PREFACE

The volume entitled "Catalogve of Original and Early Editions of fome of the Poetical and Profe Works of English Writers from Langland to Wither," published by the Grolier Club in 1893, met with so kindly a reception from all who had occasion to consult it that the Committee, by whom the book was prepared, felt encouraged to extend its labors. The result is the present work, which may be considered a continuation of the bibliography of English Writers up to the early years of the eighteenth century.

There have been innumerable delays and disappointments connected with the preparation of this work, chief among which was the unexpected and lamented death of the one whose love for bibliography, combined with painstaking accuracy of description, made his untimely loss a serious obstacle to the early completion of the undertaking. A large portion of the present work is the result of the labors of Edward Hale Bierstadt, and it seems due to his memory that his associates should here record the deep sense of their appreciation of his character as a man, and of their admiration for his knowledge of bibliography.

The continuation of the work after Mr. Bierstadt's death was undertaken by another member of the Committee,

who carefully revised the collations by means of his own extensive library, adding many items that greatly increased the scope and usefulness of the bibliography.

The dispersion of several important libraries, whose treasures had been generously placed at the disposal of the Committee, has proved another cause of delay, and made it impossible in many instances to correct the proof by the books themselves.

It is an undeniable fact that, notwithstanding the greatest care, errors will creep in, and, in view of the unexpected obstacles referred to above, it is hoped that a generous allowance will be made for the difficulties of arriving at perfect accuracy in a work of this nature. As in the former volume, the books described have been taken from the libraries of members of the Grolier Club, except in a few cases where the importance of putting on record the full list of an author's writings compelled the Committee to turn elsewhere—generally to the British Museum for the volumes not to be found in this country.

The plan of collation has remained the same as adopted in the former volume, the test of over a dozen years' use having fully proved its general excellence. The facsimiles of titles are partly by the artotype process and partly printed directly in the text. The object of the reproduction is to present a picture of the title-page rather than the exact size of the original, which has seldom been more than approximated. Indeed, extreme accuracy in this respect is difficult owing to the constant changes in the gelatin negative.

The works collated are arranged in a single alphabet extending through the three volumes. Under each author's

name the works are given in chronological order, collected editions following earlier separate volumes. Translations from other languages are entered under the name of the translators with cross-references from the authors. Crossreferences are made to all proper names from initials or pseudonyms given on title-pages. The third volume will contain an index of printers and publishers, and another of engravers, which will cover the volume of 1893 as well as the present volumes, and, it is thought, will be a feature of exceptional value.

The Committee is grateful for many kindnesses on the part of those members who have loaned their books for the purposes of the work, and desires to make here due acknowledgment for these courtesies.

With the earnest hope that the work now finished may be of use to collectors and prove to be a genuine Contribution to English Bibliography, it is submitted to the consideration of the members of the Grolier Club.

Grolier Club, March 15, 1905.