Elliot Stock

Elliot Stock (1838 – 1 March 1911) was an English publisher and bibliophile who collected first editions. The publishing company that bore his name was in business from 1859 to 1939.

Early life and career His father was wealthy but died when Elliot was in his infancy. After education at Amersham Grammar School, Elliot Stock first worked for the firm of Piper, Stephenson, and Spence and then in 1857 became an apprentice to Mr. B. L. Green, a book-seller at 62, Paternoster Row.

Publisher In 1859 Stock acquired the business. B. L. Green was the brother of Dr. Green of the Religious Tract Society. In its early years, the firm of Elliot Stock was primarily engaged in publishing religious works.

In 1877 Stock published facsimile first editions of The Pilgrim's Progress, The Compleat Angler and George Herbert's The Temple. Every effort was made to recreate the actual type, paper, and binding of the original works in these facsimiles. Stock's firm published many other notable facsimile first editions, such as those for Robinson Crusoe, Rasselas and The Vicar of Wakefield. and publications on climbing in the Alps.

Stock died on 1st March 1911 and was buried in the dissenters section of the west side of Highgate Cemetery.