish literature in the Elizabethan and Stuart drama."
Philip Hyman Rosenbach: Business Ventures and Legacy
Philip Hyman Rosenbach (September 29, 1863 – March 5, 1953), the second eldest among the Rosenbach siblings, managed several enterprises before joining forces with his younger brother. Initially, he operated a stationery shop near Market Street, followed by overseeing the Savory Restaurant at the intersection of 13th and Chestnut Streets. Subsequently, he ran a gift store at 1320 Walnut Street, offering items such as Christmas cards and prints. During this period, his younger brother A.S.W. Rosenbach assisted in the store while attending college. These early businesses faced difficulties until 1903 when, prompted by Polock’s failing health, Philip persuaded family members to utilize Polock’s stock to launch an antiques and book enterprise. Philip took charge of antiques, whereas A.S.W. focused on books. The Rosenbach Company was officially established on June 22, 1903, with financial backing from Philadelphia collectors Clarence S. Bement and Joseph M. Fox. Their inaugural transaction was the sale of two picture frames at $50 apiece on October 25, 1903.
Following Polock's death without a will in August 1903, most of his inventory was auctioned off in March 1904; the brothers obtained the majority of these items and purchased the remaining stock from Polock’s sisters for $1,000. This acquisition included Polock’s collection of 816 American children’s books spanning from 1682 to 1836, which Rosenbach later expanded and gifted to the Free Library of Philadelphia in 1947—forming the cornerstone of its early American children's literature holdings.
Initially operating out of the former gift shop premises, The Rosenbach Company expanded in 1935 to include the adjacent property at 1322 Walnut Street (which was an IHOP location as of 2019). Rosenbach collaborated with distinguished collectors such as Henry E. Huntington for the Huntington Library and Henry Clay Folger for the Folger Shakespeare Library. Other notable patrons included J.P. Morgan, Lessing Rosenwald, and Harry Elkins Widener.
In 1924, Rosenbach purchased James Joyce’s manuscript of Ulysses for $1,975 and declined Joyce’s subsequent offer to buy it back. A lifelong resident of Philadelphia, Rosenbach lived with his brother in a townhouse on Delancey Place from 1926 until 1952. In 1928, he acquired Lewis Carroll’s manuscript for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for $77,000—a purchase that stirred controversy in Britain—but later sold it for $97,000; eventually, it was returned to Britain.
Rosenbach gained membership in the American Antiquarian Society in 1927 and joined the American Philosophical Society in 1928. He authored scholarly articles on topics such as presidential libraries and early American theater and was engaged in research on Pennsylvania-German printing prior to his passing.
On December 8, 1938, he organized a rare book auction at New York City’s Hotel Plaza that raised $35,000 to support Jewish victims of war and Christian refugees; auctioneers included notable figures like Christopher Morley and Dorothy Thompson.
In 1942, the brothers sold off their antique furniture collection to concentrate exclusively on books and moved into a John Notman-designed townhouse at 1618 Locust Street where they resided until their deaths. In 1947, Rosenbach set a record by acquiring a copy of the Bay Psalm Book for $151,000; throughout his lifetime, it is estimated he expended over $75 million on acquisitions.
One of his more notorious purchases was purportedly the mummified remains of Napoleon’s penis, obtained in 1924 as part of a collection of Napoleonic artifacts for $2,000. Rosenbach used this item as a conversation starter and briefly loaned it to New York’s Museum of French Art in 1927 before selling it to collector Donald Hyde in 1947.
Writing
Rosenbach penned numerous essays detailing his experiences as a dealer in antique books, initially appearing in The Saturday Evening Post and The Atlantic. These writings were subsequently gathered into two volumes: Books and Bidders: The Adventures of a Bibliophile (1927) and A Book Hunter's Holiday: Adventures with Books and Manuscripts (1936). Additionally, he made contributions to The Jewish Encyclopedia following his articles for the American Jewish Historical Society.
His only fictional work, The Unpublishable Memoirs (1917), comprises eleven mystery tales centered on Robert Hooker, a bibliophile who exacts revenge on the elite by pilfering rare books and artworks. Editions were released in London (1924) and the Czech Republic (1925), although the latter contained just the initial story.
Rosenbach also compiled significant bibliographic checklists, notably Early American Children's Books (1933), issued by The Anthoensen Press, which has become a key reference in the field.
Honors
Over the course of his professional life, Rosenbach was the recipient of multiple distinctions. In 1927, he was granted an honorary associate degree in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. The Jewish Theological Seminary of America awarded him a Doctor of Humane Letters in 1945. Two years later, he received a Legum Doctor from Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning, along with another Doctor of Humane Letters from Amherst College.
In celebration of his 70th birthday in 1946, peers honored him with the publication of To Dr. R, a collection featuring literary and bibliographical essays.
At the time of his passing in 1952, Rosenbach served as Harbor-master for New Jersey’s Board of Commerce and Navigation.
Death and legacy
Rosenbach passed away on July 1, 1952, in Philadelphia at the age of 75 and was interred at Mount Sinai Cemetery.
Noted author Christopher Morley famously dubbed Rosenbach "the Pied Piper of rare editions," highlighting his compelling influence over collectors and rare book enthusiasts in an essay originally published in the Saturday Review in 1927.
Rosenbach Museum & Library
Shortly before his death, Rosenbach entrusted his estate to The Philip H. and A. S. W. Rosenbach Foundation, which the brothers had founded in 1950 to foster appreciation for books, paintings, and art.
The Rosenbach Museum & Library was established in 1954 through this bequest. It maintains the brothers' original libraries and homes, displaying an extensive array of rare books, manuscripts, furniture, silverware, paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures. Among its prized possessions are the sole surviving copy of Benjamin Franklin's inaugural Poor Richard's Almanack and James Joyce's manuscript for Ulysses. The collection has since grown to include poet Marianne Moore’s papers, Bram Stoker’s notes on Dracula, and artwork by Maurice Sendak.
The Rosenbach brothers’ 1865 townhouse at 2010 Delancey Place is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Since 2003, the adjacent Maurice Sendak Building has offered extra space for public events and exhibitions. On December 3, 2013, the museum formally affiliated with the Free Library of Philadelphia, adopting the name "The Rosenbach at the Free Library."
State Historical Marker
On April 2, 2008, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission honored the Rosenbach Museum & Library with an official State Historical Marker. This recognition highlights co-founder Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach’s significant role as a premier rare book dealer and his lasting influence on Philadelphia. The marker is situated at 2008-2010 Delancey Place within the historic Rittenhouse Square district. Its inscription states:
"Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach (1876 – 1952) One of America's foremost rare book dealers, he played a key role in assembling many of the country's major libraries. Together with his brother Philip, he founded the Rosenbach Museum & Library to make their private collection accessible to the public. They resided on this block from 1926 until 1952."
A.S.W. Rosenbach Lectures in Bibliography
In 1928, Rosenbach provided financial support to the University of Pennsylvania to create a lecture series dedicated to bibliography and the history of books. Invited lecturers typically present approximately three talks over a two-week period. The inaugural A.S.W. Rosenbach Lectures in Bibliography were held in 1931, with Christopher Morley serving as the first lecturer.
By 2023, this lecture series stands as the longest-running continuous bibliographical lectureship in the United States. Numerous lectures from the series have been expanded into full-length publications by the University of Pennsylvania Press.
Musical
To commemorate its 50th anniversary in 2004, The Rosenbach Museum and Library commissioned writer Ben Katchor. Originally approached to produce a graphic novel, Katchor instead partnered with musician Mark Mulcahy to develop a musical production. The Rosenbach Company: A Tragicomedy debuted at the 2004 Philadelphia Fringe Festival and was later staged at The Public Theater in New York City in 2006, featuring Mulcahy in the role of Abie Rosenbach.
In a 2004 review for Variety, Toby Zinman offered high praise for the performance:
Further reading
- Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), and Don Ward. The Collected Catalogues of Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach, 1904-1951. New York: Arno Press, 1968.
- Silver, Joel. 2010. Dr. Rosenbach and Mr. Lilly: Book Collecting in a Golden Age. Newtown, Pa.: Bird & Bull Press.
- Wolf, Edwin II; Fleming, John F. (1960). Rosenbach: a biography. World Publishing Company.