Bibliomania; or Book-Madness: A Bibliographical RomanceDibdin, Thomas Frognall
History
Bibliomania; or Book-Madness: A Bibliographical Romance
Dibdin, Thomas Frognall
Bibliography; Bibliomania; Book collecting; Books -- Prices
[Footnote 158: Dr. EDWARD HARWOOD published the fourth and
last edition of his "_View of the various editions of the
Greek and Roman Classics_," in the year 1790, 8vo. A work
which, in the public estimation, has entitled its author's
memory to very considerable respect in the classical world;
although the late Professor Porson, in the fly leaf of a
copy of my second edition of a similar publication, was
pleased to call the Doctor by a name rather unusually harsh
with _him_, who was "Criticus et lenis et acutus;" censuring
also my dependance upon my predecessor. In the year 1808,
was published my third edition of "_An introduction to the
knowledge of rare and valuable editions of the Greek and
Latin Classics_," two volumes 8vo.: in which, if I may
presume to talk of anything so insignificant, I have
endeavoured to exhibit the opinions--not of Dr. Harwood
alone, but of the most eminent foreign critics and
editors--upon the numerous editions which, in a
chronological series, are brought before the reader's
attention. The remarks of the first bibliographers in Europe
are also, for the first time in a English publication,
subjoined; so that the lover of curious, as well as of
valuable, editions may be equally gratified. The
authorities, exceedingly numerous as well as respectable,
are referred to in a manner the most unostentatious; and a
full measure of text, and to be really useful, was my design
from the beginning to the end of it. To write a long and
dull homily about its imperfections would be gross
affectation. An extensive sale has satisfied my publishers
that its merit a little counterbalances its defects.]
LIS. You are, no doubt, a fond and partial critic in regard to the
works of Herbert and Harwood: but I am glad to recognise my fellow
countrymen in such an illustrious assemblage. Go on.
LYSAND. We are just at the close. But a few more busts, and those very
recently executed, remain to be noticed. These are the resemblances of
LA SERNA SANTANDER, CAILLEAU, and OBERLIN;[159] while several vacant
niches remain to be filled up with the busts of more modern
bibliographers of eminence: namely, of VAN-PRAET, FISCHER, LAMBINET,
RENOUARD, PEIGNOT, FOURNIER, BARBIER, BOUCHER, and BRUNET.[160]
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