Dibdin, Thomas Frognall; Spencer, George John [Oth.]: Bibliotheca Spenceriana: or a descriptive catalogue of the books printed in the fifteenth century, and of many valuable first editions, in the library of George John Earl Spencer (Band 1) (London, 1814) [Cicognara, 4650-1]

PREFACE.

lii

the more important first editions in the

SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

Such a work, if executed with copious-
ness and precision, cannot fail to be inte-
resting to the Bibliographer, to the Scholar,
and to the Lover of ancient Literature and
the Fine Arts. I have therefore endeavoured
to give a full and faithful description of each
edition, according to its critical or biblio-
graphical importance; and have not only
consulted the principal Writers who have
described it, but have attempted to correct
their errors, to reconcile their differences,
and to supply their deficiencies, when ne-
cessary and practicable: and occasionally
to illustrate these descriptions by means of

FAC-SIMILES* and EMBELLISHMENTS, SO aS

* It may be necessary to apprize the reader that the
fac-similes sometimes vary in their appearances, aris-
ing from the same causes which occasion a differenee
in the originals themselves; namely, an unavoidable
inequality in the power, or care, employed during the
operation of the press.

The whole of the fac-similes in the first volume, and
the greater number of those in the second volume, were