Page:The library a magazine of bibliography and library literature, Volume 6.djvu/133

Library Notes and News. 121 man of the future will find his work all done for him and his occupation gone. The rather lengthy title-page which we have beautifully trans- cribed in full gives of itself a clear idea of the field which M. Vicaire has occupied. The entries under the authors' names are in chronological order, giving a full title, publishers' and printers' addresses, size, and present value, in large type, followed by a collation and notes, giving original price, information about the illustrations, &c., in smaller type. The utmost pains have been spent on the work, and as it includes the bibliography, not only of authors, but of publishing societies, like the Societe des Amis des Livres and the Societe des Anriens Textes Franqais, and also of the more important periodicals, all of which are fully collated, its value can hardly be over-estimated. As we turn over the leaves, we are struck by the moderate prices which most of the books are appraised at. The publications of the Amis des Livres, which vary in value from one to seven hundred francs, are the only real exceptions. That splendid work LArmee fran^aise, has failed to maintain its pub- lished price j Balzac's Peau de Chagrin in the illustrated edition of 1838, is valued at 200 to 300 francs, and his Physiologie du Mariage at 100-125 francs, the rest of his books in their original wrappers at only a few francs apiece, Theodore de Banvilles are to be obtained as a rule at from two to eight francs apiece, the only notable exception being the Odes Funambulesques of 1857, a good copy of which is worth a couple of pounds. Baudelaires rule at about the same price, Barbey d'Aurevillys a good deal higher. But on the whole the "little collectors" of France are certainly able to pursue their hobby more economically than their English brethren, just as M. Petit's Les Editions originaux des Classiques franqais shows that the first editions of Moliere and Racine are to be obtained for a tithe or less than the auction values of our English Elizabethans. Fine bindings and illustrated books, on the other hand, are more esteemed in France than on this side of the Channel. IRotes anb IFlews, The Editor earnestly requests that librarians and others will send to him early and accurate information as to all local Library doings. The briefest record of facts and dates is all that is required. In course of time " Library Notes and News " will become of the utmost value to the historian of the Public Library movement, and it is therefore of the highest importance that every paragraph should be vouched for by local knowledge. Brief written paragraphs are better than newspaper cuttings. BELFAST. Mr. G. Smith, Assistant Librarian of University College Library, London, has been appointed out of fifty-two candidates, Librarian of the Linen Hall Library. DEWSBURY. In March it was agreed to establish a branch reading room in the house at the Public Park. The sum of ^500 is to be spent on books for the Reference Library. The Town Clerk has advised that books cannot be issued to persons only employed in the town, and not resident therein.