Asklemmy

Collecting books for show was such a thing it was used as a literary device in the Great Gatsby.

See back then, books were mass produced via multiple stitched together folded booklets, much as they are now, but they didn't have the cutting technology to trim the edges.

So readers would have their own "book knife" or "paper knife" and cut the folded pages apart to be able to read them (resulting in a "deckled edge" which is now simulated these days in some printings.)

So when Gatsby's library is carefully inspected:

"A stout, middle-aged man, with enormous owl-eyed spectacles, was sitting somewhat drunk on the edge of a great table, staring with unsteady concentration at the shelves of books. As we entered he wheeled excitedly around and examined Jordan from head to foot.

"What do you think?" he demanded impetuously.

"About what?'

He waved his hand toward the book-shelves.

"About that. As a matter of fact you needn't bother to ascertain. I ascertained. They're real.

"The books?"

He nodded.

"Absolutely real - have pages and everything. I thought they'd be a nice durable cardboard.  Matter of face, they're absolutely real. Pages and - Here! Lemme show you."

Taking our scepticism for granted, he rushed to the book-cases and returned with Volume One of the Stoddard Lectures.

"See!" he cried triumphantly. "It's a bona-fide piece of printed matter. It fooled me. This fella's a regular Belasco. It's a triumph. What thoroughness! What realism! Knew when to stop, too - didn't cut the pages. But what do you want? What do you expect?"

He snatched the book from me and replaced it hastily on its shelf, muttering that if one brick was removed the whole library was liable to collapse."