Page:The Library (Lang).djvu/21

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CONTENTS.


CHAPTER I.

PAGE

An Apology for the Book-hunter1

"Every man his own Librarian"—Bibliography and Literature—Services of the French to Bibliography—A defence of the taste of the Book-collector—Should Collectors buy for the purpose of selling again?—The sport of Book-hunting—M. de Resbecq's anecdotes—Stories of success of book-hunters—The lessons of old Bookstalls—Booksellers' catalogues—Auctions of Books—Different forms of the taste for collecting—The taste serviceable to critical Science—Books considered as literary relics—Examples—The "Imitatio Christi" of J. J. Rousseau—A brief vision of mighty Book-hunters.


The Library31

The size of modern collections—The Library in English houses—Bookcases—Enemies of Books—Damp, dust, dirt—The book-worm—Careless readers—Book plates—Borrowers—Book stealers—Affecting instance of the Spanish Monk—The Book-ghoul—Women the natural foes of books—Some touching exceptions—Homage to Madame Fertiault—Modes of preserving books; binding—Various sorts of coverings for books—Half-bindings—Books too good to bind, how to be entertained—Iniquities of Binders—Cruel case of a cropped play of Molière—Recipes (not infallible) for cleaning books—Necessity of possessing bibliographical works, such as catalogues.