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]

VI

PREFACE.

daily acquiring strength and extension.
However deficient have been my former
efforts to give it interest, I presume to hope
that these Volumes may make atonement
for past errors; as they frequently contain
descriptions of Works never before de-
scribed, and enlarged and corrected accounts
of many which have been but superficially
or erroneously noticed.

Of a Li brary, justly considered by one
of the most celebrated of modern Bibliogra-
phers, to be the richest private collec
tion in Europe,* it was proper that the
Catalogue of so material a portion as is con-
tained in these volumes, should be equally
splendid and accurate. If I have failed in
the attempt to render it justice, it has not been
from a deficiency of zeal in the cause of
bibliography; since one third of my life has
been devoted to this congenial, and, I will

* Bibliotheque probablement la plus belle et la plus
riche de toutes celles que possede actuellement aucun
particulier Renouard : Annales de &Imprimerie des
Alde, vol. iii. p. 8.