VII. Of I3ibliographical Dictionaries and logues.
The works which fall to be considered under this section, sometimes called Dictionaries, sometimes Catalogues, and sometimes Batiothecce, constitute the most generally useful and interesting class of Bibliographical publications. By showing what has been written in all the various branches of hu man knowledge, in every age and country, they act as useful guides to the inquiries of every class of the learned ; while, by pointing out the differences of editions, they constitute manuals of ready information to the professed Bibliographer.
Works of this class are called General or Particu lar, according' as their object is to indicate Books in all, or in one only, of the departments of Science and Literature. The former only aspire to point out rare or remarkable Books ; for no attempt has yet been made, or probably ever will be made, to com pile a universal Bibliographical Dictionary. On the other hand, it is the object of particular Dictionaries to notice all, or the greatest part, of those Books which have been published on the subjects which they em brace; and hence their superior utility to those who are engaged in the study of any particular science or subject.
The works of the former class, which chiefly de mand our notice, are the following :-1. Bibliogra phic Instructive, ou Traiti de la Connaissance des Livres rares et singuliers, par G. F. De Bure ; in seven volumes octavo, published at Paris between 1768 and 1768. The books described in this work are arranged, in appropriate subdivisions, under the five grand classes of Theology, Jurisprudence, Sciences and Arts, Belles Lettres, and History; and the clas sification which it exemplifies is that generally fol lowed by foreign Bibliographers. The names of the authors in all these classes are arranged alphabeti cally in the last volume ; but it has no index to ano nymous works,--a want, however, which was after wards supplied by another hand, in a thin octavo vo lume published in 1782, entitled Bibliographic In structive, tome dixieme. This is called the tenth vo lume, because De Bure had himself published a Sup plement of two volumes in 1769. Its title is, Sup pigment a la Bibliographic Instructive, ou Catalogue des Livres de Louis Jean Gaignat. De Bure was a
Bookseller at Paris, of great eminence in his profes sion, but still more distinguished for extensive in formation in all matters appertaining to Bibliography and Literary History ; and, accordingly, his work is still the delight of Bibliographers, though it has been followed by others which indicate a much greater number of Books, and which also, in some particulars, excel it in accuracy. 2. Dictionnaire Typographique, Historique, et Critique, des Livres rares, estimes et recherchis en tow genres, par J. B. L. Osmont ; 2 vols. 8vo, Paris, 1768. This work is more ample in notices of Italian Books than that of De Bure. 3. Dictionnaire Bibliographique, S vols. 8vo. Paris, 1790. This work, generally known under the name of Cailleau's•Dictionary, was compiled, according to M. Barbier and others, by the Abbe Du Clos. It was republished in 1800, with a Supplementary vo lume, by M. Brunet. It has been already mention ed, that the third volume has a separate alphabet for anonymous Books. 4. Manuel du Libraire et de Amateur de Livres ; contenant, 10, Un nouveau Dictionnaire Bibliographique ; 2o, Une Table en forme de Catalogue Rauonne ; par J. C. Brunet. This work was published in three volumes octavo in 1810, and republished with large additions, mak ing in all four volumes, in 1814. It contains a much greater proportion both of English and of Ger man Books, than any of the preceding compilations; and its plan is such as to afford all the advantages both of a Dictionary and a Classed Catalogue ; three of the volumes being employed to indicate Books under their names in alphabetical order ; and the . fourth, to class them, divested of all Bibliographi cal details, according to the system generally fol lowed. The prices of the rarer Books are given from the principal sales that have taken place of late years in France and other countries ; so that, upon the whole, this work, though it has less literary inte rest than that of De Bure, is probably the best Bi bliographical Dictionary extant, for the purposes of the professed Bibliographer.