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
The bibliographer, who wishes to be master of the most
curious and rare editions of his works, may go from Bayle to
Clement, and from Clement to Vogt. He must beware of the
castrated Lyons' editions "per Beringos fratres"--against
one of which Bayle declaims, and produces a specimen (quite
to his own liking) of the passage suppressed:--another, of a
similar kind, is adduced by Vogt (edit. 1793, pp. 19, 20);
who tells us, however, that an edition of 1544, 8vo.,
without mention of place or printer--and especially a
Cologne edition of 1598, by Hierat, in 12mo.--exhibits the
like castrations; p. 20. This has escaped Clement, learned
as he is upon the Lyons' editions, vol. i. 94, 95, 96. Bauer
(_Bibl. Libr. Rarior._) is here hardly worth consulting; and
the compilers of the celebrated _Nouveau Dict. Historique_
(Caen edit. 1789, vol. i. p. 7. Art. Agrippa) deserve
censure for the recommendation of these Lyons' editions
only.
Agrippa's "VANITY OF SCIENCES" was first published at
Antwerp in 4to. 1530; a book, upon the rarity of which
bibliographers delight to expatiate. His "OCCULT
PHILOSOPHY"--according to Bayle, in 1531 (at least, the
Elector of Cologne had seen several printed leaves of it in
this year), but according to Vogt and Bauer, in 1533.--There
is no question about the edition of 1533; of which Vogt
tells us, "An Englishman, residing at Frankfort, anxiously
sought for a copy of it, offering fifty crowns (imperiales)
and more, without success." All the editions in Agrippa's
life-time (before 1536) are considered uncastrated, and the
best. It should not be forgotten that Brucker, in his _Hist.
Crit. Phil._, has given a masterly account of Agrippa, and
an analysis of his works.]
Philemon heartily assented to the truth of these remarks; and, more
than once, interrupted Lysander in his panegyrical peroration by his
cheerings:[94] for he had, in his youth (as was before observed), been
instructed by the distinguished character upon whom the eulogy had
been pronounced.
[Footnote 94: This word is almost peculiar to our own
country, and means a vehement degree of applause. It is
generally used previous to, and during, a contest of any
kind--whether by men in red coats, or blue coats, or black
coats--upon land, upon water, or within doors. Even the
walls of St. Stephen's chapel frequently echo to the "_loud
cheerings_" of some kind or other. See every newspaper on
every important debate.]
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