NOTES ON BOOKS, CATALOGUES, SALES, ETC.
J.J.S. informs us, with reference to a Note in No. 2. (p. 21.), "that an account of Anglesey Abbey, in Cambridgeshire, is ready, and will be published ere long."
Our attention has been directed to the Prospectus of a series of "Cottage Prints from Sacred Subjects, intended chiefly for distribution among the poor," which will be so produced as to form a set of illustrations to the Bible; "although it is chiefly contemplated that the Prints, protected by a small frame, should find their way into the homes of the poor, and decorate their walls." The Editors, the Rev. H. J. Rose and Rev. J.W. Burgon, well observe: "We shall in vain preach reverence to the ear on Sundays, if the eyes may be familiarised with what is irreverent for the six days following. On the other hand, we shall surely be supplying ourselves with a powerful aid, if we may direct the eye to forms of purity and beauty; and accustom our village children, (who are now our hope,) from infancy, to look daily on what is holy, and pure, and good."--Subscribers of one guinea in advance are promised, in the course of the year, at least fifty such engravings as the four which accompany the Prospectus.
Messrs. Puttick and Simpson commenced on Thursday a nine days' Sale of the "Curious, rare, and valuable Library of a well-known Collector, deceased;" also another Collection, including--
Theology; Spanish, English, and other Chronicles: Specimens of the Early Typography of English and Foreign Printers; a very complete Series of the Productions of the Family of Aldus; rare editions of the Classics; numerous interesting and important Spanish Books; a very extensive Collection of Works relating to the Discovery, History, Natural History, Language, Literature, and Government of America and it Dependencies, Mexico, the East and West Indies, etc. Voyages, Travels, and Itineraries: Fine Books of Prints; Botanical Works; Natural History and Philosophy; Works containing Specimens of Early Engraving, Wood-cuts, and Emblems; a most interesting Collection of English Poetry, Plays, and Works illustrative of the History and Progress of the English Language and Literature, including a perfectly unique Collection of the Works of Daniel De Foe; several hundred rare Tracts, particularly an extensive Series relating to Charles I. and his Contemporaries, others of a Local and Personal Character, Biographies, rare Histories of remarkable Characters, Facetiae, and an unusually large assemblage of curious and rare Articles in almost every Class of Literature; a few MSS. etc.
Among the Lots deserving attention in the course of the coming week, are Nos. 1323 to 1375, a large collection of publications relative to America; Nos. 1612 to 1620, relating to Canada.
1574 Barros (Joan, de) Decades da Asia. Decada 1, 2. Lisboa, 1552-53; Decada 3, ib. 1563; Decada 4, Madrid, 1615; Couto, Decada 4, 5, 6, Lisboa, 1602-16; Decada 8, 9, 10. ib. 1736--together 8 vols. morocco
Nearly all the copies of the 6th Decade were destroyed by fire, and the few that are to to be met with are generaly, if not always, deficient in some leaves. The title-page to this copy (as in Mr. Grenville's) is supplied by the title to the 4th Decade, and a few leaves are wanting. For the rarity of this work, see Bibliotheca Grenvilliana, vol. i. p. 60.
And, lastly, Lot 1701; which contains a matchless series, in 154 vols., of the Works of Daniel De Foe, whom Coleridge was inclined to rank higher than Addison for his humour and as a writer of racy vigorous English.
The Lot is thus described:--
"THIS MATCHLESS SERIES of the Works of this distinguished Author was formed with unwearied diligence by his Biographer, the late Mr. Walter Wilson, during the greater portion of his life.
"The numbers to 208 refer to the Catalogue of the Works as published in his Life of Defoe, 3 vols. 1830; those following have been discovered by Mr. Wilson since the period of the publication. This Collection is rendered still further to complete by the addition of upwards of forty pieces by a recent possessor. The extreme difficulty of forming such a collection as the present is very apparent when we compare its voluminous contents with those very few collections which, during the last fifty years, have on the dispersion of celebrated libraries occurred for sale."
We have this week received a most important and valuable
"Catalogue of Bibles and Biblical Literature, containing the best works, ancient and modern, on the Criticism, Interpretation, and Illustration of Holy Scripture, and including such of the Fathers and Ecclesiastical Writers as have treated on these subjects, classified with Analytical Table of Contents and Alphabetical Indexes of Subjects and Authors, etc. on Sale, by C.J. Stewart, 11. King William St., West Strand."
Mr. Stewart explains that in addition to what are "strictly regarded as Biblical, there will be found in it the works of those Fathers, Mediæval and more recent Writers, who treat upon subjects connected with Scripture, each accompanied with an enumeration of such portions of his works; and under heads (more especially extensive under commentators) references are given to these writers, so as to afford a condensed view of authorities or sources of information." Mr. Stewart states also that he has other Catalogues in preparation,--we presume in continuation of the present one, and exhibiting the same system of arrangement,--and if so, we feel that the series will be of the greatest value to all theological students.
Collectors of Autographs and Engraved Portraits will thank us for directing their attention to a
"Catalogue of Books, Prints, Manuscripts, and Autograph Letters; being a part of the Stock of Horatio Rodd, brother and successor to the late Thomas Rodd, No. 23. Little Newport Street,"
in which they will find many interesting Autographs and curious Portraits.
We have also received
"A List of Secondhand Books on Sale by George Honnor, 304. Strand;" and
"A Catalogue of Books. Ancient and Modern, on Sale, by W. Pedder, 12. Holywell St. Part VI. 1849."