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] 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]

The Royal Institution Library is very rich in British Topography, and the catalogue forms a convenient handbook.[21]

The Catalogue of the Patent Office Library is by no means a model, but the second volume forms a good book of reference.[22] 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 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] Panzer,[25] and Maittaire's[26] books are indispensable.

For general literature Brunet's Manual[27] 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] is less known out of Germany, but it also is a work of very great value. Ebert's work[29] is somewhat out of date now, but it still has its use. Watt's Bibliotheca[30] 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.

English literature has not been neglected by English bibliographers, although a full bibliography of our authors is still a crying want. Complete lists of the works of some of our greatest authors have still to be made, and it is to be hoped that all those who have the cause of bibliography at heart will join to remedy the great evil. It would be quite possible to compile a really national work by a system of co-operation such as was found workable in the case of the Philological Society's Dictionary of the English Language. Sub-editors of the different letters might be appointed, and to them all titles could be sent. When the question of printing arose, it would be well to commence with the chief authors. These bibliographies might be circulated, by which means many additions would be made to them, and then they could be incorporated in the general alphabet. In such a bibliography books in manuscript ought to be included, as well as printed books. Although there is little doubt that many books still remain unregistered, we are well supplied with catalogues of books made for trade purposes. Maunsell[31] was the first to publish such a list, and in 1631 was published a catalogue of books issued between 1626 and 1631.[32] William London[33] published his Catalogue in 1658, and Clavell's his in 1696.[34] Bent's Catalogue, published in 1786, went back to 1700,[35] and this was continued annually as the London Catalogue. The British and English Catalogues[36] followed, and the latter is also published annually.[37]

For early printed books, Ames and Herbert's great work[38] is of much value, but information respecting our old literature has increased so much of late that a new history of typographical antiquities is sadly needed. Mr. Blades has done the necessary work for Caxton, but the first English printer's successors require similar treatment.

William Thomas Lowndes, the son of an eminent bookseller and publisher, and himself a bookseller, published in 1834 his Bibliographer's Manual[39] which has remained the great authority for English Literature. It had become very scarce when Henry Bohn, in 1857, brought out a new edition with additions in a series of handy volumes, which is an indispensable book of reference, although it is far from being the complete work that is required.

Allibone's Dictionary[40] contains much that is omitted in Lowndes's Manual, but it is more literary than bibliographical in its scope. The well-selected criticisms appended to the titles of the several books are of considerable interest and value to the reader. Mr. W.C. Hazlitt's Handbooks[41] are exceedingly valuable as containing information respecting a class of books which has been much neglected in bibliographical works. The compiler has been indefatigable for some years past in registering the titles of rare books as they occurred at public sales.

Mr. Collier's account of rare books,[42] founded on his Bridgewater Catalogue (1837), is of great use for information respecting out-of-the-way literature, as also is Mr. Corser's descriptive Catalogue of Old English Poetry.[43]

Accounts of books published in Gaelic,[44] in Welsh,[45] and in Irish,[46] have been published. The works of American authors are included in Allibone's Dictionary, referred to under English literature, but special books have also been prepared, such as TrÜbner's Guide,[47] Stevens's American Books in the British Museum,[48] and Leypoldt's great book, the American Catalogue.[49] Catalogues of Books on America, such as those of Obadiah Rich, have also been compiled, but these are more properly special bibliographies. France has always stood in a foremost position in respect to bibliography, and she alone has a national work on her literature, which stands in the very first rank—this is due to the enthusiastic bibliographer Querard.[50] A better model as to what a national bibliography should be could not well be found. The catalogue of current literature, which bears the name of O. Lorenz, is also an excellent work.[51]

German literature has been, and is, well registered. Heyse,[52] Maltzahn,[53] Heinsius,[54] and Kayser,[55] have all produced valuable works. Heinsius published his original Lexicon in 1812, and Kayser his in 1834, and Supplements to both of these have been published about every ten years. A more condensed work was commenced by A. Kirchhoff in 1856, containing the catalogue of works published from 1851 to 1855; a second volume of the next five years appeared in 1861, and since Kirchhoff's death Hinrichs has published a volume every five years. The Leipzig Book-fairs have had their catalogues ever since 1594, and the half-yearly volumes now bearing the name of Hinrichs,[56] which have been published regularly since 1798, and to which the Fair catalogues succumbed in 1855, may be considered as their legitimate successors.

The Literature of Holland is well recorded by Campbell[57] and Abkoude,[58] and for Belgium there is the Bibliographie de Belgique.[59] Italy can boast of a Gamba[60] and a Bertocci,[61] and a public office publishes the Bibliografia Italiana.[62]

Spain is fortunate in possessing a splendid piece of bibliography in the great works of Antonio.[63] Some years ago, when I was occupied in cataloguing one of the chief collections of Spanish books in this country, I was in the daily habit of consulting these Bibliothecas, and while comparing the books themselves with the printed titles, I seldom found a mistake. Hidalgo's[64] work and the Boletin[65] show that at the present time bibliography is not neglected in that country.

The works of Barbosa Machado[66] and Silva[67] show that Portugal is not behind the sister kingdom in the love for bibliography.

Bibliographies of other countries might be mentioned here, but space will not permit. There is one branch of general bibliography to which special attention has been paid for a long period of years. O. Placcius published his Theatrum Anonymorum et Pseudonymorum at Hamburgh in 1674 (2nd ed. 1708). Villani continued the record of pseudonymous literature by publishing at Parma, in 1689, a small volume entitled La Visiera alzata. J.C. Mylius published his Bibliotheca Anonymorum et Pseudonymorum at Hamburgh in 1740.

Barbier's great work on the Anonymous in French Literature was first published in 1806-8, the second edition appeared in 1822-27, and the third in 1872-78, as a continuation to the second edition of Querard's Les Supercheries LittÉraires. Querard's work is more curious than useful, because the author has entered into minute questions of authorship which do not really belong to the domain of bibliography. Manne's volume (1834) is not of much value. Lancetti published an octavo volume on Pseudonyms in Italian (1836), but Barbier's work was not worthily imitated in any other country until Mr. Paterson commenced the publication of the very valuable work of the late Mr. Halkett.[68]