Bernard Quaritch (1819-1899) was born in Worbis (Germany). At an early age he began working for booksellers in the cities of Nordhausen and Berlin. In 1842 he went to London and went to work for Henry Bohn. Later, in 1847, he established his own business in the capital and became one of the biggest booksellers of the time. His son, Bernard Alfred, continued the business until 1913, when it passed to his sisters.