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
1. Divinity: _Greek, Latin, French and Italian_--about 2000
---- _English_ 2500
2. History and Antiquities 4000
3. Books of Prints, Sculpture, and Drawings--
_Twenty Thousand Drawings and Prints._
_Ten Thousand Portraits._
4. Philosophy, Chemistry, Medicine, &c. 2500
5. Geography, Chronology, General History 600
6. Voyages and Travels 800
7. Law 800
8. Sculpture and Architecture 900
9. Greek and Latin Classics 2400
10. Books printed UPON VELLUM 220
11. English Poetry, Romances, &c. 1000
12. French and Spanish do. 700
13. Parliamentary Affairs 400
14. Trade and Commerce 300
15. Miscellaneous Subjects 4000
16. Pamphlets--_Four Hundred Thousand_!
Mr. Gough says, these books "filled thirteen handsome
chambers, and two long galleries." Osborne the bookseller
purchased them for L13,000: a sum little more than two
thirds of the price of the binding, as paid by Lord Oxford.
The bookseller was accused of injustice and parsimony; but
the low prices which he afterwards affixed to the articles,
and the tardiness of their sale, are sufficient refutations
of this charge. Osborne opened his shop for the inspection
of the books on Tuesday the 14th of February, 1744; for fear
"of the curiosity of the spectators, before the sale,
producing disorder in the disposition of the books." The
dispersion of the HARLEIAN COLLECTION is a blot in the
literary annals of our country: had there then been such a
Speaker, and such a spirit in the House of Commons, as we
now possess, the volumes of Harley would have been reposing
with the MARBLES OF TOWNLEY!]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account