RICHARD

See also:

• HEBER, REGINALD (1783-1826)
• RICHARD HEBER (1773-1833)

HEBER (1773-1833)  , English book-collector, the half-brother of Reginald Heber, was born in London on the 5th of January 1773 . As an undergraduate at Brasenose College, Oxford, he began to collect a purely classical library, but his taste broadening, he became interested in early English drama and literature, and began his wonderful collection of rare books in these departments . He attended continental book-sales, purchasing sometimes single volumes, sometimes whole libraries . Sir Walter Scott, whose intimate friend he was, and who dedicated to him the sixth canto of Marmion, classed Heber's library as " superior to all others in the world "; Campbell described him as " the fiercest and strongest of all the bibliomaniacs." He did not confine himself to the purchase of a single copy of a work which:took his f ancy . "No gentleman," he remarked, " can be without three copies of a book, one for show, one for use, and one for borrowers." To such a size did his library grow that it over-ran eight houses, some in England, some on the Continent . It is estimated to have cost over oo,000, and after his death the sale of that part of his collection stored in England realized more than £56,000 . He is known to have owned 15o,000 volumes, and probably many more . He possessed extensive landed property in Shropshire and Yorkshire, and was sheriff of the former county in 1821, was member of Parliament for Oxford University from 182x-1826, and in 1822 was made a D.C.L. of that University . He was one of the founders of the Athenaeum Club, London . He died in London on the 4th of October 1833 .