Colin Franklin

Who is Colin Franklin?

Colin Ellis Franklin, MA, FSA is an English writer, bibliographer, book-collector and antiquarian bookseller. Franklin was born in Notting Hill, London into an affluent and influential British Jewish family. His father was Ellis Arthur Franklin, a London merchant banker and his mother was Muriel Frances Waley. His father's uncle was Herbert Samuel who was Home Secretary in 1916 and the first practising Jew to serve in the British Cabinet. He was also the first High Commissioner for the British Mandate of Palestine. His aunt Helen Caroline Franklin was married to Norman de Mattos Bentwich, who was Attorney General in the British Mandate of Palestine. She was active in trade union organisation and women's suffrage, and was later a member of the London County Council. His sister was the influential biophysicist Rosalind Franklin.

At school Colin developed an interest in William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites. He studied at St John's College, Oxford, and worked for some years in publishing before moving into antiquarian bookselling. He has specialised in the study of private presses and the book-arts, but has also written on Shakespeare, Japanese books and prints, Lord Chesterfield, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and on printing techniques and media.