New-York tribune., 1891-05-26
A BOOK OF REFERENCE IN DEMAND.
THE EDITION OF THE ANNOTATED CATA-
LoGUE OF AMERICAN POETRY" AL
MOST EXHAUSTED

TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: win you allow the compiler Of the Annotated
Catalogue Of the Harris Collection Of American Poetry
TO say q few words about the volume7 II VIII DC
remembered that the collection Is without doubt t'e
largest and most valuable eAtant. II comprises no'
far from 5000 volumes, including few dupnca's''
Its founder was Judge Albert Gordon Greene VINO
spared no pans and no expense In collecting everything
In the shape OF American poetry, If he deemco "n"'
he sought worthy a place In the conecuoh. AV Ni
death II came into the possession oil Z. r. hrii', o
Providence. who greatly enriched 1t by a"1ins "
large number of curious and costly booKs' Nii' l'
IN 1874 published his "Index to American Poetry anu
PLAYS in the Collection of c. Fske Harris" wmcn no
sent 10 some of the most distinguished b'oiophies Ill
the oonntry Mr. pryant, on receiving the copy i"-
yvarded to him. wrote to Mr.. Harris: "fcur work.
sIndex 10 American Poetry and Plays has amazed io
nv showing me that multltudes OF persons on our side
of the Atlantic have wasted ther time IN wrltg Verses
in our language / do not know that can offer any
srrestions OF any value for the Improvement of your
work II seems TO very full. and must nave Gus.
Won much labor The warmest testimonials from some
M the most eminent booklovers in the country were
s.pt 10 Mr. Harris in which the writer's expressed
their thorough appreciation Of the work II VIII suhce
10 mention the names Of ]. Munsen. s. G DRAKE Dr'
s. A. Greene J. W. Dean, George II. Moore and j.
Hammond Trlmbull.
Como time after the death Of Mr. Harris october Q,
1871 his relative the Hon. Henry B. Anthony. OF
the United States Senate, purchased the coilecuon
and having added TO 1t many choice volumes OF inc
most distinguished American poets, gave the whole
to his alma mater, Brown University In the library
of which institution it has found permanent nome
II was the wish of Senator Anthony that catalogue
with notes on the more important and rare volumes
in the collection should be prepared by his friend
John r. Bartlett. ulhealth, however, prevented MI.
BARTLETT from undertaking the task and at his earnest
reouest the writer consented to do it, on condition
that he have the advice and aid OF Mr.. b. NOT 1ar
from a year was given TO the work, and the COM
pler did all In his power not only to reproduce the
valuable aIndex" of Mr.. Harris. but greatly to en-
large and improve it. At the suggestion OF Mr.
partlett be decided to print twenty-five copies OF
small ouarto edition, with broad margin on extra
fine paper and an edition Of $50 copies OF large
octave edition. with the hope that there would De IN
terest enough among the lovers OF books 10 enaoie
him in due time to dispose of this number OF copies
As time passed on so numerous the orders re-
ceved from many quarters for the volume that he de
c,ded IN double the number of copies to be prnteN'
And then to crown all, he had the harulhoou !"
double again. making the quarto edition loO ana tho
octave 1000 The result has fully lusttled the WE
dom of the compler's decision. Nearly all the 'oau
inc universities and colleges in the country have or
scred the work The same is true OF the prncpal
rhyaries Of the country including public libraries
so called and those belonging to private corporations
large number Of gentlemen, who are lntereste1 In III
their own home libraries, have securou copes' III"
del extended has been the circulation of this volume
Is indicated by the Circumstance that one PdtaS Sa aSo
copies recently sent by the writer went 10 DeD'S''
The two editions referred to have eeen SO far & sx
hausted that the compiler has decided h a Drce Of
Rs'"s RRs remainder As the work was not stereotyPed
and there probability that 1t vii be rePr,&n.fa' &
nerSons who wish for copies of the Annotated Saa-
iogne" will DO wen to order them at t. as Sc, early a
~ ~ Registrar of Brown University
Providence, May 6, 1891.