The publication of _The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge_ has just
been completed by the issue of {342} the twelfth volume. We notice this
useful condensation of _The Penny Cyclopaedia_ principally, however, for a
feature which we hope to see more widely extended, namely, that of issuing
it in a strong and handsome half-binding, at the moderate charge of one
shilling per volume extra. The practice of publishing books in a bound form
(more especially such books as are intended for very general circulation)
is one which we have no doubt may be widely extended with great
satisfaction to purchasers. It has, generally speaking, been, up to the
present time, too closely confined to books of high price, adapted only to
wealthy purchasers, whom the words "bound by Hayday," or "morocco extra,"
with the necessary increase of price, charm, rather than discourage.
There is perhaps no work to which, at the present moment,--when the World's
Fair is about to commence, and we are sure to be visited by hundreds, or
rather thousands, of our Gallic friends, with whom we shall be in daily and
hourly conversation,--we can more appropriately call the attention of our
readers than to the second division (_Partie Francaise-Anglaise_) of M.
Tarver's _Dictionnaire Phraseologique Royal_, in which we can assure them
they will find the readiest solution of all those phraseological queries
which may arise during their intercourse with our lively neighbours. A very
cursory examination of its pages will serve to convince the inquirer of the
great learning and patient industry of M. Tarver; and his interest in the
work will not be diminished by the reflection that the name of its
accomplished author will be found in the obituary of the present week.
When noticing, a few weeks since, one of Captain Knox's interesting
volumes, we spoke of the undying popularity of White's _Selborne_. A proof
at once of this popularity, and a means of increasing it, will be found in
a new edition of this delightful book just issued as one of the volumes of
_Bohn's Illustrated Library_. It is entitled to its place in this series on
account of forty admirable woodcuts by which it is illustrated; and to a
place on the bookshelves of every Naturalist, for the sake of the
additional notes of Sir W. Jardine, and its present editor, Mr. Jesse.
Messrs. Puttick and Simpson (191. Piccadilly) will sell on Tuesday and
Wednesday next an exceedingly choice Collection of Autograph Letters,
comprising numerous Letters of extraordinary rarity, selected principally
from Upcott's Collection. We cannot attempt to particularise the many
interesting lots which are to be found in the present collection, but
recommend the Catalogue to attention for the satisfactory manner in which
the different documents are arranged and described.
CATALOGUES RECEIVED.--B. Quaritch's (16. Castle Street, Leicester Square)
Cheap Book Circular (No. XXVIII.) of Books in all Languages; W. Pedder's
(18. Holywell Street) Catalogue Part II. for 1851, of Books Ancient and
Modern; R. Saywell's (138. High Holborn) Select Catalogue Part XXI. of
Books in Theology, Classics, and General Literature.
* * * * *