Animadversions on the library and catalogues of the British Museum. A reply to Mr. Panizzi's statement; and a correspondence with that officer and the Trustees.
- Nicholas Harris Nicolas
- Date:
- 1846
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Animadversions on the library and catalogues of the British Museum. A reply to Mr. Panizzi's statement; and a correspondence with that officer and the Trustees. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
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![;■)() iiiarka])le Transactions at Sea, from the earliest Accounts of Time to tlie conclusion of tlic AV^ar with France;” but “send me Burchett’s Ifistory of Transactions at Sea.” Mr. Panizzi, however, not only requires the title of every book at length, but the “ readers are parti- culnrly recjuested to transcribe literally from the Catalogues the title of the work wanted.” Jf this were complied with, half a sheet of paper, instead of the limited space of little more th.an tw’o inches by one and a half, now allowed for the purpose; and a quarter of an hour would sometimes be necessary. Admitting that an applicant, in asking a book- seller, who knows his business, for a common book, of which there is only one edition, erroneously calls it an octavo when it was a folio, would he not be immediately told that he was mistaken as to the size ? but “ thc^'e, Sir, is the book.” Tf a book- seller would readily find a book, im])erfectly or erroneously described as to its size and date, what excuse can there be for its not being as promptly produced by a paid and organized corps of libra- rians ? Unnecessary delay in the supply of books having existed previously to August 1837, when Mr. Panizzi was placed at the head of that Depart- ment, a remedy was required. He says, in the first page of his pam])hlet, “ that the books are found by certain references^ press-marksy or symboU, by which each work is identified with the cm'respond- inq entry of its title in the Catalogueand he im- posed upon the Readers not only the absolute ncces-](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28038988_0058.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
