The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-28

One OF tho most important American works OF the ycar
IA the bliotbeca Americans velustissnan descrp-
ton Of works relating TO America published between the
years laa2 and 1851 Four hundred copies have been
printed in royal octave nnetyua In quarto, and ten
in quarto Dutch paper 1t contains 1ty four pages
OF Introduction and Ave hundred and twenty OF texts,
with index, &c. Tho whole number OF titles given Il
three hundred and four The book was written by Mr..
Henri Harrsse, lawyer OF this city who born in
France and for several years professor In the College
Of South Carolina Columbia aud has been resident
OF New York for the last ten years s Is nowin France
The volume printed tho expense OF 8. !. NJ Bar-
low, OF this city, TO whom IL Il dedicated and from
whose remarkably fine collection OF the primod,a OF
American history, which ranks with the -four or Eve
foremost collections Of this kind in the country many
OF the copies were taken for description
The fundamental Idea OF tho WORT d describe
every book, If possible, from a personal examination
and who're copies could not be had 20 give in every
tho authority mentioning the book, and the claims by
which appears in such work.
Such plan Ia tho only proper for any valuable
photography And in this instance tho work has boon,
az general rule conscientously done The author had
the irce5t access 10 tho Que libraries OF John Carter
Brown, Of Providence. and or Mr. Barlow and Of
several other collectors Mr. Lennox OF this city al.
though moro generous than he ever before has been
known 10 be, refused usual To his library aud
gave only such fagmcnary assistance could DO OBJ
tanned during few hours passed In his ktchen Under
oven those disadvantages, win be seen from tho lst
Of works in his collection at the end Of tho volume,
enough has been found TO show that bis Library Il
cecdngy rich. His collection for instance OF Original
Christopher Columbus letters Is perhaps tho the
world How much more might have been discovered
from careful and intelligent search among tho books
themselves probably be told by Researches
we're also made in the libraries abroad
Mr. Harrisse s rather chary OF mentioning the aid no
received both in suggestions and in actual assistance,
while the work was in preparation. and Is perhaps too
willing to appropriate all the merit both OF the concep
ton and the execution But this Ia q small matter
The fact remains that II Ia tho most comprehensive and
conscientious work or tho kind up TO this time.
10 tho Aht1,oum for October 0 Is a communication
from Mr. Henry stevens, American bookseller
stationed in London, who has for somc years interested
himself ia American books In thns he undor.
takes to deory tho "Blbotheca Americana vetus.
tssima" Ar stevens II would seem thinks
American photography peculiarly ono OF hrs pr.
yate preserves that no considers any intrusion upon
fragrant poachlng. He has discovered that Mr Har-
risse makcs OF Ander sehrarht t''anotrcr voy,
age'N and makes merry g. but this obviously
slip OF The pen in ono OF the notes Mr Stevens
xhal apparently annoyed at things tbs
"Bibo,hecs" which would perhaps TEND 70 fnsh.cn
away the ,ttcst collectors. game from his preserves.
Whether they have done or no, will be duo
time. The fact IL simply noteworthy for those whose
attention las been excited by the "Bololhcca, waca
t,s becn tho greae rensa,ion this ycsr IN oil bibios
graphical bibofnaniac circles
Tho "Bibotheca" printed al the aradsrcet press
and - rs hne specimen Of typography he found
from any modern press IN the world. Tho back letter
typo freely uscd the reproduction OF che old titles
xJuQ aA nrHuu!H I'm The
clever pages 81 oDsrignadd lnasmuch az u treats OF
books IN Spanish Portugee, French. Italian. German.
Latin. &C II 10 remarkably correct " IN high de-
gree cresbe 10 Mr.. Bsrows intelligent love OF lsttes
mi Ar Harriage's literary induzlrY and ai,.fng