How to Form a Library, 2nd ed

(France.)—Lelong (J.). Bibliothèque Historique (1768-78, 5 vols, folio). "Les Sources de l'Histoire de France," by A. Franklin, was published in 1877.

History (Germany.)—Bibliographical Essay on the Scriptores Rerum Germanicarum, by A. Asher, was published in 1843.

(Holland.)—Nijhoff. Bibliotheca Historico-Neerlandica. La Haye, 1871.

(Italy.)—Lichtenthal (P.). Manuale Bibliografico del Viaggiatore in Italia. Milano, 1844. A Catalogue of Sir Richard Colt Hoare's Collection of Books relating to the History and Topography of Italy was printed in 1812. The Collection was presented to the British Museum by Hoare in 1825.

(Portugal.)—Figaniere. Bibliographia Historica Portugueza. Lisboa, 1850.

(Spain.)—Munoz y Romero. Diccionario bibliografico-historico … de Espana. Madrid, 1858.

Language.—See Dictionaries, Philology.

Law.—Mr. Stephen R. Griswold contributed an article on Law Libraries to the U.S. Report on Libraries (pp. 161-170). He writes, "Law books may be classified generally as follows: Reports, Treatises, Statute Law. The practice of reporting the decisions of the Judges began in the reign of Edward I., and from that time we have a series of judicial reports of those decisions. In the time of Lord Bacon, these reports extended to fifty or sixty volumes. During the two hundred and fifty years that have passed since then, nothing has been done by way of revision or expurgation; but these publications have been constantly increasing, so that at the close of the year 1874 the published volumes of reports were as follows: English, 1350 volumes; Irish, 175 volumes; Scotch, 225 volumes; Canadian, 135 volumes; American, 2400 volumes. With respect to treatises (including law periodicals and digests), and without including more than one edition of the same work, it is safe to say that a fair collection would embrace at least 2000 volumes. The statute law of the United States, if confined to the general or revised statutes and codes, may be brought within 100 volumes. If, however, the sessional acts be included, the collection would amount to over 1500 volumes. It is thus seen that a fairly complete law library would embrace more than 7000 volumes, which could not be placed upon its shelves for less than $50,000."

Law.—There is a useful list of legal bibliographies in the "Hand-list of Bibliographies in the Reading-room of the British Museum" (pp. 40-44). Clarke's Bibliotheca Legum, which was compiled by Hartwell Horne (1819), is a valuable work. Marvin's Legal Bibliography, which was published at Philadelphia in 1847, contains 800 pages. The Catalogue of the Law Library in the New York State Library (1856), forms a useful guide to the subject, and Herbert G. Sweet's "Complete Catalogue of Modern Law Books" is one of the latest catalogues of authority.

Mathematics.—A really good bibliography of Mathematics is still wanting. The following books, however, all from Germany, are useful.

Mathematics.—Murhard (F.W.A.). Bibliotheca Mathematica. Lipsiæ, 1797-1804. 4 vols.

–– Rogg (J.). Handbuch der Mathematischen Literatur. Tübingen, 1830.

–– Sohncke (L.A.). Bibliotheca Mathematica. 1830-54. Leipsic, 1854.

–– Erlecke (A.). Bibliotheca Mathematica. Halle-a.-S., 1873.

–– Professor De Morgan's Arithmetical Books (1847) is a model of what a good bibliography ought to be.

Medical.—Dr. Billings contributed a chapter on "Medical Libraries in the United States" to the U.S. Report on Public Libraries (pp. 171-182), in which he wrote—"The record of the researches, experiences, and speculations relating to Medical Science during the last four hundred years is contained in between two and three hundred thousand volumes and pamphlets; and while the immense majority of these have little or nothing of what we call 'practical value,' yet there is no one of them which would not be called for by some inquirer if he knew of its existence." The writer added a list of works of reference which should be in every Medical Library.

There have been a specially large number of Medical Bibliographies, from Haller's works downwards. James Atkinson's Medical Bibliography (1834, A and B only), is an amusing book, but of little or no utility. The most useful books are Dr. Billings's Index Catalogue of the Library of the Surgeon-General's Office (Washington, 1880) and the Catalogue of the Library of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society (3 vols. 1879), by B.R. Wheatley. Neale's Medical Digest (1877) forms a convenient guide to the medical periodicals. The two great French dictionaries—Raige-Delorme and A. Dechambre, Dictionnaire Encyclopédique des Sciences Médicales (4 series, commenced in 1854, and still in progress); Jaccoud, Nouveau Dictionnaire de Médecine et de Chirurgie Pratiques (1864, and still in progress)—contain very valuable references to the literature of the various subjects. Of special subjects may be mentioned H. Haeser's Bibliotheca Epidemiographica (1843), John S. Billings's Bibliography of Cholera in the Report of the Cholera Epidemic of 1873 in the United States (1875, pp. 707-1025), Beer's Bibliotheca Ophthalmica (1799), Dr. E.J. Waring's Bibliotheca Therapeutica (1878-79, 2 vols. 8vo.), and Bibliography of Embryology, in Balfour's Embryology, vol. ii.

Meteorology.—A full bibliography of books and papers upon Meteorology is being prepared at the United States Signal Office, and it is reported that 48,000 titles are now in the office. There have been several articles on this subject in Symons's Meteorological Magazine, the last being in the number for December, 1885.

Mineralogy.—Dana (J.D.). Bibliography of Mineralogy. 1881. 8vo.

Mining.—Wigan Free Public Library Index Catalogue of Books and Papers relating to Mining, Metallurgy, and Manufactures. By Henry Tennyson Folkard, Librarian. Southport, 1880. Roy. 8vo.

Motion (Perpetual).—Perpetuum Mobile; or, search for Self-Motive Power during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, illustrated from various authentic sources in papers, essays, letters, paragraphs, and numerous Patent Specifications, with an Introductory Essay. By Henry Dircks, C.E. London, 1861. Sm. 8vo. Second Series. London, 1870. Sm. 8vo.

Music.—Engel (C.). The Literature of National Music. London, 1879. 8vo.

–– Catalogue of the Library of the Sacred Harmonic Society. A new edition [by W.H. Husk]. London, 1872. 8vo.

–– Rimbault (F.). Bibliotheca Madrigaliana, a Bibliographical Account of the Musical and Poetical Works published in England during the 16th and 17th centuries, under the titles of Madrigals, Ballets, Ayres, Canzonets, etc. London, 1847. 8vo.

There are bibliographies of the subject in F.L. Kilter's History of Music, London, 1876, and F. Clement, Histoire générale de la Musique Religieuse. Paris, 1861.

Natural History.—Dryander's Catalogue of Sir Joseph Banks's Library, now in the British Museum, is the most famous bibliography of this subject, although made so many years ago. It consists of 5 vols. 8vo. (1798-1800). Vol. 1, General Writers; Vol. 2, Zoology; Vol. 3, Botany; Vol. 4, Mineralogy; Vol. 5, Supplement.

Natural History.—Engelmann (W.). Bibliotheca Historico-Naturalis. Leipzig, 1846.

–– Zuckold (E.A.). Bibliotheca Historico-Naturalis, Physico-Chemica et Mathematica. Göttingen, 1852.

–– See Zoology.

Philology.—Marsden (W.) Bibliotheca Marsdenia, Philologica et Orientalis. London, 1827. 4to.

–– Engelmann (W.). Bibliotheca Philologica. Leipzig, 1853.

–– See Dictionaries.

Political Economy.—McCulloch (J.R.) The Literature of Political Economy, London, 1845.—This is a very valuable work up to the date of publication, but a good bibliography of the subject is still a desideratum. The late Professor Stanley Jevons proposed to draw up a Handy Book of the Literature for the Index Society, but, to the great loss of bibliography, was prevented by other work from undertaking it. He contributed a list of Selected Books in Political Economy to the Monthly Notes of the Library Association (Vol. 3, No. 7).

Poor.—A Catalogue of Publications in the English Language on subjects relative to the Poor will be found in Eden's State of the Poor, vol. iii. pp. ccclxvii—ccclxxxvi.

Printing.—Bigmore (E.C.), and Wyman (C.W.H.). A Bibliography of Printing, with Notes and Illustrations. London, 1880. 4to.

–– The Literature of Printing. A Catalogue of the Library illustrative of the History and Art of Typography, Chalcography, and Lithography, by R.M. Hoe. London, 1877. 8vo.

The following is a list of some of the bibliographies of the productions of the chief printers:

Aldus.—Annales de l'Imprimerie des Alde ou Histoire des trois Manuce et de leurs éditions. Par Ant. Aug. Renouard. Paris, an XII. Seconde édition. Paris, 1825. 8vo. 3 vols.

Caxton.—The Life and Typography of William Caxton, England's first Printer, with evidence of his typographical connection with Colard Mansion, the Printer at Bruges. Compiled from original sources by William Blades. London, 1861-63. 2 vols. 4to. A condensed edition was published under the following title: The Biography and Typography of William Caxton, England's first Printer. By William Blades. Second edition. London, 1882. 8vo.

Elzevirs.—Willems (A.). Les Elzevier. Histoire et Annales Typographiques. Bruxelles, 1880. 8vo.

–– C. Pieters. Annales de l'Imprimerie des Elsevier. Gand, 1858. 8vo.

Plantin.—La Maison Plantin à Anvers. Par L. Degeorge. Deuxième édition, augmentée d'une liste chronologique des ouvrages imprimés par Plantin à Anvers de 1555 à 1589. Bruxelles, 1878. 8vo.

Stephens.—Annales de l'Imprimerie des Estienne, ou Histoire de la Famille, des Estienne et de ses éditions. Par A.A. Renouard. Paris, 1837-38. 8vo. 2 parts.

Privately Printed Books.—The second edition of John Martin's Bibliographical Catalogue of Privately Printed Books was published in 1854, and a newer work on this important subject is much required. Mr. W.P. Courtney has been engaged in the production of such a work for some years, and the labour could not be in better hands.

Proverbs.—The Bibliographie Parémiologique of Pierre Alexandre Gratet-Duplessis (1847), is one of the most elaborate and carefully compiled bibliographies ever published. Sir William Stirling Maxwell printed privately a catalogue of his collection of books of proverbs, in which were specially marked those unknown to Duplessis, or those published since the issue of his catalogue.

Science.—An article on the Scientific Libraries in the United States was contributed by Dr. Theodore Gill to the U.S. Report on Public Libraries (pp. 183-217). It contains an account of the various periodical records of work in the various departments of science.

Shorthand.—Thomas Anderson's History of Shorthand, London (1882), contains Lists of Writers on Shorthand in different languages.

Theology.—There is an article on Theological Libraries in the United States, in the U.S. Report on Public Libraries (pp. 127-160). The following extract contains some particulars respecting these.—"There are reported twenty-four libraries, which contain from 10,000 to 34,000 volumes; and these twenty-four libraries belong to ten different denominations. Three Baptist, two Catholic, two Congregational, three Episcopal, one Lutheran, two Methodist, seven Presbyterian, one Reformed (Dutch), one Reformed (German), and two Unitarian. And, if we include those libraries which contain less than 10,000 volumes, the list of different denominations to which they belong is extended to fifteen or sixteen."

A considerable number of Bibliographies of Theology will be found in the British Museum Hand-list. Darling's Cyclopædia Bibliographica (1854-59), Malcom's Theological Index (Boston, 1868), and Zuchold's Bibliotheca Theologica (Göttingen, 1864), may be specially mentioned.

Topography.—Gough's British Topography (2 vols. 4to. 1780) is an interesting and useful book, and Upcott's Bibliographical Account of the principal works relating to British Topography, 3 vols. 8vo. (1818), forms one of the best specimens of English bibliography extant.

Topography.—Mr. J.P. Anderson's Book of British Topography (1881) is an indispensable book. Mr. Robert Harrison has prepared for the Index Society an Index of Books on Topography, arranged in one alphabet of places, which has not yet been published. Mr. W.H.K. Wright contributed a paper on "Special Collections of Local Books in Provincial Libraries" to the Transactions of the First Annual Meeting of the Library Association, 1878 (pp. 44-50). Another paper on the same subject, by Mr. J.H. Nodal, appears in the Transactions of the Second Annual Meeting of the Library Association, 1879 (pp. 54-60), entitled "Special Collections of Books in Lancashire and Cheshire," and in the Appendix (pp. 139-148) is a full account of these collections in Public Libraries and private hands.

An indication of some of the chief bibliographies of particular counties and places is here added—

Cornwall: Boase & Courtney, 1874-82. 3 vols. A model bibliography.

Devonshire: J. Davidson, 1852.

  "  Plymouth (Three Towns' Bibliotheca), R.N. Worth, 1872-73.

Dorsetshire: C.H. Mayo, privately printed, 1885.

Gloucestershire: Bibliotheca Gloucestrensis, J. Washbourn, 1823-25.

Gloucestershire: Collectanea Glocestriensia, J.D. Phelps, 1842.

Hampshire: Bibliotheca Hantoniensis, H.M. Gilbert, 1872?

  "  List of Books, Sir W.H. Cope, 1879.

Herefordshire: J. Allen, jun., 1821.

Kent: J. Russell Smith, 1837.

Lancashire: H. Fishwick, 1875.

Man (Isle of): W. Harrison, 1876.

Norfolk: S. Woodward and W.C. Ewing, 1842.

Nottinghamshire: S.F. Creswell, 1863.

Sussex: G.S. Butler, 1866.

Yorkshire: Rt. Hon. John Smythe, Pontefract, 1809.

  "  E. Hailstone, 1858.

  "  W. Boyne, 1869.

Trade and Finance.—Catalogue of Books, comprising the Library of William Paterson, Founder of the Bank of England, in vol. iii. of the Collection of his "Writings, edited by Saxe Bannister," (3 vols. 8vo. London, 1859).

–– Enslin und Engelmann. Bibliothek der Handlungswissenschaft 1750-1845. Leipzig, 1856.

Trials.—The Catalogue of the Library of the Philosophical Institution of Edinburgh (1857) contains (pp. 297-319) a very useful list of trials in an alphabet of the persons tried. The table is arranged under name, charge, date of trial, and reference.

Voyages and Travels.—Locke's Catalogue and character of most books of Voyages and Travels is interesting on account of Locke's notes. (Locke's Works, 1812, 10 vols. 8vo., vol. x. pp. 513-564.)

There are catalogues of books of travels in Pinkerton's collection (1814), and Kerr's collection (1822).

–– Boucher de la Richaderie, Bibliothèque Universelle des Voyages, Paris, 1808. 6 vols. 8vo.

–– Engelmann (W.). Bibliotheca Geographica. Leipzig, 1858.

Zoology.—Agassiz's Bibliographia Zoologicæ et Geologicæ, published by the Ray Society, 1848-54, was a useful book in its day, but it is of no value bibliographically, and the titles being mostly taken at second-hand, the work is full of blunders.

–– Carus and Engelmann's Bibliotheca Zoologica, Leipzig 1861, forms a Supplement to the Bibliotheca Historico-Naturalis of Engelmann.

–– Carus and Engelmann's Bibliotheca Zoologica, Leipzig 1861, forms a Supplement to the Bibliotheca Historico-Naturalis of Engelmann.

A large number of bibliographies of particular authors have been published in this country and abroad, and it may be useful here to make a note of some of these.

Ariosto, Orlando Furioso: Ulisse Guidi, Bologna, 1861, 1868. G.J. Ferrazzi, Bassano, 1881.

Boccaccio: M. Landau, Napoli, 1881.

Burns: J. Mackie, Kilmar, 1866.

Calderon: E. Dorer, Leipzig, 1881.

Camoens: Adamson's Life of Camoens, vol. 2, 1820.

Cervantes: E. Dorer, Leipzig, 1881.

Corneille: E. Picot, Paris, 1876.

Dante: Bibliografia Dantesca, Prato, 1845-46. C.U.J. Chevalier, 1877. G.A. Scartazzini, Dante in Germania, 1881. J. Petzholdt, Dresden, 1880.

Goethe: S. Hirzel, 1878.

Luther: E.G. Vogel, Halle, 1851. J. Edmands, Philadelphia, 1883.

Manzoni: A. Vosmara, Milano, 1875.

Molière: P. Lacroix, Paris, 1875.

Montaigne: J.F. Payer, Paris, 1837.

Persius: J. Tarlier, Bruxelles, 1848.

Petrarch: Marsand, Milano, 1826.

  "  A. Hortis, Trieste, 1874.

  "  G.J. Ferrazzi, Bassano, 1877. C.U.J. Chevalier, Montpéliard, 1880.

Rabelais: J.C. Brunet, Paris, 1852.

Schiller: L. Unflad, München, 1878.

Tasso: G.J. Ferrazzi, Bassano, 1880.

Voltaire: G. Bengesco, Paris, 1882.

Browning: F.J. Furnivall, Browning Society, 1881-2.

Carlyle: R.H. Shepherd, 1882.

Defoe: M. Stace, 1829; Wilson, 1830; Lee, 1862.

Dickens: R.H. Shepherd, 1881.

  "  J. Cook, Paisley, 1879.

Hazlitt, Leigh Hunt, Charles Lamb: A. Ireland, 1868.

Ruskin: R.H. Shepherd, 1882.

Shakespeare: J. Wilson, 1827; J.O. Halliwell, 1841; Moulin, 1845; Sillig and Ulrici, 1854; H.G. Bohn, 1864; F. Thimm, 1865-72; K. Knortz, 1876; Unflad, 1880; Justin Winsor (Poems); Birmingham Memorial Library Catalogue (J.D. Mullens).

Shelley: H.B. Forman, 1886.

Tennyson: R.H. Shepherd, 1879.

Thackeray: R.H. Shepherd, 1881.

Wycliffe: J. Edmands, 1884.

Dr. Garnett commenced a MS. list of such special bibliographies as he came across in Treatises on the different subjects. This list is added to and kept in the Reading Room for use by the Librarians. I was allowed the privilege of referring to this very useful list.

CHAPTER VII.

Publishing Societies

A large amount of important information is to be found in the publications of the numerous Societies formed for the purpose of supplying to their subscribers valuable works which are but little likely to find publishers. These publications have in a large number of instances added to our knowledge of history and literature considerably. The Societies have much increased of late years, but no record of the publications is easily to be obtained, since the full account given in Bohn's Supplement to Lowndes's Bibliographer's Manual.

The earliest of Publishing Societies was the Dilettanti Society, instituted in London in 1734, which issued some fine illustrated volumes of classical travel. A long period of time elapsed without any societies of a similar character being formed.

The Roxburghe Club formed in the year 1812 in commemoration of the sale of the magnificent library of John third Duke of Roxburghe (died March 19, 1804). It was chiefly intended as a Social Club, and a long list of bibliographical toasts was run through at the banquets. The publications were not at first of any great literary value, although some of them were curious and interesting. After a time competent editors were employed, and some important works produced. Sir Frederick Madden's editions of "Havelok the Dane" was issued in 1828, of the Romance of "William and the Werwolf" in 1832, and of the old English version of "Gesta Romanorum" in 1838. The valuable "Manners and Household Expenses of England in the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Centuries," edited by T. Hudson Turner, was presented to the Club by Beriah Botfield in 1841; Payne Collier's edition of the "Household Books of John Duke of Norfolk, and Thomas Earl of Surrey, 1481-1490," was issued in 1844, and his "Five Old Plays illustrative of the Early Progress of the English Drama" in 1851; the Rev. Joseph Stevenson's edition of "The Owl and the Nightingale, a Poem of the Twelfth Century," was issued in 1838, and his edition of "The Ayenbite of Inwyt" in 1855; John Gough Nichols's edition of the "Literary Remains of King Edward the Sixth" appeared in 1857 and 1858 (2 vols.), and Dr. Furnivall's edition of Henry Lonelich's "Seynt Graal" in 1863-1864.

Several years elapsed before the second great Printing Club was founded. In 1823 The Bannatyne Club was started in Edinburgh, chiefly by Sir Walter Scott, for the purpose of printing works illustrative of the History, Antiquities and Literature of Scotland. It derives its names from George Bannatyne (born Feb. 22, 1545, died 1607). A long series of books have been issued by the Club to its members, many of which are of great interest. The Catalogue of the Abbotsford Library was presented in 1839 to the members "by Major Sir Walter Scott, Bart., as a slight return for their liberality and kindness in agreeing to continue to that Library the various valuable works printed under their superintendence." In the same year appeared Sir Frederick Madden's edition of Sir Gawayne. Bishop Gawin Douglas's "Palace of Honour" was printed in 1827, and his translation of Virgil's "Æneid" in 1839 (2 vols.). The Club was closed in 1867.

The Maitland Club, which derived its name from Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington (born in 1496, died March 20, 1586), was instituted in Glasgow in 1828. A volume containing "The Burgh Records of the City of Glasgow, 1573 to 1581," was presented to the Club in 1832-34; the Poems of Drummond of Hawthornden in 1832; Robert Wodrow's "Collection upon the Lives of the Reformers and most eminent Ministers of the Church of Scotland" in 1834-45 (2 vols.). Dauncey's Ancient Scottish Melodies in 1838. Sir Bevis of Hamtoun in the same year, the Metrical Romance of Lancelot du Lak in 1839; Wodrow's Analecta, or Materials for a History of Remarkable Providences, in 1842-3 (4 vols.). Henry Laing's Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Seals, in 1850. The Club was closed in 1859.

The Abbotsford Club was founded in honour of Sir Walter Scott in 1834, by Mr. W.B.D.D. Turnbull. The first book (issued in 1835) was a volume of "Ancient Mysteries from the Digby MS."; "Arthur and Merlin, a Metrical Romance," was printed in 1838; "Romances of Sir Guy of Warwick and Rembrun his Son," in 1840; "The Legend of St. Katherine of Alexandra," in 1841; "Sir Degaree, a Metrical Romance of the end of the nineteenth century," in 1849. The Club was closed in 1866.

These Printing Clubs were select in their constitution, and the books being printed for the members in small numbers, they are difficult to obtain and their price is high.

With the foundation of the Camden Society an entirely new system was adopted, and the general body of book lovers, poor as well as rich, were appealed to with great success, and valuable books were supplied to the subscribers at a price which would have been impossible without such means. The Camden Society is entitled to this honour on account of the general interest of its publications, but the Surtees Society was actually the first to inaugurate the new system. The subscription fixed was double that which the founders of the Camden Society adopted, but it was, perhaps, a bolder step to start a Society, appealing to a somewhat restricted public with a two guinea subscription, than to appeal to the whole reading public with a subscription of one pound. Before saying more of the Surtees and Camden Societies, it will be necessary to mention some other printing clubs which preceded them.

The Oriental Translation Fund was established in 1828, with the object of publishing Translations from Eastern MSS. into the languages of Europe. When the issue of books was discontinued, the stock of such books as remained was sold off, and many of these can still be obtained at a cheap rate.

The Iona Club was instituted in 1833, for the purpose of investigating the History, Antiquities, and early Literature of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, but little has been done in the way of publication. The first book was "Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis," and the second, "Transactions of the Club," vol. i. in 4 parts. A second volume was announced, but never appeared.

The Surtees Society was founded at Durham in 1834 for the publication of inedited Manuscripts, illustrative of the moral, the intellectual, the religious, and the social condition of those parts of England and Scotland included on the East, between the Humber and the Frith of Forth, and on the west, between the Mersey and the Clyde, a region which constituted the ancient kingdom of Northumberland. The Society is named after Robert Surtees, of Mainforth, author of the "History of the County Palatine of Durham." Although founded more than fifty years ago, the Society is still flourishing, and carried on with the same vigour as of old. The series of publications is a long one, and contains a large number of most important works. The second book issued was "Wills and Inventories, illustrative of the History, Manners, Language, Statistics, etc., of the Northern Counties of England, from the Eleventh Century downwards" (Part 2 was issued in 1860); the third, "The Towneley Mysteries or Miracle Plays"; the fourth, "Testamenta Eboracensia: Wills illustrative of the History, Manners, Language, Statistics, etc., of the Province of York, from 1300" (vol. 1). The second volume of this series was issued in 1855. "Anglo-Saxon and Early English Psalter" was issued in 1843-44 (2 vols.); "The Durham Household Book; or, the Accounts of the Bursar of the Monastery of Durham, from 1530 to 1534," in 1844.