The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Hoe, Robert (manufacturer)

HOE, Robert, American manufacturer: b. 1839; d. 1909. He is a nephew of Richard M. Hoe (q.v). He became the head of the Hoe firm, and maintained its high position among establishments of its class. A founder of the Grolier Club of New York, he was also its first president. He was an extensive collector of rare books and manuscripts as well as of silver, miniatures and other art objects, his collections at the time of his death being valued at several million dollars. He published an edition (1880) of Maberley's &lsquo;Print Collector,&rsquo; and wrote &lsquo;A Short History of the Printing Press&rsquo; (New York 1902); &lsquo;Bookbinding as a Fine Art&rsquo; (Grolier Club, id. 1886). Consult biographical sketch by Gilliss in &lsquo;New York Genealogical and Biographical Record&rsquo; (Vol. XII, ib. 1910).