A Bibliography of Bibliography OR A HANDY BOOK ABOUT BOOKS WHICH RELATE TO BOOKS BEING AN ALPHABETICAL CATALOGUE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WORKS DESCRIPTIVE OF THE LITERATURE OF GREAT BRITAIN AND AMERICA, AND MORE THAN A FEW RELATIVE TO FRANCE AND GERMANY BY JOSEPH SABIN Author of "A Dictionary of Books relating to America," etc. "A souldier without arms may be valiant, but not victorious; an artizan without his instruments may be skillful but not famous; ... To aim at learning without bookes is with Danaides, to draw water in a sieve." --R. WILLIAMS, 1630. New York J. SABIN & SONS 84 NASSAU STREET 1877 PREFACE. This _brochure_ owes its existence to Mr. Power's _Handy Book about Books_, a large portion of which was reproduced in the American _Bibliopolist_. An examination of so much as Mr. Power had done on the subject of bibliography, led me to the conclusion that he had not made a personal examination of the books described, and that the eminent individuals, whom he thanks as having rendered him valuable assistance, must have had rather limited bibliographical resources; indeed, the general result was so disappointing that I determined to endeavor an improvement, and the result is the present list which is about four times the extent of Mr. Power's, and includes all the titles quoted by him, some of which we should have preferred to omit. Still it is not a complete bibliography, for the most excellent reason that such a work is beyond any one man's capacity; but it is hoped it will prove useful to those librarians and general readers who desire information concerning books about books. Those who seek further information on the subject may consult with much advantage Petzholdt's _Bibliotheca Bibliographica_, which is conspicuous for the faithful and painstaking care exhibited in its compilation, and in which the titles are treated with that minute attention to classification which is preëminently the characteristic of the German mind, while our list is conspicuous for the absence of any attempt at such a classification. I cannot close this brief notice without tendering my thanks to Mr. Charles A. Cutter of the Boston Athenæum for his valuable aid. When librarians in general can approach his standard of library intelligence, there will cease to be that plentiful lack of knowledge by which some of them are now distinguished. JOSEPH SABIN. NEW YORK, _February 28, 1877_. BIBLIOGRAPHY.