How to Form a Library, 2nd ed

House with the Seven Gables.

Wandering Jew.

Mysteries of Paris.

Humphry Clinker.

Eugénie Grandet.

Knickerbocker's New York.

Charles O'Malley.

Harry Lorrequer.

Handy Andy.

Elsie Venner.

Challenge of Barletta.

Betrothed (Manzoni's).

Jane Eyre.

Counterparts.

Charles Auchester.

Tom Brown's Schooldays.

Tom Brown at Oxford.

Lady Lee's Widowhood.

Horseshoe Robinson.

Pilot.

Spy.

Last of the Mohicans.

My Novel.

On the Heights.

Bleak House.

Tom Jones.

Three Guardsmen.

Monte Christo.

Les Miserables.

Notre Dame.

Consuelo.

Fadette (Fanchon).

Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Woman in White.

Love me little love me long.

Two Years Ago.

Yeast.

Coningsby.

Young Duke.

Hyperion.

Kavanagh.

Bachelor of the Albany.

CHAPTER V.

GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHIES

A good collection of bibliographies is indispensable for a public library, and will also be of great use in a private library when its possessor is a true lover of books. One of the most valuable catalogues of this class of books is the "Hand-List of Bibliographies, Classified Catalogues, and Indexes placed in the Reading Room of the British Museum for Reference" (1881). It is not intended to give in this chapter anything like a complete account of these books, as a separate volume would be required to do justice to them. Here it will be sufficient to indicate some of the foremost works in the class. The catalogues of some of our chief libraries are amongst the most valuable of bibliographies for reference. The Catalogue of the Library of the London Institution is one of the handsomest ever produced.[19 - A Catalogue of the Library of the London Institution, systematically classed. [London] 1835. 5 vols. royal 8vo. Vol. 1 (1835), General Library; vol. 2 (1840), Tracts and Pamphlets arranged in alphabetical order as far as the letter F. (never completed); vol. 3 (1843), General Library, Additions; vol. 4 (1852), Additions from 1843 to 1852.] Unfortunately the cost of production was too great for the funds of the Institution, and the elaborate Catalogue of Tracts was discontinued after the letter F.

The London Library being a specially well-selected one, the catalogue (which is a good example of a short-titled catalogue) is particularly useful for ready reference.[20 - Catalogue of the London Library, 12, St. James's Square, S.W. With Preface, Laws and Regulations, List of Members and Classified Index of Subjects. By Robert Harrison. Fourth edition. Sold at the Library, 1875, royal 8vo. pp. 1022.–– Supplemental Volume, 1875-1880, sold at the Library, 1881, royal 8vo. pp. 219.]

The Royal Institution Library is very rich in British Topography, and the catalogue forms a convenient handbook.[21 - A New Classified Catalogue of the Library of the Royal Institution of Great Britain with Indexes of Authors and Subjects, and a list of Historical Pamphlets, Chronologically arranged. By Benjamin Vincent. London. Sold at the Royal Institution. 1857, 8vo. pp. xvii.-928.–– Vol. II., including the Additions from 1857 to 1882. London. Sold at the Royal Institution. 1882. 8vo. pp. xvii.-388.]

The Catalogue of the Patent Office Library is by no means a model, but the second volume forms a good book of reference.[22 - Catalogue of the Library of the Patent Office, arranged alphabetically. In two volumes: vol. 1, Authors; vol. 2, Subjects. London. Published and Sold at the Commissioners of Patents Sale Department. 1881-83. Royal 8vo.] Many other catalogues might be mentioned, but these will be sufficient for our present purpose. There is great want of a good Handbook of Literature, with the prices of the different books. Until this want is supplied good booksellers' catalogues will be found the most trustworthy guides. Pre-eminent among these are the catalogues of Mr. Quaritch, and the "Catalogue of upwards of fifty thousand volumes of ancient and modern books," published by Messrs. Willis and Sotheran in 1862. Mr. Quaritch's catalogues are classified with an index of subjects and authors.[23 - A General Catalogue of Books, offered for sale to the public at the affixed prices. By Bernard Quaritch London, 15, Piccadilly, 1880. 8vo. pp. x.-2395.] A previous General Catalogue was issued in 1874, and a Supplement 1875-77 (pp. iv. 1672). Now Mr. Quaritch is issuing in sections a new Catalogue on a still larger scale, which is of the greatest value.

For the study of early printed books, Hain,[24 - 1457-1500. Hain (L.). Repertorium Bibliographicum in quo libri omnes ab arte typographica inventa usque ad annum MD typis expressi, ordine alphabetico vel simpliciter enumerantur vel adcuratius recensentur. Stuttgartiæ, 1826-38. 2 vols. 8vo.] Panzer,[25 - 1457-1536. Panzer (G.W.). Annales Typographici ab artis inventæ origine ad annum 1536. Norimbergæ, 1793-1803. 11 vols. 4to.] and Maittaire's[26 - 1457-1664. Maittaire (M.). Annales Typographici ab artis inventæ origine ad annum 1664, cum Supplemento Michaelis Denisii. Hag. Com. et Viennæ, 1719-89. 7 vols in 11 parts.] books are indispensable.

For general literature Brunet's Manual[27 - Brunet (J.C.). Manuel du Libraire, cinquième édition. Paris, 1860-65. 6 vols. 8vo. Supplément par P. Deschamps et G. Brunet. Paris, 1878-80, 2 vols. Royal 8vo.] stands pre-eminent in its popularity. It has held its own since 1810, when it was first published in three volumes, demy octavo. Graesse's Trésor[28 - Graesse (J.G.T.). Trésor de Livres rares et précieux ou Nouveau Dictionnaire Bibliographique. Dresde, 1859-69. 7 vols. 4to.] is less known out of Germany, but it also is a work of very great value. Ebert's work[29 - Ebert (F.A.). Allgemeines bibliographisches Lexikon. Leipzig, 1821-30. 2 vols. 4to.–– A General Bibliographical Dictionary, from the German [by A. Brown]. Oxford, 1837. 4 vols. 8vo.] is somewhat out of date now, but it still has its use. Watt's Bibliotheca[30 - Watt (R.). Bibliotheca Britannica: a General Index to British and Foreign Literature. In two parts, Authors and Subjects. Edinburgh, 1824. 4 vols. 4to.] is one of the most valuable bibliographies ever published, chiefly on account of the index of subjects which gives information that cannot be found elsewhere. The titles were largely taken from second-hand sources, and are in many instances marred by misprints. Every one who uses it must wish that it was brought down to date, but it is scarcely likely that any one will sacrifice a life to such labour as would be necessary. Moreover, the popular feeling is somewhat adverse to universal bibliographies, and it is thought that the literature of his own country is sufficiently large a subject for the bibliographer to devote his time to.