Annali della Tipografia Volpi-Cominiani colle notizie intorno la vita e gli studi de fratelli Volpi, da Fortunato Frederici: with a portrait of Giannantonio Volpi. Though less numerous than the preceding volume, because the catalogue of the Volpi library is omitted (the reprinting of which would have been unnecessary), this work is more satisfactory in its accounts of the Cominine editions, and of the learned brothers, Volpi. It is only to be regretted, that M. Frederici did not reprint, with corrections, the curious little dictionary, intituled, Varie avvertenze intorno a' libri, which occupied 49 pages in Volpi's catalogue.

Specimen Catalogi Codd. MSS. Bibliothecæ Zaluscianæ, à Jo. Andrea Janoski exhibitum. Dresdæ, 1751, 8vo.

The Zalewski Library (in later times called the Library of the Republic), was founded at Cracow, by the two brothers Zalewski, one of whom was Bishop of Cracow they expended vast sums of money on its formation, and, in 1745, presented it to the public. Among other curiosities which this library is known to contain, are two antient MSS. of Ovid, and several volumes of journals in the handwriting of Sobieski, king of Poland.

SECTION VI.

Sale Catalogues of Booksellers.

THE first printers published books at their own expense, which they sold themselves: some of these are specified in the course of the present section. The capital, however, which this required, soon rendered it expedient to divide the hazard and the profit: the booksellers were thus enabled to procure a much greater variety of publications; and catalogues became necessary. The earliest sale catalogue was printed at

Frankfort (which preceded Leipsic as a literary mart) in the year 1554*. The most eminent sale catalogues on the continent, perhaps, are those published previously to the fairs held at those two cities: the Frankfort fairs are held twice a year, in spring and autumn, and each continues three weeks. The Leipsic fairs are held three times a year. The first commences on the first of January; the second, three weeks after Easter; and the third, after Michaelmas. These fairs last three days each, and are not inferior to those of Frankfort. In 1802, the German plan of disposing of books by means of literary fairs, was adopted in the United States of America: the first was held at New York; and it is proposed, in future, to hold them statedly in that city †. The progress of sale catalogues in England is copiously treated in Mr. Nichols's "Literary Anecdotes," Vol. iii. pp. 608-693, and will abun dantly repay the trouble of consulting on this subject. In the following pages, we shall chiefly indicate the principal sale catalogues, which are worthy of the student's attention.

§1. British Sale Catalogues.

THE first part of the Catalogue of English printed Bookes. Which concerneth such matters of Divinitie, as haue bin either written in our owne tongue, or translated out of anie other language: and haue bin published to the glory of God, and edification of the church of Christ in England. Gathered into one alphabet, and such method as it is, by Andrew Maunsell, bookseller, London, 1595, folio.

* Beckmann's Hist. of Inventions, Vol. iii. pp. 125–135, in which an interesting account is given relative to book catalogues. One of the Frankfort catalogues for 1625, is in the British Museum: it is intituled, Bibliotheca Exotica: sive catalogus officinalis librorum peregrinis linguis venalibus scriptorum, omnium quotquot in officinis bibliopolarum indagari potuerunt, et in Nundinis Francofurtensibus prostant, ac venales habentur, 4to. + Miller's Retrospect of the 18th Century, Vol, iiì. p. 257, note.

This is the first digested list of publications in the English language, and is curious on many accounts, particularly as it affords the titles of many works, and records the names of various authors, long since lost and forgotten. The Seconde Purte of this catalogue was published also at London, 1595, folio, and concerneth the sciences mathematicall, as arithmetick, geometrie, astrologie, musick, the arte of warre, and navigation: and also of phisicks, and surgerie. A third part, containing history and polite literature, was to have followed, but was never printed. Of Andrew Maunsell the compiler, nothing more is now known, than that he was a bookseller of ability and eminence in his day. An analysis of his catalogue is given in the Athenæum, vol. i. pp. 43-45, and 155, 156, whence the preceding notice is abridged.

A Catalogue of the most vendible books in England, orderly and alphabetically digested under the heads of Divinity, History, Physic, &c. With school books, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and an introduction for the use of schools, by W. London, 1658, 4to.

This catalogue is copiously analysed in the Athenæum, vol. ii. pp. 601-604, to which the reader is referred. Who the compiler of it really was, is now unknown, and must remain a circumstance, at best, of mere conjecture. In Lemoine's Hist. of Printing, p. 75, this catalogue is ascribed to Thomas Guy, the founder of the celebrated hospital bearing his name, in the borough of Southwark.

"The au

thor" (says Mr. Dibdin) was a man, whoever he may chance to be, of no mean intellectual powers." (Bibliom. p. 397.)

General Catalogue of Books, printed in England since the dreadful fire, 1666, to the end of Trinity Term, 1676. London, folio.

This catalogue was published by Robert Clavel, an eminent bookseller of that time. It is a thin folio, and includes an

abstract of the bills of mortality. The books are classed under the heads of divinity, history, physic, and surgery, miscellanies, chemistry, poetry, &c. The titles of the books are briefly stated, and the publishers' names are given. The edition consulted for this notice is the fourth: "the catalogue was continued every term till 1700." (Lit. An. vol. iii. p. 608, note.

Bibliotheca Annua: or the Annual Catalogue for 1699. London, 1700, 4to.

No. III. for the year 1701, 4to.

Both these publications are in the British Museum of No. II. I am enabled to present no account; though it is evident that such a number was published.

A complete Catalogue of Books, published from the beginning of this century to the present time. With the prices affixed. To which is added, a catalogue of the school-books, now in general use. 8vo, London,

1766.

The London Catalogue of Books in all languages, arts, and sciences, that have been printed in Great Britain, since the year MDCC. Properly classed under the several branches of literature, and alphabetically disposed under each head; with their sizes and prices. London, 1773, 8vo.

To this catalogue there were two or three supplements published; it is now superseded by the following more accurate list.

The London Catalogue of Books, with their sizes and prices, corrected to August 1811. London, 1811,

8vo.

This catalogue is compiled by the publisher, Mr. W. Bent, who has classed the books alphabetically under the heads of miscellaneous literature,-divinity and ecclesiastical his

tory, Law and Jurisprudence,-Medicine, Surgery, Physiology, and Chymistry-Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, and Latin, and School Books. A supplement, containing works published since 1811, was published in 1812, 8vo. Mr. Bent has also, for some years past, published a Monthly List of Publications, in 4to; comprising notices of works preparing for the press, as well as titles, &c. of new books and new editions of works. Being stamped, it is circulated by the post in the same manner as newspapers.

The preceding articles will furnish a pretty accurate view of English literature, subsequent to the memorable fire of London. But much information may be derived, by consulting the sale catalogues of respectable booksellers, which have prices affixed to the respective articles. Among these, Mr. Edwards's catalogue of 1790 and 1794, particularly claim the bibliographer's attention, on account of the rarity of many of the articles therein described, and which (Dr. Clarke observes) are seldom offered to the public in a sale catalogue. (Bibl. Misc. vol. II. p. 87.) To these may be added, for Classical Literature, the catalogues of Mr. Lunn and Mr. R. Priestley; for rare books generally, the catalogues of Messrs. Longman and Co. for 1813-14, of Messrs. Lackington and Co., of Mr. Cuthell, Messrs. Arch, (whose catalogues are rich in bibliography), Mr. Triphook; for Law books, those of Messrs. Butterworths and Messrs. Clarkes; for Divinity, those of Mr. Baynes, and Messrs. Ogle and Co., &c. &c. &c. Among the catalogues of provincial booksellers, those of Messrs. Ford, (Manchester), Broster, (Chester), Peckover, (Bristol), Burdon, (Winchester), may be mentioned, as comprising numerous rare and curious articles, which will repay the trouble of consulting. The present list might be stili further augmented; but the preceding articles will perhaps be deemed more than sufficient.

Bibliotheca Universalis et Selecta: A Catalogue of