DI

"NAPOLIS

A GENERAL

CATALOGUE OF BOOKS,

ARRANGED IN CLASSES,

NAPOLI

OFFERED FOR SALE BY

BERNARD QUARITCH.

"The benefit which is derived from literature will depend, not so much upon the literature
itself, as upon the skill with which it is studied, and the judgment with which it is
selected."-Buckle's Civilization, i. 1858, p. 247.

PREFACE.

IN placing this GENERAL CATALOGUE of my stock of Books before the public, I beg to state that these Books have been brought together by me on account either of their intrinsic value or their fine condition. The Libraries of many eminent Collectors and distinguished Savants are here united in one focus, and thus collected and arranged, form a picture of the whole range of Literature, displaying the marvellous literary activity of the Human Mind at all periods in the existence of civilized nations.

Seldom before has such an extensive Catalogue of the chief or STANDARD WORKS of the Literature of all Countries been issued: they are here represented, occasionally by an early Manuscript, often by the Editio Princeps, usually by the best edition, and sometimes by the cheapest modern reprint.

Especial pains have been taken to gather an almost complete Series of the TRANSACTIONS of the Learned Societies of Europe, America and Asia. Of MANUSCRIPTS, which are somewhat scattered throughout the Catalogue, the number is about a thousand, including early Biblical and Classical Codices from the Xth Century downwards, Illuminated Missals, Chronicles, and an extensive collection of Oriental works.

When the great difficulty is considered, which now exists, to obtain valuable books at MODERATE PRICES, the collection here offered for sale, will, I trust, be thought deserving attention. I have bestowed many years of the most energetic part of my life in getting these books together, and they are now offered at their fair market value, many of them even below it. I quote on this subject an extract from a letter in the "Times" of Feb. 29, 1868:

66

"A delusion which it may be well to dispel, is that large establish"ments must necessarily entail higher charges. The contrary is really nearer the truth, for the larger the trade the more advantageously it can be conducted in point of cost of goods and average "of expenses."