A little while ago, I ordered Engelman's _Bibliotheca Scriptoram
Classicorum_, purporting to contain all such works published from 1700
to 1846. It was furnished to my bookseller by a foreign bookseller in
_London_ with an English title, having _his own_ name on it as
publisher, and an invitation to purchase the books described in it _from
him_. As the paper and type were German, I objected and received in
consequence a new English title, with the same name upon it, and a
_shorter_ invitation to purchase from him. I was captious enough to
object even to this; and I then received a Leipzig title in German. But
there still remains a difficulty: for this German title has also the
name of a _Parisian_ bookseller upon it, _a la maison duquel on peut
s'adresser, &c._ Now, as Engelman is a bookseller, and would probably
not object to an order out of his own catalogue, of which he is both
author and publisher, the preceding, circumstances naturally raise the
following Queries:
1. What is the real title-page of Engelman's _Catalogue_ 2. Is the
Parisian house accredited by Engelman; or has the former served the
latter as the London house has Served both? 3. Is it not desirable that
literary men should set their faces very decidedly against all and every
the slightest alteration in the genuine description of a book? 4. Would
it not be desirable that every such alteration should forthwith be
communicate to your paper?
The English title-page omits the important fact, that the _Catalogue_
begins at 1700, and describes it as containing _all_ editions, &c., up
to 1846.