Joseph Sabin (9 December 1821—5 June 1881) was a Braunston, England-born bibliographer and bookseller in Oxford, Philadelphia, and New York City. He compiled the "stupendous" multivolume Bibliotheca Americana: A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, considered a "bibliophilic monument;" and published the American Bibliopolist, a trade magazine.
Sabin was apprenticed to a bookdealer in Oxford in 1821 to learn bookbinding and established a partnership as a bookseller. He married his partner's sister and was father to two sons.Goff, Frederick Richmond. 1963. Joseph Sabin, Bibliographer, 1821-1881. Amsterdam: N. Israel.
Move to United States
In 1848 he moved to Texas, then to Philadelphia where he worked for publisher George S. Appleton. In 1850 he worked in New York for the auction firm, Cooley and Kees as a cataloger and then at Bangs, Brothers & Co. where he conceived the idea of identifying books related to Americana.Reese, William S. (1984), "Joseph Sabin", American Book Collector 5, no. 1:3-24. ISSN 0196-5654
In 1856 Sabin opened a bookstore in New York and later in Philadelphia but the American Civil War depressed sales and he returned to New York to work in the book auction business. He was auctioneer for the collection of John Allan--an experience that influenced the rest of his career.Reese, William S. (1984), "Joseph Sabin", American Book Collector 5, no. 1:3-24. ISSN 0196-5654 Sabin often collaborated with William Gowans.
After the Civil war the book business boomed and Sabin purchased a business on Nassau Street in New York in 1864. Goff, Frederick Richmond. 1963. Joseph Sabin, Bibliographer, 1821-1881. Amsterdam: N. Israel. It was a very successful enterprise. Between 1864 and 1874 Sabin sold over a million dollars' worth of books.Reese, William S. (1984), "Joseph Sabin", American Book Collector 5, no. 1:3-24. ISSN 0196-5654
From 1869 - 1877 Sabin published The American Bibliopolist. A Literary Register and Monthly Catalogue of Old and New Books, and Repository of Notes and Queries. It included literary notes and gossip, notices of forthcoming books and auction sales, advertisements, and catalogs of books for sale by J. Sabin & Sons.The American Bibliopolist is available online and in many libraries.The American Bibliopolist volumes 1-9.
His sons Robert T. Sabin and William W. Sabin also worked in the bookselling business and opened a branch in London.
Sabin handled sales of major collections such as the record-breaking sale of the collection of William Menzies in 1876.Menzies, William, and Joseph Sabin. 1876. List of Prices for Which the Books, Engravings, Etc., Belonging to Mr. William Menzies Were Sold on Monday, November 13, 1876 : And the Five Following Days at the Auction Rooms of Messrs. G.A. Leavitt & Co., Clinton Hall, New York. New York: J. Sabin & Sons.
At the sale of the library of the musicologist and rare book collector, Edward Francis Rimbault, in 1877, Sabin served as an agent for the banker and collector, Joseph W. Drexel, in his large purchase of portions of the 1877 auction, held in London from July 31 to August 7.A. Hyatt King, Catalog of the Music Library of Edward Francis Rimbault Sold at London 31 July-7 August 1877, with the Library of Dr. Rainbeau, reprint (Buren: Frits Knuf, 1975), p. viii.
The last book Sabin sold at auction was a Gutenberg Bible.New York Times, April 8, 1881; DEATH OF JOSEPH SABIN: SKETCH OF THE DISTINGUISHED BIBLIOPHILE'S CAREER. New York Times (1857-1922). Jun 06 1881:5.
See also Books in the United States
References
Further reading
Bibliotheca Americana + via HathiTrust Individual volumesvia Internet Archive Volume From To Year Volume 1 A Bedford 1868 Volume 2 Bedinger Brownell 1869 Volume 3 Brownell Chesbrough [12513] 1870 Volume 4 Cheshire [12516] Costa [17013] 1871 Volume 5 Costa [17015] Du Moulin [21221] 1873 Volume 6 Du Moulin [21222] Franklin [25489] 1873 Volume 7 Franklin [25490] Hall [29818] 1875 Volume 8 Hall [29820] Huntingdon [33970] 1877 Volume 9 Huntington [33971] LaCroix [38495] 1877 Volume 10 LaCroix [38497] M’Clary [43005] 1878 Volume 11 McClean [43006] Mémoire [47520] 1879 Volume 12 Mémoire [47524] Nederland [52224] 1880 Volume 13 Nederland [52225] Omai [57263] 1881 Volume 14 Omaña [57265] Philadelphia [61980] 1884 Volume 15 Philadelphia [61982] Providence [66280] 1885 Volume 16 Providence [66281] Remarks [69511] 1886 Volume 17 Remarks [69513] Ross [73344] 1888 Volume 18 Ross [73345] Schedae [77522] 1889 Volume 19 Schedel [77523] Simms [81225] 1891 Volume 20 Simms (W.G.) [81226] Smith (Seba) [84187] 1892-1928 Volume 21 Smith (Seb. B.) [84188] Solis Y Valenzuela [86498] 1929-31 Volume 22 Solis Y Valenzuela [86499] Spiritual Manifestations [89519] 1931-32 Volume 23 Spiritual Maxims [89520] Storrs [92256] 1932-33 Volume 24 Storrs [92257] Ternaux-Compans [94853] 1933-34 Volume 25 Ternaux-Compans [94854] Tucker [97361] 1934 Volume 26 Tucker [97362] Vindex [99774] 1935 Volume 27 Vindex [99775] Weeks [102461] 1936 Volume 28 Weeks [102462] Witherspoon [104937] 1936 Volume 29 Witherspoon [104938] Zwey [106413] 1936
External links (collection guide) Correspondence and bills from J. Sabin & Sons, 1877-1878 (with Joseph W. Drexel) in the Music Division of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Product based on Sabin's Bibliotheca Americana