Chapter 1

AN APOLOGY FOR THE BOOK-HUNTER 1 “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.