A Collection of Collectors

HE printed book is the only technology where the first version still remains the best," says Nick Basbanes, widely regarded as the greatest living book scholar.

- VR FEROSE (The author is a technologist based in Silicon Valley who is gently mad about books)

HE printed book is the only technology where the first version still remains the best," says Nick Basbanes, widely regarded as the greatest living book scholar. He was referring to the 42-line Gutenberg Bible, which he had the rare opportunity to feel and touch—the only privately-held copy, owned by William H Scheide.

At 81, Basbanes is still deeply immersed in his work, currently writing his 11th book. His first book, A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books, will soon celebrate its 30th anniversary. The Wall Street Journal hailed it as the most influential book on book collecting in the 20th century.

Despite writing nine more books since then, A Gentle Madness remains his masterpiece, fundamentally altering book collecting in the US.