Essays in Librarianship and BibliographyGarnett, Richard
Science
Essays in Librarianship and Bibliography
Garnett, Richard
Bibliography -- Methodology; British Museum; Library science
Enough, perhaps, has been said to warrant the suggestion of a little
book of colophons, bringing together what must now be laboriously hunted
up from Panzer, Hain, and similar authorities. Its principal aim should
be to collect whatever might illustrate the feelings with which the
ancient printers regarded themselves and their art in the fifteenth
century; but every colophon should also be given which throws a light on
contemporary history and public feeling on any subject. I should, for
instance, include that in which the peaceful character of Paul II.'s
pontificate is recognised by the epithet "placatissimum," and any that
conveyed a compliment to a king, doge, or any leading personage of the
time. Such a little volume, tastefully executed, something after the
pattern of Monsieur Müntz's delightful little book in the Vatican
Library under Platina, would, I believe, be a favourite companion with
many an amateur of ancient typography.
In conclusion, I may say a few words respecting what we are endeavouring
to do at the British Museum for the illustration of early printing. Of
the little exhibition of title-pages and colophons displayed at the
Association's visit to the Museum yesterday, since you have all seen it,
I need only say that the credit of collecting and arranging it is
entirely due to Mr. Pollard, whose essay on the subject I have already
recommended to your perusal. A more permanent collection is
contemplated, which I believe will be of substantial benefit to the
study of ancient printing. When the requisite funds are procured, as it
is hoped will shortly be the case, it is intended to provide additional
glazed presses in the library, with the view of bringing together
examples of every description of type used by a printer of incunabula,
that is, of books produced during the fifteenth century. Mr. Aldrich, a
gentleman deeply versed in typographic lore, to whom the selection of
these examples will be entrusted, will arrange them as far as possible
in the alphabetical order of the towns where the art of printing was
exercised, keeping the works of each printer together. This collection,
though not shown to the public, will always be accessible to experts.
Its value to them is obvious, and we hope it will also be of material
service in disclosing the numerous deficiencies of the Museum in
representative specimens of early type, and prompting efforts to make
them good. There is no idea of assembling together all the incunabula in
the Museum, which would be impracticable for many reasons, but only
representative examples of the various types. The foundation, however,
of a general catalogue of incunabula has been laid in a manner which I
have previously stated to the American Library Association, namely, by
printing copies of the catalogue on one side only. When the catalogue is
finished we shall, by merely cutting out the entries of any particular
description of books, obtain a classed catalogue of the entire subject,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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