RICH, Obadiah, bibliophile, born in Truro, Massachusetts, 25 November, 1777; died in London, England, 20 January, 1850. He went to Spain in early years, served as United States consul in Valencia from 1816 till 1820, residing at Madrid, and as consul in Port Mahon from 1834 till 1835. He gathered a large collection of rare books and manuscripts relating to the early settlement and history of America, which he took to London, and constantly gave the benefit of his time and scholarship to authors and collectors. He compiled many valuable catalogues, which command high prices, and are of service to the historian and bibliophile. Among these are "A Catalogue of Books relating principally to America, arranged under the Years in which they were Printed, 1500-1700" (London, 1832); "Catalogue of Miscellaneous Books in all Languages" (1834); " Bibliotheca Americana; or, a Catalogue of Books in Various Languages, relating to America, printed since the Year 1700" (2 vols., London and New York, 1835) ; "Bibliotheca Americana Nova" (2 vols., London, 1846); and part of the " Bibliotheca Americana Vetus," the manuscript of which was accidentally left in a hackney-coach and lost George Ticknor, William H. Prescott, and George Bancroft testify to Mr. Rich's knowledge and valuable service, and Washington Irving, in a letter under (late of 17 September, 1857, says : "He was one of the most indefatigable, intelligent, and successful bibliographers in Europe. His house at Madrid was a literary wilderness, abounding with curious works and rare editions, in the midst of which he lived and moved and had his being, and in the midst of which I passed many months while employed on my work. He was withal a man of great truthfulness and simplicity of character, of an amiable and obliging disposition, and strict integrity." After his death his sons continued the business. Their stock of books finally passed into the possession of Edward G. Allen, of London, who issued a series of catalogues. There have been several auction sales of books in London purporting to be selections from the stock of Obadiah Rich, and it is believed that his collection has been dispersed in London.