PREFACE vii
thrown into one alphabet. It was still, however, a long ways from being ready for the printer. It was then just ready for editorial condensation and selection. When it is understood that the twenty-eight volumes of the two series of Book-Prices Current comprise between them upwards of two hundred thousand records, the impossibility of including everything selling above the fixed limit of price is apparent. A selection only could be included. In making this selection it has been the aim to include every important book (selling above the limit of price) in the following broad classes:
First. Books printed in England, or books in the English language printed abroad. This is the field covered by Lowndes' " Bibliographer's Manual," but brought down to date.
Second. Americana, in its broadest sense; books about America wherever printed and in whatever language, and books printed in America. This is the field which the lamented Joseph Sabin endeavored to cover in his uncompleted " Bibliotheca Americana."
Third. Books printed in foreign languages in the various countries of Continental Europe before 1520, with a large and copious selection of important books of later date.
Within these classes many books had, of course, been sold many times, and, as auction values are most to be relied upon when a number of records can be placed side by side and compared, it was desirable, within reasonable bounds, to include enough records to answer the purpose, although unnecessary to include every record where the number at hand was large. Where a few sales only were recorded, they are generally all included. In most cases where the number of sales were numerous a selection of from ten to twenty records only are given, the preference being given to copies in the original binding, though a few inferior or less interesting copies have been included for the purpose of comparison. In the case of a few very important books, where it seemed desirable to do so an even larger number of records has been included.
It has already been stated that a considerable number of books in foreign languages printed on the Continent after 1520 have been thrown out in making up the record. This should not be taken too literally as a large number of Continental imprints of later date are included. As the English or American auction price of Continental books of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries can hardly be taken as a very positive guide, and as the number of such books which come upon the market is small in comparison to the number published, it is not believed that their exclusion will often be felt.
