1862 · London
by Henry Stevens
London: Printed by Whittingham and Wilkins, 1862. Two volumes. 12mo. 175 x 110 mm., [7 x 4 ½ inches]. xii, 436 pp.; [2], 437-805 pp. Bound in original blue cloth, decorated with gilt title and emblem on front covers and gilt title on the spine. Spine of volume I chipped at head and tail and repaired with glue; corners bumped. Volume II with cloth joints a bit worn; hinge of both boards detached. A reference copy only
Privately printed in an edition of 250 copies, printed at the Chiswick Press. Of this catalogue Bill Reese writes: "One of Stevens' efforts to raise cash was a two-volume catalogue listing 2,934 books, entitled Historical Nuggets; Bibliotheca Americana, rushed into print in 1862. In fact much of the listing had been standing in type since 1857. But all the leading American customers has already seen proofs of the Nuggets before the war, and none bought further now. It is ironic that the catalogue Henry Stevens is best known for today was a catastrophe at the time."
The catalogue is loosely arranged by author, with full titles and format and pagination. In his introduction entitled, "To the Diligent Biblioscopers" Stevens offer fifteen guiding principles for the writing of his which includes bibliographical notes, library locations, and three indexes. With faults a marvelous work.
William Reese, Collectors, Booksellers, and Libraries, p. 9.. (Inventory #: 829)
Privately printed in an edition of 250 copies, printed at the Chiswick Press. Of this catalogue Bill Reese writes: "One of Stevens' efforts to raise cash was a two-volume catalogue listing 2,934 books, entitled Historical Nuggets; Bibliotheca Americana, rushed into print in 1862. In fact much of the listing had been standing in type since 1857. But all the leading American customers has already seen proofs of the Nuggets before the war, and none bought further now. It is ironic that the catalogue Henry Stevens is best known for today was a catastrophe at the time."
The catalogue is loosely arranged by author, with full titles and format and pagination. In his introduction entitled, "To the Diligent Biblioscopers" Stevens offer fifteen guiding principles for the writing of his which includes bibliographical notes, library locations, and three indexes. With faults a marvelous work.
William Reese, Collectors, Booksellers, and Libraries, p. 9.. (Inventory #: 829)