He bought and sold numerous items throughout his life, including eight Gutenberg Bibles, more than 30 Shakespeare's First Folios,[3] a copy of the Bay Psalm Book and the manuscripts of Ulysses and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

[3] His philanthropic contributions include donating his collection of children's books to the Free Library of Philadelphia, establishing the A.S.W.

Shortly after he changed his first name from Meier to Morris and entered the shirt business, selling overalls and underwear.

[7] At the age of 9, Rosenbach began helping out in the shop of his maternal uncle, Moses Polock (May 14, 1817 – August 16, 1903), who was a well-known and somewhat eccentric antiquarian bookseller.

[9] At the age of 11, Rosenbach started collecting books when he purchased an illustrated edition of Reynard the Fox at the auction house of Stanislaus Vincent Henkel.

He bought a first edition of Dr. Samuel Johnson's Prologue, which David Garrick recited at his first opening night as manager of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1747.

He earned his PhD from the school in 1901, his thesis was titled "The influence of Spanish literature in the Elizabethan and Stuart drama".

Next was a gift shop at 1320 Walnut Street, selling items like Christmas cards, prints, vases and statuettes.

[7] In this new venture, Rosenbach was responsible for dealing with books and his brother Philip antique furniture and art.

[7] In 1927, Rosenbach wrote of his decision to leave the world of academia for a life of book selling, writing:[10] "I felt a renegade.

I did not, when at college, appreciate what a high adventure the business was to prove, the excitement and anxiety of the chase, and that I had a better chance, a far greater opportunity, to unearth unpublished documents, and uncover original source-material, than ever I could have as an instructor in English in some university.

[13] In a letter to Harriet Shaw Weaver on May 24, 1924, referring to a telegram that misspelled the title as "Ullyses", Joyce wrote of Rosenbach in a limerick, saying:[14] "Rosy Brook he bought a book, Though he didn't know how to spell it.

Rosenbach purchased it in 1924 from Maggs Bros Ltd as part of a larger collection of Napoleonic relics including silverware, clothing, vestments, and other objects.

[20] Rosenbach used the penis as a conversation piece for parties, and in 1927 temporarily loaned it to the Museum of French Art in New York where it was displayed on a small velvet cushion.

[19] Rosenbach wrote several articles on his own experiences, thoughts and stories around his life as an antique book dealer.

It consists of 11 mystery stories about the fictional character Robert Hooker, a bibliophile who is tired of being rejected by high society for his lack of money and takes his revenge by tricking the rich out of their rare books and art.

[1] In 1946, a book made by thirty of Rosenbach's friends, entitled To Dr. R, featured a series of literary and bibliographical essays written in honor of his 70th birthday.

Writer Christopher Morley wrote of Rosenbach in his essay Notes on Rosy, which first appeared in the Saturday Review on December 24, 1927.

"Shortly before his death, he bequeathed his estate to The Philip H. and A. S. W. Rosenbach Foundation, which had been established in 1950 by the two brothers to foster interest in books, paintings, and other works of art.

The museum, which includes his original libraries and residential areas, provides an intimate setting for visitors to explore the brothers' collections of rare books, manuscripts, furniture, silver, paintings, prints, drawings and sculpture.

The collection has since grown to include the papers of poet Marianne Moore, Bram Stoker's notes for Dracula, and the drawings of Maurice Sendak.

Since 2003, the adjacent Maurice Sendak Building was added to the museum and offers spaces for public programs and exhibitions.

The commission commemorated Rosenbach's legacy as one of America's greatest rare book dealers and his lasting contributions to Philadelphia and beyond with a marker in front of the museum, located at 2008-2010 Delancey Place in the city's historic Rittenhouse Square neighborhood.

Rosenbach (1876 – 1952) Among America's most influential rare book dealers, he helped build many of the nation's great libraries.

He and his brother Philip established the Rosenbach Museum & Library to share their personal collection with the public.

"In 1928, Rosenbach bestowed to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania a gift for the purpose of establishing a lecture series on bibliography and book history.

The Rosenbach Company: A Tragicomedy premiered the 2004 Philadelphia Fringe Festival and was performed at The Public Theater in New York City in 2006.