volume. Besides these, each volume is accompanied by an appendix containing y BIBLIOTECA ORIENTAL, OCCIDENTAL, Nautica y Geografica de DON ANTONIO The "Biblioteca Occidental " occupies columns 516-912, and is divided into Barcia, as we learn from the Bibliotheca Nova Americana of Mr. Rich, p. 55, MDCCLXXXIX. BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA, or, a Chronological Catalogue of the most curious from the first volume of Cullen's Translation of Clavigero, containing some MDCCCVII CATALOGUE OF AUTHORS, who have written on Rio de la Plata, Paraguay, The catalogue occupies 16 pp., and is formed from Leon-Pinelo's Epitome, MDCCCXVI. BIBLIOTHECA HISPANO-AMERICANA SEPTENTRIONAL: || Catálogo y Noticia Calle De Then follows the Dedication, two pp. commencing:—A Fernando Septimo, || MDCCCXX. BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA-SEPTENTRIONALIS; being a choice collection of books in various languages, relating to the History, Climate, Geography, Produce, Population, Agriculture, Commerce, Arts, Sciences, etc., of North America, from its first discovery to its present existing government, among which are many valuable articles and rare; together with all the important official documents published from time to time by the authority of Congress. (The same title also in French.)-(Compiled by CONSUL WARDEN.) Paris, 1820. 8vo, pp. 147. This catalogue was printed for private distribution, by Mr. Warden, U. S. Consul at Paris, and contains an account of the first collection of books relating to America formed by that gentleman, who parted with it to Mr. S. E. Eliot, Mayor of Boston, Mass., for 5000 dollars. Mr. Warden, however, was indefatigable, and in 1831 produced another catalogue of a second Collection, under the following title :: MDCCCXXXI. BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA; being a choice collection of books relating to North and South America, and the West Indies; including voyages to the Southern Hemisphere, maps, engravings, and medals. (By CONSUL WARDEN.) 8vo. Paris, 1831. 140 pp. Reprinted nine years afterwards, under the same title, excepting in the alteration of the date, to Paris, 1840, in 8vo, 3 leaves and 124 pp. These three catalogues of Mr. Warden's two collections are enriched with valuable notes. The second collection, represented by the catalogues of 1831 and 1840, was secured for the State Library, Albany, by the payment of 4000 dollars. From the report it appears to have consisted of 2155 vols., 12 atlasses, 121 maps, 9 medals, and 2 engravings. MDCCCXXXII. A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS relating principally to America, arranged under the years in which they were printed, from 1500 to 1700. London, O. RICH, 12, Red Lion Square, 1832. 8vo, pp. 129. Mr. Rich limits this list to books printed before the year 1700, and he has the merit of being one of the first who described each article sufficiently at length to be of use to those who are interested in the investigation of the history of America. Mr. Rich was, we believe, a native of New England, a member of several learned societies of America, as mentioned at page xvi., and resided for some years in Spain, before he established himself in London as a bookseller, commencing in that capital with a stock of books, chiefly relating to his native country and to Spanish America, which the troubled state of Spain, at the period of his sojourn in the Peninsula, had enabled him to amass at very moderate prices. Indeed, had there been no buyer for them on the spot, at the moment of the dispersion of many old libraries, both ecclesiastical and civil, during the progress of the Revolution, it is probable that many volumes of the greatest rarity and interest would have perished altogether as waste-paper. To Mr. Rich belongs the merit of having awakened the attention of other European booksellers to the importance of the subject of the earlier American History, beyond the limits of the American continent; and the principal London booksellers, who dealt in rare and valuable books at that period, became his great competitors in the book-market. Amongst those whose catalogues deserve particular mention, were Messrs. Salva, Rodd,* Thorpe, Bohn, Payne, and Foss, from whom the late Mr. Grenville chiefly derived those rare works on America, which makes the Bibliotheca Grenvilliana almost indispensable to the collector of similar publications. The late Mr. Asher, of Berlin, also became a successful competitor, and supplied some few rare books on the subject to the British Museum, and other public and private collections. As his trade increased, Mr. Rich did not confine his speculations to Spain and to England. He sought throughout the continent of Europe for French, Dutch, and German editions and translations of early voyages and travels, connected with the Western hemisphere, and devoted much attention to the pamphlets and other ephemeral publications connected with New England and Virginia, which form one of the chief sources of information on all matters appertaining to the colonial portion of the history of the present United States. Mr. Fr. Müller, of Amsterdam, deserves prominent mention, also, amongst those booksellers who have devoted themselves to rescue these fragile records of American history from obscurity, which is more fully noticed in calling attention to his catalogue, at p. xix. The 129 pp. of which this catalogue of 1832 is composed, present us with a bookseller's price-list of 486 works, printed from 1493 to 1700. Of these, 90 are printed prior to the year 1600, and 396 in the seventeenth century. It is compiled with enough of accuracy for the purpose for which it was intended— a dealer's description sufficiently full to enable him to vend his wares; and Mr. Rich's notes are, on the whole, entitled to much consideration, though now and then such slips occur as this-"the existence of any publication on New England," for instance, " anterior to 1670, is very doubtful; " though Dr. Asher, in his Bibliographical Essay, noticed at page xx., as will be seen, confines himself almost exclusively to books printed anterior to that date. To some copies of the catalogue Mr. Rich added, A LIST OF BOOKS relating to America, 1493 to 1700, 16 pp. 8vo, which was afterwards reprinted in 4to, in double columns, 4 pp. The latter was "printed by J. S. Hodson, 15, Cross Street, Hatton Garden;" but bears no date. These lists furnished the first general outline of what had been published, respecting both North and South America and the Islands, throughout Europe, prior to 1700. Previously no one had attempted to do more than to provide particulars of those books which serve to illustrate such separate portions of America as it was the compiler's object to bring more prominently forward. Great bibliographical accuracy is not attempted, beyond that which regards -dates and places of publication; and the titles themselves are not given at length. Of these Mr. Rich enumerates 486, a number which might have been considerably increased had he made more diligent reference to historical works, to booksellers' and sale catalogues, and to the larger bibliographical A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS, consisting of a Collection of Voyages and Travels in various parts of the world; including an extensive series relating to the several countries of America. On sale. . . . by Thomas Rodd. 8vo. 1843. pp. 115. (Nos. 1426-2328, consist of Books relating to America.) productions appertaining to general literature. The value of these lists is seen in the rapid rise in the prices of many of the rarer articles enumerated in them; whilst such as up to that period were precious chiefly as book-rarities, but which did, nevertheless, occasionally find their way into the market, are now scarcely ever seen, excepting in large public libraries, or in private cabinets, which are not likely to be dispersed. As a companion, there appeared in MDCCCXXXV. BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA, or a Catalogue of Books in various languages, relating to America, printed since the year 1700. Compiled principally from the works themselves, by O. RICH, Member of the Massachusetts Historical Society; of the Albany Institute; of the Pennsylvania and New England Linnean Societies; Honorary Member of the American Antiquarian Society, etc. London: O. Rich, 12, Red Lion Square. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1835. 8vo, 424 pp. MDCCCXLVI. BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA NOVA. A Catalogue of Books relating to America, in various languages; including Voyages to the Pacific and round the World, and Collections of Voyages and Travels, printed since the year 1700; compiled principally from the works themselves, by O. RICH, London (1835), 1846. 2 vols. 8vo. Vol. I. pp. 517. Vol. II. pp. 412, and 16, and 8 pp. Mr. Rich published a specimen of this important work with his catalogue of ancient and modern books, in 1834, at which time he contemplated that it would extend to some 600 pp. There are two "Notices" prefixed to the volume; the first, dated 1 December, 1834, states that "the compiler being unable to publish the complete Bibliotheca Nova Americana at once, had confined himself" (in the first volume) "to books printed in the eighteenth century." In the other he informs us, that "only 250 copies are printed; 150 for sale in America, and 100 for sale in Europe." This small impression has now become exhausted, the work is consequently very scarce and seldom attainable, excepting the second volume, which contains a list of Books, extending up to those published in 1844. A Supplement to the first volume appeared under the title: SUPPLEMENT TO THE BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA NOVA. Part I. Additions and Corrections, 1701 to 1800. London: O. RICH, 12, Red Lion Square, 1841. 8vo, pp. 425–517. Mr. Rich did not avail himself of the labours of his predecessors to the extent he probably would have done, had his object been less one of trade and more of a literary character, which we gather from the introduction, in which he states, that "he possesses most of the books, with a few additions, here and there," clearly indicating that these additions were to be found in his stock, though omitted in the Bibliotheca Nova. Indeed, with the exception of Meusel's improved edition of the Bibliotheca Historica of Struve, he appears to have made no use of foreign bibliographical works; and several valuable sources of information, furnished even by English writers, have also been left unexplored. He has adopted a chronological arrangement, and the number of publications |