[130]Daniel George Morhof, professor of poetry, eloquence, and history, was librarian of the University of Khiel. He published various works, but the above—the best edition of which is of the date of 1747—is by far the most learned and useful—"liber non sua laude privandus; cum primus fere fuerit Morhofius qui hanc amœniorum literarum partem in meliorum redigerit."Vogt., pref. ix., edit. 1793. Its leading error is the want of method. His "Princeps Medicus," 1665, 4to., is a very singular dissertation upon the cure of the evil by the royal touch; in the efficacy of which the author appears to have believed. His "Epistola de scypho vitreo per sonum humanæ vocis rupto," Kiloni, 1703, 4to.—which was occasioned by a wine merchant of Amsterdam breaking a wine-glass by the strength of his voice—is said to be full of curious matter. Morhof died A.D. 1691, in his 53rd year: beloved by all who knew the excellent and amiable qualities of his head and heart. He was so laborious that he wrote during his meals. His motto, chosen by himself,—Pietate, Candore, Prudentia, should never be lost sight of by bibliomaniacs! His library was large and select. These particulars are gleaned from theDict. Historique, Caen, 1789, vol. vi., p. 350.[131]A compendious account ofMaittairewill be found in the third edition of myIntroduction to the Knowledge of rare and valuable Editions of the Greek and Latin Classics, vol. i., p. 148. See too Mr. Beloe'sAnecdotes of Literature, &c., vol iii., p. ix. The various volumes of hisAnnales Typographiciare well described in theBibl. Crevenn., vol. v. p. 287. To these may be added, in the bibliographical department, hisHistoria Stephanorum, vitas ipsorum ac libros complectens, 1709, 8vo.—and theHistoria Typographorum aliquot Parisiensium vitas et libros complectens, 1717, 8vo.—Of these two latter works, (which, from a contemporaneous catalogue, I find were originally published at 4s.the common paper,) Mr. T. Grenville has beautiful copies uponlarge paper. The books are rare in any shape. The principal merit of Maittaire'sAnnales Typographiciconsists in a great deal of curious matter detailed in the notes; but the absence of the "lucidus ordo" renders the perusal of these fatiguing and unsatisfactory. The author brought a full and well-informed mind to the task he undertook—but he wanted taste and precision in the arrangement of his materials. The eye wanders over a vast indigested mass; and information, when it is to be acquired with excessive toil, is, comparatively, seldom acquired. Panzer has adopted an infinitely better plan, on the model of Orlandi; and if his materials had beenprintedwith the same beauty with which they appear to have been composed, and his annals had descended to as late a period as those of Maittaire, his work must have made us eventually forget that of his predecessor. The bibliographer is, no doubt, aware that of Maittaire's first volume there are two editions: why the author did not reprint, in the second edition (1733), the fac-simile of the epigram and epistle of Lascar prefixed to the edition of the Anthology, 1496, and the Disquisition concerning the ancient editions of Quintilian (both of which were in the first edition of 1719), is absolutely inexplicable. Maittaire was sharply attacked for this absurdity, in the "Catalogus Auctorum," of the "Annus Tertius Sæcularis Inv. Art. Typog.," Harlem, 1741, 8vo., p. 11. "Rara certe Librum augendi methodus! (exclaims the author) Satis patet auctorem hoc eo fecisse concilio, ut et primæ et secundæ Libri sui editioni pretium suum constaret, et una æque ac altera Lectoribus necessaria esset." Copies of the Typographical Antiquities by Maittaire, uponlarge paper, are now exceedingly scarce. The work, in this shape, has a noble appearance. While Maittaire was publishing his Typographical Annals,Orlandiput forth a similar work under the title of "Origine e Progressi della Stampa o sia dell' Arte Impressoria, e Notizie dell' Opere stampate dall' Anno 1462, sino all' Anno 1500." Bologna, 1722, 4to. Of this work, which is rather a compendious account of the several books published in the period above specified, there are copies upon strongwriting paper—which the curious prefer. Although I have a long time considered it as superseded by the labours of Maittaire and Panzer, yet I will not withhold from the reader the following critique: "Cet ouvrage doit presque nécessairement être annexé à celui de Maittaire à cause de plusieurs notices et recherches, qui le rendent fort curieux et intéressant."Bibl. Crevenn., vol. v., 286-7. As we are upon publications treating of Typography, we may notice the "Annalium Typographicorum selecta quædam capita," Hamb., 1740, 4to., ofLackman; andHirschius'ssupplement to the typographical labours of his predecessors—in the "Librorum ab Anno I. usque ad Annum L. Sec. xvi. Typis exscriptorum ex Libraria quadam supellectile, Norimbergæ collecta et observata, Millenarius I." &c. Noriberg, 1746, 4to. About this period was published a very curious, and now uncommon, octavo volume, of about 250 pages, bySeiz; called "Annus Tertius Sæcularis Inventæ Artis Typographicæ," Harlem, 1741—with several very interesting cuts relating to Coster, the supposed inventor of the art of printing. It is a little strange that Lysander, in the above account of eminent typographical writers, should omit to mentionChevillier—whoseL'Origine de l'Imprimerie de Paris, &c., 1694, 4to., is a work of great merit, and is generally found upon every bibliographer's shelf. Baillet had supplied him with a pretty strong outline, in his short account of Parisian printers. All the copies of Chevillier's book, which I have seen, are printed upon what is called Foxey paper. I believe there are none uponlarge paper. We may just noticeLa Caille'sHistoire de l'Imprimerie et de la Librarie, 1689, 4to., as a work full of errors. In order that nothing may be wanting to complete the typographical collection of the curious, let the "portraits of booksellers and printers, from ancient times to our own," published at Nuremberg, in 1726, folio—and "the Devices and Emblems" of the same, published at the same place, in 1730, folio, be procured, if possible. The Latin titles of these two latter works, both byScholtzius, will be found in theBibl. Crevenn.vol. v. 281. Renouard mentions the last in his "Annales de l'Imprimerie des Alde," vol. ii. p. 63. Meanwhile theMonumenta TypographicaofWolfius, Hamb., 1740, 2 vols., 8vo., embraces a number of curious and scattered dissertations upon this interesting and valuable art. It may be obtained for 8s.or 10s.at present! TheAmœnitatusLiterariæ, &c., ofSchelhornhad like to have been passed over. It was published in 14 small octavo volumes, at Frankfort and Leipsic, from the year 1725 to 1731 inclusive. TheAmœnitates Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ et Literariæ, of the same person, and published at the same place in two octavo volumes, 1738, should accompany the foregoing work. Both are scarce and sought after in this country. In the former there are some curious dissertations, with cuts, upon early printed books. Concerning the most ancient edition of the Latin Bibles, Schelhorn put forth an express treatise, which was published at Ulm in 1760, 4to. This latter work is very desirable to the curious in biblical researches, as one meets with constant mention of Schelhorn's bible. Let me not omitZapf'sAnnales Typographiæ Augustanæ, Aug. Vindel., 1778; which was republished, with copious additions, at Augsbourg, in two parts, 1786, 4to.—but unluckily, this latter is printed in the German language. Upon Spanish Typography (a very interesting subject), there is a dissertation by Raymond Diosdado Caballero, entitled "De Prima Typographiæ Hispanicæ Ætate Specimen," Rome, 1793, 4to.[132]From the Latin life ofLe Long, prefixed to hisBibliotheca Sacra, we learn that he was an adept in most languages, ancient and modern; and that "in that part of literature connected withBibliography(Typographorum et Librorum Historia), he retained every thing so correctly in his memory that he yielded to few literary men, certainly to no bookseller." Of the early years of such a man it is a pity that we have not a better account. HisBibliotheca Sacra, Paris, 1725, folio, has been republished byMaschandBoerner, in four volumes, 4to., 1778, and enriched with copious and valuable additions. This latter work is quite unrivalled: no young or old theologian, who takes any interest in the various editions of the Holy Scriptures, in almost all languages, can possibly dispense with such a fund of sacred literature. TheBibliothéque Historique de la France, 1719, folio, by the same learned and industrious bibliographer, has met with a fate equally fortunate.Fontetterepublished it in 1768, in five folio volumes, and has immortalized himself and his predecessor by one of the most useful and splendid productions that ever issued from the press. De Bure used to sell copies of it uponlarge paper, in sheets, for 258 livres: according to the advertisement subjoined to his catalogue of Count Macarty's books in 1779, 8vo. The presses of England, which groan too much beneath the weight of ephemeral travels and trumpery novels, are doomed, I fear, long to continue strangers to such works of national utility.[133]The chief labours of Fabricius ("Virελληνίχώτατος"—as Reimannus truly calls him), connected with the present object of our pursuit, have the following titles: 1. "Bibliotheca Græca, sive Notitia Scriptorum Græcorum, &c.," Hamb. 1705-8-14-18, &c., 4to., 14 vols.—of which a new edition is now published byHarles, with great additions, and a fresh arrangement of the original matter: twelve volumes have already been delivered to the public. 2.Bibliotheca Latina; first published in one volume, 1703—then in three volumes, 1721, and afterwards in two volumes, 1728, 4to.;—but the last and best edition is that of 1773, in three vols. 8vo., published by Ernesti at Leipsic—and yet not free from numerous errors. 3.Bibliographia Antiquaria, 1716, 4to.: a new edition of Schaffshausen, in 1760, 4to., has superseded the old one. A work of this kind in our own language would be very useful, and even entertaining. Fabricius has executed it in a masterly manner. 4.Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica, in quâ continentur variorum authorum tractatus de scriptoribus ecclesiasticis, Hamb., 1718, folio. An excellent work; in which the curious after theological tracts and their authors will always find valuable information. It is generally sharply contended for at book-auctions. 5.Bibliotheca Latina Mediæ et Infimæ Ætatis, &c., Leipsic, 1734, 6 vols. 8vo.—again, with Schoettgenius's supplement, in 1754, 4to., 6 vols. in 3. This latter is in every respect the best edition of a work which is absolutely indispensable to the philologist. A very excellent synopsis or critical account of Fabricius's works was published at Ams., 1738, in 4to., which the student should procure. Let me here recommend theHistoria Bibliothecæ Fabricianæ, compiled byJohn Fabricius, 1717-24, 6 vols. 4to., as a necessary and interesting supplement to the preceding works of John Albert Fabricius. I have often gleaned some curious bibliographical intelligence from its copious pages. The reader may consultBibl. Crevenn., vol. v., 272-3.[134]He is noticed here only as the author of "Idea Bibliothecæ Publicæ secundum classes scientiarum ordinandæ, fusior et contractior," and of the "Scriptores Rerum Brunswicarum," Hanov., 1707, fol., 3 vols. "The antiquarian, who blushes at his alliance with Thomas Hearne, will feel his profession ennobled by the name ofLeibnitz. That extraordinary genius embraced and improved the whole circle of human science; and, after wrestling with Newton and Clark in the sublime regions of geometry and metaphysics, he could descend upon earth to examine the uncouth characters and barbarous Latin of a chronicle or charter." Gibbon:Post. Works, vol. ii., 712. Consult alsoMem. de l'Inst., vol. v., 648.[135]I will not pretend to enumerate all the learned works ofBurchard Gotthlieb Struvius. His "Bibliotheca Librorum Rariorum" was published in 1719, 4to. The first edition of theBibliotheca Historicaappeared as early as 1705: a very valuable one was published by Buder, in 1740, 2 vols.: but the last, and by far the most copious and valuable, is that which exhibits the joint editorial labours ofBuderandMeusel, in eleven octavo volumes, 1782, 1802—though I believe it does not contain every thing which may be found in the edition of theBibl. Hist. Selecta, by Jugler, 1754, three vols. 8vo.: vide pp. iv. and vii. of the preface of Meusel's edition. TheBibl. Hist. Select., by Jugler, was formerly published under the title ofIntrod. in notitiam rei literariæ et usum Bibliothecæ. Jugler's edition of it contains a stiff portrait of himself in a finely embroidered satin waistcoat. The first volume, relating to foreign libraries, is very interesting: but, unluckily, the work is rare. Of Struvius'sBibl. Saxonica, 1736, 8vo., I never saw a copy.
[130]Daniel George Morhof, professor of poetry, eloquence, and history, was librarian of the University of Khiel. He published various works, but the above—the best edition of which is of the date of 1747—is by far the most learned and useful—"liber non sua laude privandus; cum primus fere fuerit Morhofius qui hanc amœniorum literarum partem in meliorum redigerit."Vogt., pref. ix., edit. 1793. Its leading error is the want of method. His "Princeps Medicus," 1665, 4to., is a very singular dissertation upon the cure of the evil by the royal touch; in the efficacy of which the author appears to have believed. His "Epistola de scypho vitreo per sonum humanæ vocis rupto," Kiloni, 1703, 4to.—which was occasioned by a wine merchant of Amsterdam breaking a wine-glass by the strength of his voice—is said to be full of curious matter. Morhof died A.D. 1691, in his 53rd year: beloved by all who knew the excellent and amiable qualities of his head and heart. He was so laborious that he wrote during his meals. His motto, chosen by himself,—Pietate, Candore, Prudentia, should never be lost sight of by bibliomaniacs! His library was large and select. These particulars are gleaned from theDict. Historique, Caen, 1789, vol. vi., p. 350.
[131]A compendious account ofMaittairewill be found in the third edition of myIntroduction to the Knowledge of rare and valuable Editions of the Greek and Latin Classics, vol. i., p. 148. See too Mr. Beloe'sAnecdotes of Literature, &c., vol iii., p. ix. The various volumes of hisAnnales Typographiciare well described in theBibl. Crevenn., vol. v. p. 287. To these may be added, in the bibliographical department, hisHistoria Stephanorum, vitas ipsorum ac libros complectens, 1709, 8vo.—and theHistoria Typographorum aliquot Parisiensium vitas et libros complectens, 1717, 8vo.—Of these two latter works, (which, from a contemporaneous catalogue, I find were originally published at 4s.the common paper,) Mr. T. Grenville has beautiful copies uponlarge paper. The books are rare in any shape. The principal merit of Maittaire'sAnnales Typographiciconsists in a great deal of curious matter detailed in the notes; but the absence of the "lucidus ordo" renders the perusal of these fatiguing and unsatisfactory. The author brought a full and well-informed mind to the task he undertook—but he wanted taste and precision in the arrangement of his materials. The eye wanders over a vast indigested mass; and information, when it is to be acquired with excessive toil, is, comparatively, seldom acquired. Panzer has adopted an infinitely better plan, on the model of Orlandi; and if his materials had beenprintedwith the same beauty with which they appear to have been composed, and his annals had descended to as late a period as those of Maittaire, his work must have made us eventually forget that of his predecessor. The bibliographer is, no doubt, aware that of Maittaire's first volume there are two editions: why the author did not reprint, in the second edition (1733), the fac-simile of the epigram and epistle of Lascar prefixed to the edition of the Anthology, 1496, and the Disquisition concerning the ancient editions of Quintilian (both of which were in the first edition of 1719), is absolutely inexplicable. Maittaire was sharply attacked for this absurdity, in the "Catalogus Auctorum," of the "Annus Tertius Sæcularis Inv. Art. Typog.," Harlem, 1741, 8vo., p. 11. "Rara certe Librum augendi methodus! (exclaims the author) Satis patet auctorem hoc eo fecisse concilio, ut et primæ et secundæ Libri sui editioni pretium suum constaret, et una æque ac altera Lectoribus necessaria esset." Copies of the Typographical Antiquities by Maittaire, uponlarge paper, are now exceedingly scarce. The work, in this shape, has a noble appearance. While Maittaire was publishing his Typographical Annals,Orlandiput forth a similar work under the title of "Origine e Progressi della Stampa o sia dell' Arte Impressoria, e Notizie dell' Opere stampate dall' Anno 1462, sino all' Anno 1500." Bologna, 1722, 4to. Of this work, which is rather a compendious account of the several books published in the period above specified, there are copies upon strongwriting paper—which the curious prefer. Although I have a long time considered it as superseded by the labours of Maittaire and Panzer, yet I will not withhold from the reader the following critique: "Cet ouvrage doit presque nécessairement être annexé à celui de Maittaire à cause de plusieurs notices et recherches, qui le rendent fort curieux et intéressant."Bibl. Crevenn., vol. v., 286-7. As we are upon publications treating of Typography, we may notice the "Annalium Typographicorum selecta quædam capita," Hamb., 1740, 4to., ofLackman; andHirschius'ssupplement to the typographical labours of his predecessors—in the "Librorum ab Anno I. usque ad Annum L. Sec. xvi. Typis exscriptorum ex Libraria quadam supellectile, Norimbergæ collecta et observata, Millenarius I." &c. Noriberg, 1746, 4to. About this period was published a very curious, and now uncommon, octavo volume, of about 250 pages, bySeiz; called "Annus Tertius Sæcularis Inventæ Artis Typographicæ," Harlem, 1741—with several very interesting cuts relating to Coster, the supposed inventor of the art of printing. It is a little strange that Lysander, in the above account of eminent typographical writers, should omit to mentionChevillier—whoseL'Origine de l'Imprimerie de Paris, &c., 1694, 4to., is a work of great merit, and is generally found upon every bibliographer's shelf. Baillet had supplied him with a pretty strong outline, in his short account of Parisian printers. All the copies of Chevillier's book, which I have seen, are printed upon what is called Foxey paper. I believe there are none uponlarge paper. We may just noticeLa Caille'sHistoire de l'Imprimerie et de la Librarie, 1689, 4to., as a work full of errors. In order that nothing may be wanting to complete the typographical collection of the curious, let the "portraits of booksellers and printers, from ancient times to our own," published at Nuremberg, in 1726, folio—and "the Devices and Emblems" of the same, published at the same place, in 1730, folio, be procured, if possible. The Latin titles of these two latter works, both byScholtzius, will be found in theBibl. Crevenn.vol. v. 281. Renouard mentions the last in his "Annales de l'Imprimerie des Alde," vol. ii. p. 63. Meanwhile theMonumenta TypographicaofWolfius, Hamb., 1740, 2 vols., 8vo., embraces a number of curious and scattered dissertations upon this interesting and valuable art. It may be obtained for 8s.or 10s.at present! TheAmœnitatusLiterariæ, &c., ofSchelhornhad like to have been passed over. It was published in 14 small octavo volumes, at Frankfort and Leipsic, from the year 1725 to 1731 inclusive. TheAmœnitates Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ et Literariæ, of the same person, and published at the same place in two octavo volumes, 1738, should accompany the foregoing work. Both are scarce and sought after in this country. In the former there are some curious dissertations, with cuts, upon early printed books. Concerning the most ancient edition of the Latin Bibles, Schelhorn put forth an express treatise, which was published at Ulm in 1760, 4to. This latter work is very desirable to the curious in biblical researches, as one meets with constant mention of Schelhorn's bible. Let me not omitZapf'sAnnales Typographiæ Augustanæ, Aug. Vindel., 1778; which was republished, with copious additions, at Augsbourg, in two parts, 1786, 4to.—but unluckily, this latter is printed in the German language. Upon Spanish Typography (a very interesting subject), there is a dissertation by Raymond Diosdado Caballero, entitled "De Prima Typographiæ Hispanicæ Ætate Specimen," Rome, 1793, 4to.
[132]From the Latin life ofLe Long, prefixed to hisBibliotheca Sacra, we learn that he was an adept in most languages, ancient and modern; and that "in that part of literature connected withBibliography(Typographorum et Librorum Historia), he retained every thing so correctly in his memory that he yielded to few literary men, certainly to no bookseller." Of the early years of such a man it is a pity that we have not a better account. HisBibliotheca Sacra, Paris, 1725, folio, has been republished byMaschandBoerner, in four volumes, 4to., 1778, and enriched with copious and valuable additions. This latter work is quite unrivalled: no young or old theologian, who takes any interest in the various editions of the Holy Scriptures, in almost all languages, can possibly dispense with such a fund of sacred literature. TheBibliothéque Historique de la France, 1719, folio, by the same learned and industrious bibliographer, has met with a fate equally fortunate.Fontetterepublished it in 1768, in five folio volumes, and has immortalized himself and his predecessor by one of the most useful and splendid productions that ever issued from the press. De Bure used to sell copies of it uponlarge paper, in sheets, for 258 livres: according to the advertisement subjoined to his catalogue of Count Macarty's books in 1779, 8vo. The presses of England, which groan too much beneath the weight of ephemeral travels and trumpery novels, are doomed, I fear, long to continue strangers to such works of national utility.
[133]The chief labours of Fabricius ("Virελληνίχώτατος"—as Reimannus truly calls him), connected with the present object of our pursuit, have the following titles: 1. "Bibliotheca Græca, sive Notitia Scriptorum Græcorum, &c.," Hamb. 1705-8-14-18, &c., 4to., 14 vols.—of which a new edition is now published byHarles, with great additions, and a fresh arrangement of the original matter: twelve volumes have already been delivered to the public. 2.Bibliotheca Latina; first published in one volume, 1703—then in three volumes, 1721, and afterwards in two volumes, 1728, 4to.;—but the last and best edition is that of 1773, in three vols. 8vo., published by Ernesti at Leipsic—and yet not free from numerous errors. 3.Bibliographia Antiquaria, 1716, 4to.: a new edition of Schaffshausen, in 1760, 4to., has superseded the old one. A work of this kind in our own language would be very useful, and even entertaining. Fabricius has executed it in a masterly manner. 4.Bibliotheca Ecclesiastica, in quâ continentur variorum authorum tractatus de scriptoribus ecclesiasticis, Hamb., 1718, folio. An excellent work; in which the curious after theological tracts and their authors will always find valuable information. It is generally sharply contended for at book-auctions. 5.Bibliotheca Latina Mediæ et Infimæ Ætatis, &c., Leipsic, 1734, 6 vols. 8vo.—again, with Schoettgenius's supplement, in 1754, 4to., 6 vols. in 3. This latter is in every respect the best edition of a work which is absolutely indispensable to the philologist. A very excellent synopsis or critical account of Fabricius's works was published at Ams., 1738, in 4to., which the student should procure. Let me here recommend theHistoria Bibliothecæ Fabricianæ, compiled byJohn Fabricius, 1717-24, 6 vols. 4to., as a necessary and interesting supplement to the preceding works of John Albert Fabricius. I have often gleaned some curious bibliographical intelligence from its copious pages. The reader may consultBibl. Crevenn., vol. v., 272-3.
[134]He is noticed here only as the author of "Idea Bibliothecæ Publicæ secundum classes scientiarum ordinandæ, fusior et contractior," and of the "Scriptores Rerum Brunswicarum," Hanov., 1707, fol., 3 vols. "The antiquarian, who blushes at his alliance with Thomas Hearne, will feel his profession ennobled by the name ofLeibnitz. That extraordinary genius embraced and improved the whole circle of human science; and, after wrestling with Newton and Clark in the sublime regions of geometry and metaphysics, he could descend upon earth to examine the uncouth characters and barbarous Latin of a chronicle or charter." Gibbon:Post. Works, vol. ii., 712. Consult alsoMem. de l'Inst., vol. v., 648.
[135]I will not pretend to enumerate all the learned works ofBurchard Gotthlieb Struvius. His "Bibliotheca Librorum Rariorum" was published in 1719, 4to. The first edition of theBibliotheca Historicaappeared as early as 1705: a very valuable one was published by Buder, in 1740, 2 vols.: but the last, and by far the most copious and valuable, is that which exhibits the joint editorial labours ofBuderandMeusel, in eleven octavo volumes, 1782, 1802—though I believe it does not contain every thing which may be found in the edition of theBibl. Hist. Selecta, by Jugler, 1754, three vols. 8vo.: vide pp. iv. and vii. of the preface of Meusel's edition. TheBibl. Hist. Select., by Jugler, was formerly published under the title ofIntrod. in notitiam rei literariæ et usum Bibliothecæ. Jugler's edition of it contains a stiff portrait of himself in a finely embroidered satin waistcoat. The first volume, relating to foreign libraries, is very interesting: but, unluckily, the work is rare. Of Struvius'sBibl. Saxonica, 1736, 8vo., I never saw a copy.
Phil.You are advancing towards the middle of the 18th century, in enumerating foreign publications, without calling to mind that we have, at home, many laudable publications relating to typography and bibliography, which merit at least some notice, if not commendation.
Lysand.I thank you for the reproof. It is true, I was running precipitately to introduce a crowd of foreigners to your notice, without paying my respects, by the way, to theHistorical Librariesof BishopNicolson, theBibliotheca LiterariaofWasse, and theLibrarianofWilliam Oldys. Nor should I omit to mention the still more creditable performance of BishopTanner: while the typographical publications ofWatson,Palmer, andMiddleton,[136]may as well beadmitted into your libraries, if you are partial to such works; although upon this latter subject, the elegant quarto volume ofAmesmerits particular commendation.
[136]Let us go gently over thisBritishground, which Lysander depictures in rather a flowery manner. The first edition ofBishop Nicolson'sEnglish Historical Librarywas published in the years 1696, 1697, and 1699—comprehending the entire three parts. In 1702, came forth theScottishHistorical library; and in 1724, theIrishHistorical Library. These three libraries, with the author's letter to Bishop Kennet in defence of the same, are usually published in one volume; and the last and best editions of the same are those of 1736, fol., and 1776, 4to. Mr. John Nichols has recently published an entertaining posthumous work of the bishop'sEpistolary Correspondence, in two octavo volumes, 1809. Some of these letters throw light and interest upon the literature of the times. As to the authority of Bishop Nicolson, in his historical matters, I fear the sharp things which are said of his libraries by Tyrrell (Pref. toHist. Engl., vol. ii., p. 5.), and Wood (Athen. Brit., vol. ii., col. 980, ed. 1721), all which authorities are referred to by Mr. Nichols, are sufficiently founded upon truth. He was a violent and wrong-headed writer in many respects; but he had acumen, strength, and fancy. TheBibliotheca LiterariaofWasse(although his name does not appear as the professed editor) is a truly solid and valuable publication; worthy of the reputation of the learned editor of Sallust. The work was published in numbers, which were sold at one shilling each; but, I suppose from the paucity of classical readers, it could not be supported beyond the 10th number (1724); when it ceased to be published. Some of the dissertations are very interesting as well as erudite.Oldys'sBritish Librarianwas published in six numbers, during the first six months of the year 1737; forming, with the index, an octavo volume of 402 pages. It is difficult to say, from the conclusion (p. 373-4), whether the work was dropped for want of encouragement, or from the capriciousness or indolence of the author: but I suspect that the ground was suffered "to lie fallow" (to use his own words) till it was suffocated with weeds—owing to theformercause: as Oldys never suffered his pen to lie idle while he could "put money in his purse" from his lucubrations. We shall speak of him more particularly inPart v. Meanwhile, the reader is informed that theBritish Librarianis a work of no common occurrence, or mean value. It is rigidly correct, if not very learned, in bibliographical information. I once sent three guineas to procure a copy of it, according to its description, uponlarge paper; but, on its arrival, I found it to be not quite so large as my own tolerably amply-margined copy. BishopTanner'sBibliotheca Britanico-Hibernica, which cost the author forty years' labour, was published in 1748, folio; with a preface by Dr. Wilkins. We must receive it with many thanks, imperfect and erroneous as many parts of it are; but I hope the period is not very remote when a literary friend, living, as he constantly is, in an inexhaustible stock of British literature of all kinds, will give us a new edition, with copious additions and corrections, translated into our native tongue.The History of the Art of PrintingbyWatson, Edit., 1713, 8vo., is at best but a meagre performance. It happens to be rare, and, therefore, bibliomaniacs hunt after it. My copy of it, uponlarge paper, cost me 1l.8s.It was formerly Paton's, of Edinburgh, a knowing antiquary in Scottish printing. TheHistory of Printing, byPalmer, 1733, 4to., and Dr.Middleton'sDissertations upon the same, 1735, 4to., have been particularly treated by me, as well as the similar works ofAmesandHerbert, in the first volume of my new edition of Herbert'sBritish Typographical Antiquities; and the public is too well acquainted with the merits and demerits of each to require their being pointed out in the present place. I will close this note by observing that theCensuria Literaria, in ten volumes octavo; and theBritish Bibliographer(now publishing) which grew out of it; Mr.Beloe'sAnecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books, six volumes, 8vo.; and Mr. Savage's continuation ofThe British Librarian; are works which render the list of English publications, relating to typography and curious books, almost complete. I believe I may safely affirm that the period is not very distant when some of these latter publications, from the comparatively few copies which were struck off, will become very rare.
[136]Let us go gently over thisBritishground, which Lysander depictures in rather a flowery manner. The first edition ofBishop Nicolson'sEnglish Historical Librarywas published in the years 1696, 1697, and 1699—comprehending the entire three parts. In 1702, came forth theScottishHistorical library; and in 1724, theIrishHistorical Library. These three libraries, with the author's letter to Bishop Kennet in defence of the same, are usually published in one volume; and the last and best editions of the same are those of 1736, fol., and 1776, 4to. Mr. John Nichols has recently published an entertaining posthumous work of the bishop'sEpistolary Correspondence, in two octavo volumes, 1809. Some of these letters throw light and interest upon the literature of the times. As to the authority of Bishop Nicolson, in his historical matters, I fear the sharp things which are said of his libraries by Tyrrell (Pref. toHist. Engl., vol. ii., p. 5.), and Wood (Athen. Brit., vol. ii., col. 980, ed. 1721), all which authorities are referred to by Mr. Nichols, are sufficiently founded upon truth. He was a violent and wrong-headed writer in many respects; but he had acumen, strength, and fancy. TheBibliotheca LiterariaofWasse(although his name does not appear as the professed editor) is a truly solid and valuable publication; worthy of the reputation of the learned editor of Sallust. The work was published in numbers, which were sold at one shilling each; but, I suppose from the paucity of classical readers, it could not be supported beyond the 10th number (1724); when it ceased to be published. Some of the dissertations are very interesting as well as erudite.Oldys'sBritish Librarianwas published in six numbers, during the first six months of the year 1737; forming, with the index, an octavo volume of 402 pages. It is difficult to say, from the conclusion (p. 373-4), whether the work was dropped for want of encouragement, or from the capriciousness or indolence of the author: but I suspect that the ground was suffered "to lie fallow" (to use his own words) till it was suffocated with weeds—owing to theformercause: as Oldys never suffered his pen to lie idle while he could "put money in his purse" from his lucubrations. We shall speak of him more particularly inPart v. Meanwhile, the reader is informed that theBritish Librarianis a work of no common occurrence, or mean value. It is rigidly correct, if not very learned, in bibliographical information. I once sent three guineas to procure a copy of it, according to its description, uponlarge paper; but, on its arrival, I found it to be not quite so large as my own tolerably amply-margined copy. BishopTanner'sBibliotheca Britanico-Hibernica, which cost the author forty years' labour, was published in 1748, folio; with a preface by Dr. Wilkins. We must receive it with many thanks, imperfect and erroneous as many parts of it are; but I hope the period is not very remote when a literary friend, living, as he constantly is, in an inexhaustible stock of British literature of all kinds, will give us a new edition, with copious additions and corrections, translated into our native tongue.The History of the Art of PrintingbyWatson, Edit., 1713, 8vo., is at best but a meagre performance. It happens to be rare, and, therefore, bibliomaniacs hunt after it. My copy of it, uponlarge paper, cost me 1l.8s.It was formerly Paton's, of Edinburgh, a knowing antiquary in Scottish printing. TheHistory of Printing, byPalmer, 1733, 4to., and Dr.Middleton'sDissertations upon the same, 1735, 4to., have been particularly treated by me, as well as the similar works ofAmesandHerbert, in the first volume of my new edition of Herbert'sBritish Typographical Antiquities; and the public is too well acquainted with the merits and demerits of each to require their being pointed out in the present place. I will close this note by observing that theCensuria Literaria, in ten volumes octavo; and theBritish Bibliographer(now publishing) which grew out of it; Mr.Beloe'sAnecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books, six volumes, 8vo.; and Mr. Savage's continuation ofThe British Librarian; are works which render the list of English publications, relating to typography and curious books, almost complete. I believe I may safely affirm that the period is not very distant when some of these latter publications, from the comparatively few copies which were struck off, will become very rare.
Lis.I am glad to hear such handsome things said of the performances of our own countrymen. I was fearful, from your frequent sly allusions, that we had nothing worth mentioning. But proceed with your Germans, Italians, and Frenchmen.
Lysand.You draw too severe a conclusion. I have made no sly allusions. My invariable love of truthimpels me to state facts as they arise. That we have philosophers, poets, scholars, divines, lovers and collectors of books, equal to those of any nation upon earth is most readily admitted. But bibliography has never been, till now, a popular (shall I say fashionable?) pursuit amongst the English.
Lis.Well, if what you call bibliography has produced such eminent men, and so many useful works, as those which have been just enumerated, I shall begin to have some little respect for this department of literature; and, indeed, I already feel impatient to go through the list of your bibliographical heroes.—Who is the next champion deserving of notice?
Lysand.This confession gives me sincere pleasure. Only indulge me in my rambling manner of disquisition, and I will strive to satisfy you in every reasonable particular.
If ever you should be disposed to form a bibliographical collection, do not omit securing, when it comes across you, the best edition of Du Fresnoy's[137]Methode pour étudier l'Histoire: it is rare, and sought after in this country. And now—softly approach, and gently strew the flowers upon, the tomb of worthyNiceron:[138]Low lies the head, and quiescent has become the pen, of this most excellent and learned man!—whose productions have furnished biographers with some of theirchoicest materials, and whose devotion to literature and history has been a general theme of admiration and praise. The mention of this illustrious name, in such a manner, has excited in my mind a particular train of ideas. Let me, therefore, in imagination, conduct you both to yonder dark avenue of trees—and, descending a small flight of steps, near the bottom of which gushes out a salient stream—let us enter a spacious grotto, where every thing is cool and silent; and where small alabaster busts, of the greater number of those bibliographers I am about to mention, decorate the niches on each side of it. How tranquil and how congenial is such a resting place!—But let us pursue our inquires. Yonder sharp and well turned countenances, at the entrance of the grotto, are fixed there as representations ofCardinal Quirini[139]andGoujet; theBibliothéque Françoiseof the latter of whom—with which I could wish book collectors, in general, to have a more intimate acquaintance—has obtained universal reputation.[140]Next to him, youmay mark the amiable and expressive features ofDavid Clement:[141]who, in hisBibliothéque Curieuse, has shown us how he could rove, like a bee, from flower to flower; sip what was sweet; and bring home his gleanings to a well-furnished hive. The principal fault of this bee (if I must keep up the simile) is that he was not sufficiently choice in the flowers which he visited; and, of course, did not always extract the purest honey. Nearly allied to Clement in sprightliness, and an equally gossipping bibliographer, wasProsper Marchand;[142]whoseworks present us with some things no where else to be found, and who had examined many curious and rare volumes; as well as made himself thoroughly acquainted with the state of bibliography previous to his own times.
[137]The last edition of this work is the one which was printed in fifteen volumes, crown 8vo., at Paris, 1772: with a copious index—and proportionable improvements in corrections and additions. It is now rare. I threw out the old edition of 1729, four vols., 4to., uponlarge paper; and paid three guineas to boot for the new one, neatly bound.[138]It is quite delightful to read the account, in theDict. Hist., published at Caen, 1789, (vol. vi., p. 475) ofJean Pierre Niceron; whose whole life seems to have been devoted to bibliography and literary history. Frank, amiable, industrious, communicative, shrewd, and learned—Niceron was the delight of his friends, and the admiration of the public. His "Memoires pour servir à l'Histoire des Hommes Illustres, &c., avec un Catalogue raisonné de leur Ouvrages," was published from the years 1729 to 1740, in forty crown 8vo. volumes. A supplement of three volumes, the latter of which is divided intotwo parts, renders this very useful, and absolutely necessary, work complete in 44 volumes. The bibliomaniac can never enjoy perfect rest till he is in possession of it![139]Quirinipublished his "Specimen variæ Literaturæ quæ in urbe Brixiæ ejusque Ditione paulo post Typographiæ incunabula florebat,"&c., at Brescia, in 1739; two vols., 8vo.: then followed "Catalogo delle Opere del Cardinale Quirini uscite alla luce quasi tuttee da' Torchi di mi Gian Maria Rizzardi Stampatore in Brescia," 8vo. In 1751, Valois addressed to him his "Discours sur les Bibliothéques Publiques," in 8vo.: his Eminence's reply to the same was also published in 8vo. But the Cardinal's chief reputation, as a bibliographer, arises from the work entitled "De Optimorum Scriptorum Editionibus." Lindaugiæ, 1761, 4to. This is Schelhorn's edition of it, which is chiefly coveted, and which is now a rare book in this country. It is a little surprising that Lysander, in his love of grand national biographical works, mingled with bibliographical notices, should have omitted to mention theBibliotheca Lusitanaof Joaov and Barbosa, published at Lisbon, 1741, in four magnificent folio volumes. A lover of Portuguese literature will always consider this as "opus splendidissimum et utilissimum."[140]La Bibliothéque Françoise, ou Histoire de la Littérature Françoise, ofClaude Pierre Goujet, in eighteen volumes, crown 8vo., 1741, like the similar work of Niceron, is perhaps a little too indiscriminate in the choice of its objects: good, bad, and indifferent authors being enlisted into the service. But it is the chéf-d'œuvre of Goujet, who was a man of wonderful parts; and no bibliographer can be satisfied without it. Goujet was perhaps among the most learned, if not the "facile princeps," of those who cultivated ancient French literature. He liberally assisted Niceron in his Memoires, and furnished Moreri with 2000 corrections for his Dictionary.[141]The "Bibliothèque Curieuse, Historique et Critique, ou Catalogue raisonné de Livres difficiles à trouver," ofDavid Clement, published at Gottingen, Hanover, and Leipsic, in 9 quarto volumes, from the year 1750 to 1760—is, unfortunately, an unfinished production; extending only to the letter H. The reader may find a critique upon it in myIntroduction to the Greek and Latin Classics, vol. i., p. 370; which agrees, for the greater part, with the observations in theBibl. Crevenn., vol. v., 290. The work is asine quâ nonwith collectors; but in this country it begins to be—to use the figurative language of some of the German bibliographers—"scarcer than a white crow,"—or "a black swan." The reader may admit which simile he pleases—or reject both! But, in sober sadness, it is very rare, and unconscionably dear. I know not whether it was the sameClementwho published "Les cinq Années Littéraires, ou Lettres de M. Clément, sur les ouvrages de Littérature, qui ont parus dans les Années 1748—á 1752;" Berlin, 1756, 12mo., two volumes. Where is the proof of the assertion, so often repeated, that Clement borrowed his notion of the above work fromWendler'sDissertatio de variis raritatis librorum impressorum causis, Jen., 1711, 4to.?—Wendler's book is rare among us: as is alsoBerger'sDiatribe de libris rarioribus, &c., Berol. 1729, 8vo.[142]The principal biographical labours of this clever man have the following titles: "Histoire de l'Imprimerie," La Haye, 1740, 4to.—an elegant and interesting volume, which is frequently consulted by typographical antiquaries. OfMercier'ssupplement to it, see note in the ensuing pages under the word "Mercier." His "Dictionnaire Historique, ou Memoires Critiques et Littéraires," in two folio volumes, 1758, was a posthumous production; and a very extraordinary and amusing bibliographical common-place book it is! My friend Mr. Douce, than whom few are better able to appreciate such a work, will hardly allow any one to have a warmer attachment to it, or a more thorough acquaintance with its contents, than himself—and yet there is no bibliographical work to which I more cheerfully or frequently turn! In the editor's advertisement we have an interesting account of Marchand: who left behind, for publication, a number of scraps of paper, sometimes no bigger than one's nail; upon which he had written his remarks in so small a hand-writing that the editor and printer were obliged to make use of a strong magnifying glass to decypher it—"et c'est ici (continues the former) sans doute le premier livre qui n'ait pu être imprimé sans le secours continuel du Microscope." Marchand died in 1753, and left his MSS. and books, in the true spirit of a bibliomaniac, to the University of Leyden. I see, from the conclusion of this latter authority, that a new edition of Marchand's History of Printing was in meditation to be published, after the publication of the Dictionary. Whether Mercier availed himself of Marchand's corrected copy, when he put forth his supplement to the latter's typographical history, I have no means of ascertaining. Certainly there never was a second edition of theHistoire de l'Imprimerie, byMarchsnd.
[137]The last edition of this work is the one which was printed in fifteen volumes, crown 8vo., at Paris, 1772: with a copious index—and proportionable improvements in corrections and additions. It is now rare. I threw out the old edition of 1729, four vols., 4to., uponlarge paper; and paid three guineas to boot for the new one, neatly bound.
[138]It is quite delightful to read the account, in theDict. Hist., published at Caen, 1789, (vol. vi., p. 475) ofJean Pierre Niceron; whose whole life seems to have been devoted to bibliography and literary history. Frank, amiable, industrious, communicative, shrewd, and learned—Niceron was the delight of his friends, and the admiration of the public. His "Memoires pour servir à l'Histoire des Hommes Illustres, &c., avec un Catalogue raisonné de leur Ouvrages," was published from the years 1729 to 1740, in forty crown 8vo. volumes. A supplement of three volumes, the latter of which is divided intotwo parts, renders this very useful, and absolutely necessary, work complete in 44 volumes. The bibliomaniac can never enjoy perfect rest till he is in possession of it!
[139]Quirinipublished his "Specimen variæ Literaturæ quæ in urbe Brixiæ ejusque Ditione paulo post Typographiæ incunabula florebat,"&c., at Brescia, in 1739; two vols., 8vo.: then followed "Catalogo delle Opere del Cardinale Quirini uscite alla luce quasi tuttee da' Torchi di mi Gian Maria Rizzardi Stampatore in Brescia," 8vo. In 1751, Valois addressed to him his "Discours sur les Bibliothéques Publiques," in 8vo.: his Eminence's reply to the same was also published in 8vo. But the Cardinal's chief reputation, as a bibliographer, arises from the work entitled "De Optimorum Scriptorum Editionibus." Lindaugiæ, 1761, 4to. This is Schelhorn's edition of it, which is chiefly coveted, and which is now a rare book in this country. It is a little surprising that Lysander, in his love of grand national biographical works, mingled with bibliographical notices, should have omitted to mention theBibliotheca Lusitanaof Joaov and Barbosa, published at Lisbon, 1741, in four magnificent folio volumes. A lover of Portuguese literature will always consider this as "opus splendidissimum et utilissimum."
[140]La Bibliothéque Françoise, ou Histoire de la Littérature Françoise, ofClaude Pierre Goujet, in eighteen volumes, crown 8vo., 1741, like the similar work of Niceron, is perhaps a little too indiscriminate in the choice of its objects: good, bad, and indifferent authors being enlisted into the service. But it is the chéf-d'œuvre of Goujet, who was a man of wonderful parts; and no bibliographer can be satisfied without it. Goujet was perhaps among the most learned, if not the "facile princeps," of those who cultivated ancient French literature. He liberally assisted Niceron in his Memoires, and furnished Moreri with 2000 corrections for his Dictionary.
[141]The "Bibliothèque Curieuse, Historique et Critique, ou Catalogue raisonné de Livres difficiles à trouver," ofDavid Clement, published at Gottingen, Hanover, and Leipsic, in 9 quarto volumes, from the year 1750 to 1760—is, unfortunately, an unfinished production; extending only to the letter H. The reader may find a critique upon it in myIntroduction to the Greek and Latin Classics, vol. i., p. 370; which agrees, for the greater part, with the observations in theBibl. Crevenn., vol. v., 290. The work is asine quâ nonwith collectors; but in this country it begins to be—to use the figurative language of some of the German bibliographers—"scarcer than a white crow,"—or "a black swan." The reader may admit which simile he pleases—or reject both! But, in sober sadness, it is very rare, and unconscionably dear. I know not whether it was the sameClementwho published "Les cinq Années Littéraires, ou Lettres de M. Clément, sur les ouvrages de Littérature, qui ont parus dans les Années 1748—á 1752;" Berlin, 1756, 12mo., two volumes. Where is the proof of the assertion, so often repeated, that Clement borrowed his notion of the above work fromWendler'sDissertatio de variis raritatis librorum impressorum causis, Jen., 1711, 4to.?—Wendler's book is rare among us: as is alsoBerger'sDiatribe de libris rarioribus, &c., Berol. 1729, 8vo.
[142]The principal biographical labours of this clever man have the following titles: "Histoire de l'Imprimerie," La Haye, 1740, 4to.—an elegant and interesting volume, which is frequently consulted by typographical antiquaries. OfMercier'ssupplement to it, see note in the ensuing pages under the word "Mercier." His "Dictionnaire Historique, ou Memoires Critiques et Littéraires," in two folio volumes, 1758, was a posthumous production; and a very extraordinary and amusing bibliographical common-place book it is! My friend Mr. Douce, than whom few are better able to appreciate such a work, will hardly allow any one to have a warmer attachment to it, or a more thorough acquaintance with its contents, than himself—and yet there is no bibliographical work to which I more cheerfully or frequently turn! In the editor's advertisement we have an interesting account of Marchand: who left behind, for publication, a number of scraps of paper, sometimes no bigger than one's nail; upon which he had written his remarks in so small a hand-writing that the editor and printer were obliged to make use of a strong magnifying glass to decypher it—"et c'est ici (continues the former) sans doute le premier livre qui n'ait pu être imprimé sans le secours continuel du Microscope." Marchand died in 1753, and left his MSS. and books, in the true spirit of a bibliomaniac, to the University of Leyden. I see, from the conclusion of this latter authority, that a new edition of Marchand's History of Printing was in meditation to be published, after the publication of the Dictionary. Whether Mercier availed himself of Marchand's corrected copy, when he put forth his supplement to the latter's typographical history, I have no means of ascertaining. Certainly there never was a second edition of theHistoire de l'Imprimerie, byMarchsnd.
Perhaps I ought to have noticed the unoccupied niche under which the name ofVogt[143]is inscribed; the titleof whose work has been erroneously considered more seductive than the contents of it. As we go on, we approachFournier; a man of lively parts, and considerable taste. His works are small in size, but they are written and printed with singular elegance.[144]See what a respectable and almost dignified air the highly finished bust of the pensionaryMeerman[145]assumes! Few menattained to greater celebrity in his day; and few men better deserved the handsome things which were said of him. Polite, hospitable, of an inquisitive and active turn of mind—passionately addicted to rare and curious books—his library was a sort of bibliographical emporium, where the idle and the diligent alike met with a gracious reception. Peace to the manes of such a man! Turn we now round to view the features of that truly eminent and amiable bibliographer,De Bure!
[143]The earliest edition ofVogt'sCatalogus Librorum Rariorumwas published in 1732; afterwards in 1737; again in 1748; again in 1752, much enlarged and improved; and, for the last time, greatly enlarged and corrected, forming by far the "editio optima," of the work—at Frankfort and Leipsic, 1793, 8vo.—We are told, in the new preface to this last edition, that the second and third impressions were quickly dispersed and anxiously sought after. Vogt is a greater favourite with me than with the generality of bibliographers. His plan, and the execution of it, are at once clear and concise; but he is too prodigal of the term "rare." Whilst these editions of Vogt's amusing work were coming forth, the following productions were, from time to time, making their appearance, and endeavouring perhaps to supplant its reputation. First of allBeyerput forth hisMemoriæ Historico-Criticæ Librorum Rariorum. Dresd. and Lips., 1734, 8vo.; as wellhashisArcana Sacra Bibliothecarum Dresdensium, 1738, 8vo.—with a continuation to the latter, preceded by an epistle concerning the electoral library, separately published in the same year. ThenEngel(in Republicâ Helveto-Bernensi Bibliothecarius primus) published hisBibliotheca selectissima, sive Catalogus librorum in omni genere scientiarum rarissimorum, &c., Bernæ, 1743, 8vo.; in which work some axioms are laid down concerning the rarity of books not perhaps sufficiently correct; but in which a great deal of curious matter, very neatly executed, will repay the reader for any expense he may incur in the purchase of it. AfterwardsFreytag'sAnalecta Literaria de libris rarioribus, Lips., 1750, two vols. 8vo.;—and hisAdparatus Literarius ubi libri partim antiqui partim rari recensentur, Lipsiæ, 1755, three volumes 8vo., highly gratified the curious in bibliography. In the former work the books are described alphabetically, which perhaps is the better plan: in the latter, they are differently arranged, with an alphabetical index. The latter is perhaps the more valuable of the two, although the former has long been a great favourite with many; yet, from Freytag's own confession, he was not then so knowing in books, and had not inspected the whole of what he described. They are both requisite to the collector; and their author, who was an enthusiast in bibliography, ranks high in the literature of his country. In the last place we may notice theFlorilegium Historico-Criticum Librorum Rariorum, cui multa simul scitu jucunda intersperguntur, &c., ofDaniel Gerdes; first published at Groningen, in 1740; but afterwards in 1763, 8vo., at the same place, the third and best edition. It was meant, in part, to supply the omission of some rare books in Vogt: and under this title it was published in theMiscellaneæ Groninganæ, vol. ii., and vol. iii. This work of Gerdes should have a convenient place in every bibliographical cabinet. I will close this attempt to supply Lysander's omission of some very respectable names connected with bibliography by exhorting the reader to seize hold of a work (whenever it comes across him, which will be rarely) entitledBibliotheca Librorum Rariorum Universalis, byJohn Jacob Bauer, a bookseller at Nuremberg, and printed there in 1770, 8vo., two vols.; with three additional volumes by way of Supplement, 1774-1791, which latter are usually bound in one. It is an alphabetical Dictionary, like Vogt's and Fournier's, of what are called rare books. The descriptions are compendious, and the references respectable, and sometimes numerous. My copy of this scarce, dear, and wretchedly-printed, work, which is as large and clean as possible, and bound in pale Russia, with marbled edges to the leaves—cost me 5l.5s.[144]We are indebted toPierre Simon Fournierle jeune, for some very beautiful interesting little volumes connected with engraving and printing. 1.Dissertation sur l'Origine et les Progrés de l'art de Graver en Bois, &c., Paris, 1758, 8vo. 2.De l'Origine et des Productions de l'Imprimerie primitive en taille de bois, Paris, 1759, 8vo. 3.Traité sur l'Origine et les Progrés de l'Imprimerie, Paris, 1764. 4.Observations sur un Ouvrage intitulé Vindiciæ Typographicæ, Paris, 1760. These treatises are sometimes bound in one volume. They are all elegantly printed, and rare. We may also mention—5.Epreuves de deux petits caractères nouvellement gravès, &c., Paris, 1757; and especially his chef-d'œuvre. 6.Manuel Typographique, Paris, 1764-6, 8vo., two vols.: of which some copies want a few of the cuts: those uponlarge paper(there is one of this kind in the Cracherode collections) are of the first rarity. Fournier's typographical manual should be in every printing office: his types "are the models (says his namesake,) of those of the best printed books at Paris at this day."Dict. Port. de Bibliogr., p. 218, edit. 1706.[145]TheOrigines TypographicæofMeerman, which was published at the Hague in two handsome quarto volumes, 1765, (after the plan or prospectus had been published in 1761, 8vo.), secured its author a very general and rather splendid reputation, till the hypothesis advanced therein, concerning Laurence Coster, was refuted by Heinecken. The reader is referred to a note in the first volume of my new edition of theTypographical Antiquities of Great Britain, p. xxxi. It is somewhat singular that, notwithstanding Meerman's hypothesis is now exploded by the most knowing bibliographers, his dissertation concerning the claims of Haerlem should have been reprinted in French, with useful notes, and an increased catalogue of all the books published in the Low Countries, during the 15th century. This latter work is entitled "De l'Invention de l'Imprimerie, ou analyse des deux ouvrages publiés sur cette matière par M. Meerman, &c.; suivi d'une notice chronologique et raisonnée des livres avec et sans date," Paris, 1809, 8vo. The author is Mons. Jansen. Prefixed there is an interesting account, of Meerman. Lysander might have noticed, with the encomium which it justly merits theVindiciæ TypographicæofSchoepflin, printed at Strasburg, in 1760, 4to.; where the claimes of Gutenburg (a native of the same city) to the invention of the typographic art are very forcibly and successfully maintained.
[143]The earliest edition ofVogt'sCatalogus Librorum Rariorumwas published in 1732; afterwards in 1737; again in 1748; again in 1752, much enlarged and improved; and, for the last time, greatly enlarged and corrected, forming by far the "editio optima," of the work—at Frankfort and Leipsic, 1793, 8vo.—We are told, in the new preface to this last edition, that the second and third impressions were quickly dispersed and anxiously sought after. Vogt is a greater favourite with me than with the generality of bibliographers. His plan, and the execution of it, are at once clear and concise; but he is too prodigal of the term "rare." Whilst these editions of Vogt's amusing work were coming forth, the following productions were, from time to time, making their appearance, and endeavouring perhaps to supplant its reputation. First of allBeyerput forth hisMemoriæ Historico-Criticæ Librorum Rariorum. Dresd. and Lips., 1734, 8vo.; as wellhashisArcana Sacra Bibliothecarum Dresdensium, 1738, 8vo.—with a continuation to the latter, preceded by an epistle concerning the electoral library, separately published in the same year. ThenEngel(in Republicâ Helveto-Bernensi Bibliothecarius primus) published hisBibliotheca selectissima, sive Catalogus librorum in omni genere scientiarum rarissimorum, &c., Bernæ, 1743, 8vo.; in which work some axioms are laid down concerning the rarity of books not perhaps sufficiently correct; but in which a great deal of curious matter, very neatly executed, will repay the reader for any expense he may incur in the purchase of it. AfterwardsFreytag'sAnalecta Literaria de libris rarioribus, Lips., 1750, two vols. 8vo.;—and hisAdparatus Literarius ubi libri partim antiqui partim rari recensentur, Lipsiæ, 1755, three volumes 8vo., highly gratified the curious in bibliography. In the former work the books are described alphabetically, which perhaps is the better plan: in the latter, they are differently arranged, with an alphabetical index. The latter is perhaps the more valuable of the two, although the former has long been a great favourite with many; yet, from Freytag's own confession, he was not then so knowing in books, and had not inspected the whole of what he described. They are both requisite to the collector; and their author, who was an enthusiast in bibliography, ranks high in the literature of his country. In the last place we may notice theFlorilegium Historico-Criticum Librorum Rariorum, cui multa simul scitu jucunda intersperguntur, &c., ofDaniel Gerdes; first published at Groningen, in 1740; but afterwards in 1763, 8vo., at the same place, the third and best edition. It was meant, in part, to supply the omission of some rare books in Vogt: and under this title it was published in theMiscellaneæ Groninganæ, vol. ii., and vol. iii. This work of Gerdes should have a convenient place in every bibliographical cabinet. I will close this attempt to supply Lysander's omission of some very respectable names connected with bibliography by exhorting the reader to seize hold of a work (whenever it comes across him, which will be rarely) entitledBibliotheca Librorum Rariorum Universalis, byJohn Jacob Bauer, a bookseller at Nuremberg, and printed there in 1770, 8vo., two vols.; with three additional volumes by way of Supplement, 1774-1791, which latter are usually bound in one. It is an alphabetical Dictionary, like Vogt's and Fournier's, of what are called rare books. The descriptions are compendious, and the references respectable, and sometimes numerous. My copy of this scarce, dear, and wretchedly-printed, work, which is as large and clean as possible, and bound in pale Russia, with marbled edges to the leaves—cost me 5l.5s.
[144]We are indebted toPierre Simon Fournierle jeune, for some very beautiful interesting little volumes connected with engraving and printing. 1.Dissertation sur l'Origine et les Progrés de l'art de Graver en Bois, &c., Paris, 1758, 8vo. 2.De l'Origine et des Productions de l'Imprimerie primitive en taille de bois, Paris, 1759, 8vo. 3.Traité sur l'Origine et les Progrés de l'Imprimerie, Paris, 1764. 4.Observations sur un Ouvrage intitulé Vindiciæ Typographicæ, Paris, 1760. These treatises are sometimes bound in one volume. They are all elegantly printed, and rare. We may also mention—5.Epreuves de deux petits caractères nouvellement gravès, &c., Paris, 1757; and especially his chef-d'œuvre. 6.Manuel Typographique, Paris, 1764-6, 8vo., two vols.: of which some copies want a few of the cuts: those uponlarge paper(there is one of this kind in the Cracherode collections) are of the first rarity. Fournier's typographical manual should be in every printing office: his types "are the models (says his namesake,) of those of the best printed books at Paris at this day."Dict. Port. de Bibliogr., p. 218, edit. 1706.
[145]TheOrigines TypographicæofMeerman, which was published at the Hague in two handsome quarto volumes, 1765, (after the plan or prospectus had been published in 1761, 8vo.), secured its author a very general and rather splendid reputation, till the hypothesis advanced therein, concerning Laurence Coster, was refuted by Heinecken. The reader is referred to a note in the first volume of my new edition of theTypographical Antiquities of Great Britain, p. xxxi. It is somewhat singular that, notwithstanding Meerman's hypothesis is now exploded by the most knowing bibliographers, his dissertation concerning the claims of Haerlem should have been reprinted in French, with useful notes, and an increased catalogue of all the books published in the Low Countries, during the 15th century. This latter work is entitled "De l'Invention de l'Imprimerie, ou analyse des deux ouvrages publiés sur cette matière par M. Meerman, &c.; suivi d'une notice chronologique et raisonnée des livres avec et sans date," Paris, 1809, 8vo. The author is Mons. Jansen. Prefixed there is an interesting account, of Meerman. Lysander might have noticed, with the encomium which it justly merits theVindiciæ TypographicæofSchoepflin, printed at Strasburg, in 1760, 4to.; where the claimes of Gutenburg (a native of the same city) to the invention of the typographic art are very forcibly and successfully maintained.
Lis.You absolutely transport me! I see all these interesting busts—I feel the delicious coolness of the grotto—I hear the stream running over a bed of pebbles—The zephyrs play upon my cheeks—O dolt that I was to abuse——
Phil.Hear him, hear him![146]
[146]Vide note atp. 37, ante.
[146]Vide note atp. 37, ante.
Lysand.From my heart I pity and forgive you. But only look upon the bust ofDe Bure; and every time that you open hisBibliographie Instructive,[147]confess,with a joyful heart, the obligations you are under to the author of it. Learn, at the same time, to despise the petty cavils of the whole Zoilean race; and blush for the AbbéRive,[148]that he could lend his name, and givethe weight of his example, to the propagation of coarse and acrimonious censures.
[147]The works ofGuillaume-François de Buredeserve a particular notice. He first published hisMusæum Typographicum, Paris, 1755, 12mo.; of which he printed buttwelvecopies, and gave away every one of them (including even his own) to his book-loving friends. It was published under the name of G.F. Rebude. Peignot is very particular in his information concerning this rare morçeau of bibliography—see hisBibliographie Curieuse, p. 21. Afterwards appeared theBibliographie Instructive, in seven volumes, 8vo., 1763-68—succeeded by a small volume of a catalogue of the anonymous publications, and an essay upon Bibliography: this 8th volume is absolutely necessary to render the work complete, although it is frequently missing. Fifty copies of this work were printed uponlarge paper, of a quarto size. Its merits are acknowledged by every candid and experienced critic. In the third place, came forth hisCatalogue des Livres, &c., de L.J. Gaignat, Paris, 1769, 8vo., two vols.: not, however, before he had published two brochures—"Appel aux Savans,"&c., 1763, 8vo.—and "Reponse à une Critique de la Bibliographie Instructive," 1763, 8vo.—as replies to the tart attacks of the AbbéRive. The Catalogue of Gaignat, and the fairness of his answers to his adversary's censures, served to place De Bure on the pinnacle of bibliographical reputation; while Rive was suffered to fret and fume in unregarded seclusion. He died in the year 1782, aged 50: and was succeeded in his bibliographical labours by his cousinWilliam; who, with Mons. Van-Praet, prepared the catalogue of the Duke de la Valliere's library, in 1783, and published other valuable catalogues as late as the year 1801. But both are eclipsed, in regard to thenumberof such publications, by their predecessorGabriel Martin; who died in the year 1761, aged 83—after having compiled 148 catalogues since the year 1705. This latter was assisted in his labours by his son Claude Martin, who died in 1788. See Peignot'sDict. de Bibliologie, vol. i., 221, 422: vol iii., 277.[148]The mention of De Bure and the AbbéRiveinduces me to inform the reader that theChasse aux Bibliographes, Paris, 1789, 8vo., of the latter, will be found a receptacle of almost every kind of gross abuse and awkward wit which could be poured forth against the respectable characters of the day. It has now become rare. The Abbé's "Notices calligraphiques et typographiques," a small tract of 16 pages—of which only 100 copies were printed—is sufficiently curious; it formed the first number of a series of intended volumes (12 or 15) "des notices calligraphiques de manuscrits des differens siécles, et des notices typographiques de livres du quinziéme siécle," but the design was never carried into execution beyond this first number. The other works of Rive are miscellaneous; but chiefly upon subjects connected with the belles lettres. He generally struck off but few copies of his publications; see theBibliographie Curieuse, pp. 58-9; and more particularly theDictionnaire de Bibliologie, vol. iii., p. 277, by the same author, where a minute list of Rive's productions is given, and of which Fournier might have availed himself in his new edition of theDict. Portatif de Bibliographie. From Peignot, the reader is presented with the following anecdotes of this redoubted champion of bibliography. When Rive was a young man, and curate of Mollèges in Provence, the scandalous chronicle reported that he was too intimate with a young and pretty Parisian, who was a married woman, and whose husband did not fail to reproach him accordingly. Rive made no other reply than that of taking the suspicious Benedick in his arms, and throwing him headlong out of the window. Luckily he fell upon a dunghill! In the year 1789, upon a clergyman's complaining to him of the inflexible determination of a great lord to hunt upon his grounds—"Mettez-lui une messe dans le ventre"—repiledRive. The clergyman expressing his ignorance of the nature of the advice given, the facetious Abbé replied, "Go and tear a leaf from yourmass book, wrap a musket-ball in it, and discharge it at the tyrant." The Duke de la Valliere used to say—when the knowing ones at his house were wrangling about some literary or bibliographical point—"Gentlemen, I'll go and let loose my bull dog,"—and sent into them the Abbé, who speedily put them all to rights. Rive died in the year 1791, aged seventy-one. He had great parts and great application; but in misapplying both he was his own tormentor. His library was sold in 1793.
[147]The works ofGuillaume-François de Buredeserve a particular notice. He first published hisMusæum Typographicum, Paris, 1755, 12mo.; of which he printed buttwelvecopies, and gave away every one of them (including even his own) to his book-loving friends. It was published under the name of G.F. Rebude. Peignot is very particular in his information concerning this rare morçeau of bibliography—see hisBibliographie Curieuse, p. 21. Afterwards appeared theBibliographie Instructive, in seven volumes, 8vo., 1763-68—succeeded by a small volume of a catalogue of the anonymous publications, and an essay upon Bibliography: this 8th volume is absolutely necessary to render the work complete, although it is frequently missing. Fifty copies of this work were printed uponlarge paper, of a quarto size. Its merits are acknowledged by every candid and experienced critic. In the third place, came forth hisCatalogue des Livres, &c., de L.J. Gaignat, Paris, 1769, 8vo., two vols.: not, however, before he had published two brochures—"Appel aux Savans,"&c., 1763, 8vo.—and "Reponse à une Critique de la Bibliographie Instructive," 1763, 8vo.—as replies to the tart attacks of the AbbéRive. The Catalogue of Gaignat, and the fairness of his answers to his adversary's censures, served to place De Bure on the pinnacle of bibliographical reputation; while Rive was suffered to fret and fume in unregarded seclusion. He died in the year 1782, aged 50: and was succeeded in his bibliographical labours by his cousinWilliam; who, with Mons. Van-Praet, prepared the catalogue of the Duke de la Valliere's library, in 1783, and published other valuable catalogues as late as the year 1801. But both are eclipsed, in regard to thenumberof such publications, by their predecessorGabriel Martin; who died in the year 1761, aged 83—after having compiled 148 catalogues since the year 1705. This latter was assisted in his labours by his son Claude Martin, who died in 1788. See Peignot'sDict. de Bibliologie, vol. i., 221, 422: vol iii., 277.
[148]The mention of De Bure and the AbbéRiveinduces me to inform the reader that theChasse aux Bibliographes, Paris, 1789, 8vo., of the latter, will be found a receptacle of almost every kind of gross abuse and awkward wit which could be poured forth against the respectable characters of the day. It has now become rare. The Abbé's "Notices calligraphiques et typographiques," a small tract of 16 pages—of which only 100 copies were printed—is sufficiently curious; it formed the first number of a series of intended volumes (12 or 15) "des notices calligraphiques de manuscrits des differens siécles, et des notices typographiques de livres du quinziéme siécle," but the design was never carried into execution beyond this first number. The other works of Rive are miscellaneous; but chiefly upon subjects connected with the belles lettres. He generally struck off but few copies of his publications; see theBibliographie Curieuse, pp. 58-9; and more particularly theDictionnaire de Bibliologie, vol. iii., p. 277, by the same author, where a minute list of Rive's productions is given, and of which Fournier might have availed himself in his new edition of theDict. Portatif de Bibliographie. From Peignot, the reader is presented with the following anecdotes of this redoubted champion of bibliography. When Rive was a young man, and curate of Mollèges in Provence, the scandalous chronicle reported that he was too intimate with a young and pretty Parisian, who was a married woman, and whose husband did not fail to reproach him accordingly. Rive made no other reply than that of taking the suspicious Benedick in his arms, and throwing him headlong out of the window. Luckily he fell upon a dunghill! In the year 1789, upon a clergyman's complaining to him of the inflexible determination of a great lord to hunt upon his grounds—"Mettez-lui une messe dans le ventre"—repiledRive. The clergyman expressing his ignorance of the nature of the advice given, the facetious Abbé replied, "Go and tear a leaf from yourmass book, wrap a musket-ball in it, and discharge it at the tyrant." The Duke de la Valliere used to say—when the knowing ones at his house were wrangling about some literary or bibliographical point—"Gentlemen, I'll go and let loose my bull dog,"—and sent into them the Abbé, who speedily put them all to rights. Rive died in the year 1791, aged seventy-one. He had great parts and great application; but in misapplying both he was his own tormentor. His library was sold in 1793.
Next to the bust of De Bure, consider those of the five Italian bibliographers and literati,Haym,Fontanini,Zeno,Mazzuchelli, andTiraboschi; which are placed in the five consecutive niches. Their works are of various merit, but are all superior to that of their predecessorDoni. Although those of the first three authors should find a place in every bibliographical collection, the productions of Mazzuchelli,[149]and especially of the immortal Tiraboschi, cannot fail to be admitted into every judicious library, whether vast or confined. Italy boasts of few literary characters of a higher class, or of a more widely-diffused reputationthanTiraboschi.[150]His diligence, his sagacity, his candour, his constant and patriotic exertions to do justice to the reputation of his countrymen, and to rescue departed worth from ill-merited oblivion, assign to him an exalted situation: a situation with the Poggios and Politians of former times, in the everlasting temple of Fame! Bind hisStoria della Letteratura Italianain the choicest vellum, or in the stoutest Russia; for it merits no mean covering!