Chapter 79 Symptoms of Bibliomaniacs

Thomas Flonel Deboutine In 1809, Thomas Flonel Deboutine published a small book about book mania in London, talking about the symptoms and treatment of this "illness" in a light-hearted and humorous style .This book is not easy to come by now, so here are some passages selected and translated from "The Book Lover's Pleasure Wheel" selected by William Targer. The witty Pegna, on page 51 of the first volume of his "Dictionary of Bibliographies", once interpreted book mania as "a kind of mania for possessing books; the degree of wanting to learn from them is not as good as enjoying They gratify their eyes. People who suffer from this addiction know only the title and date of publication, and are attracted not by its content but by its appearance".This definition, perhaps too broad and vague, may not be of much benefit to the understanding and prevention of the addiction.Therefore, let us describe it more definitely and clearly.

Common symptoms of this "problem" are fanaticism for the following: 1, hardprints; 2, uncut editions; 3, illustrated books; 4, orphans; ; Eight, in boldface. Let us describe these symptoms in more detail. One: fine print, there are some books, in addition to the ordinary version, there are several sets or limited parts, the ink and printing are particularly exquisite, the format is larger, and the paper quality is better.The value of such books will depend on their beauty and rarity. At present, the symptom of bibliophilia is very common and severe, and it has a tendency to spread more widely.Not even modern publications escape its dreadful influence; when Mr. Jamil told me how enthusiastically the reservations for a hard copy of "Valentia Travels" were; Evans revealed to me that his Each of the new editions of "Burrett's History of His Own Time" has been released.I couldn't help but raise my eyes to the sky and raise my hands high in pity for the prevalence of book mania!

Two: The uncut book. Of all the symptoms of a bibliophile, this is the strangest one.This could be interpreted as a mania for books whose edges were never trimmed by the binder's tools.I look around the shelves lined with my own collections, and I cannot help feeling that the symptoms of this disorder have spread to my own door; But to please my friends (for one must sometimes study their tastes and appetites as well as one's own) I am convinced that my own symptoms will not produce very serious consequences.As for such an uncut book, with all its inconveniences and imperfections (think, an uncut dictionary!) and what a reasonable man would necessarily desire is a book in perfect binding, yet Since there is such a queer frenzy to collect them, I dare say that if there is an uncut first edition of Shakespeare or an uncut first edition of Homer, it will bring in a good fortune!

Three: Illustrated picture books, the fanaticism for books with countless engravings for illustrations or decorations, showing the characters or environments mentioned in the books, is a very common and violent symptom of bibliophilia.This has become especially popular in the last half century.Some have traced the origin, or first appearance, of the symptom to the publication of Grangier's Biographical History of England; Under the shadow of the authority of Evelyn, Ashmore, etc.: he is not held personally responsible for the frenzy which took place to collect engravings.However, Grangier was the first to introduce the mania in the form of the first paper, and the time of publication of this paper was obviously very "unlucky"-although the author himself could say that he did not "premeditate". "The crime.His history of England seems to sound the clarion call of a widespread search and slaughter of ancient books: many venerable philosophers and long-gone heroes, who have rested undisturbed in the records Among the sumptuous volumes of their eloquence, they were immediately hauled out of their quiet abodes, and lined up with the modern engravings of the hakama, in the grangier of an illustrated book!

The craziness doesn't stop there.Illustrations became all the rage!Shakespeare and Clarendon became its second targets.From here, it slanted out to flank other aspects, to adorn other lesser things; and this mania, the symptom of bibliomania, continued unabated.But, if judged fairly, of all symptoms this is the least evil.It is a pleasure to have a well-made series of portraits of a famous person, covering all the ages of his life, from budding childhood to indifferent old age; but to collect all portraits, good or bad, , it means that the symptoms of this disease are already dangerous and alarming, to the point where it is almost incurable!

There is another form of illustrated book, which also belongs to the symptomatic range of bibliophilia; it is a collection of books about this character or this topic from various works (using scissors or by means of transcription). Each chapter and each section of the book is collected together.It is an amusing and useful way of interpreting one's own beloved author; such a work, if done in a skilful hand, is worthy of the public library.I was almost tempted to mock the collections of the poet Zeiterton interpreted in this way, until I saw Hasliud's one, in twenty-one volumes, which made me sit on my chair!

Four: Orphan, the hobby of a book with any kind of characteristics, such as the illustrated book of the above two methods, or the book has some notable points in terms of format, beauty or other circumstances - all are hobbies According to the orphan copy, this is undoubtedly one of the most popular symptoms of bibliophilia.So let me remind every sober and prudent bibliophile not to be tempted by such terms as "rare and rare"; It is easy to go astray inadvertently. Five: Fine prints on vellum, the desire for such fine prints is also a very strong and common symptom of book lovers; but because modern printed copies are rarely like this, bibliophiles have to look to three hundred years ago , such editions were printed and published by Yardud, Ferrat, Jonday, etc.

Although the National Library of Paris, and the library of the Counts of Macadier in Toulouse, are said to have the largest collections of books printed on parchment, those who have the good fortune have seen the British Royal Library, the Duke of Marbolo, the Spanzai When books of this kind were acquired by the Earl, Mr. Jones, and the late Mr. Claylott (now in the British Museum), they did not have to travel to the Continent to witness their extraordinary beauty. Exquisite and rich.Mr Edward's lone parchment first edition of Leviticus (he must forgive the adjective) is worth a library in itself, and Ould's recently discovered parchment copy of Leviticus The re-edition of The Book of Juliara Barnes, which is entirely without fault, is a sure sign that this bibliophilic symptom was prevalent in our grandfathers' time; so it is not necessarily true, as some have asserted, that it is a recent Happened half a century ago.

Six: The first edition, from the era of Anselon to Asko, has shown a very strong desire to buy the original or first edition of a book, because most of the original and first editions are supervised by the author himself. corrected; and, like first prints of engravings, considered more valuable.Anyone who is an avid collector of such editions can without a doubt have the symptoms of a bibliophile: But the disease is not incurable, and does not deserve severe treatment and censure.All editionologists value the importance of such editions so that they can be checked against later editions and often checked for oversights shown by later editors.The original Shakespeare was considered so important that a photocopied copy was published.With regard to the Greco-Latin classics, the acquisition of a first edition is of primary importance to editors who want to publish definitive editions of the classics.I believe Wakefett always considered it a pity that he had not seen the first version of Lucretius sooner.When he set about editing this first edition was not yet in the Earl of Spencer's library--the treasury of all the fine and rare works of classical literature and art!

It should not be forgotten, however, that if the first edition is important in some respects, it is often superfluous and a burden to a bibliophile's shelf; erroneously, and because of the additional material they are no longer necessary for further reference. Seven: Special editions. Sometimes, several copies of a certain book are rejected and put aside due to errors in them.Although there is nothing recommendable about these errors or beauty (in fact, they are all shortcomings!), such an edition is eagerly sought by some bibliophiles!This particular pursuit may be listed as another symptom, the seventh symptom of bibliomaniacs.

Eight: Bold typeface, of all the symptoms of bibliomaniacs, this one is by far the most powerful and prevalent one.Whether it was the fault of Schollholm (who was a noted writer of rare and ancient books) that the disease was first brought to England from Holland, it deserves careful consideration.Whatever its provenance, however, one thing is certain, that bold prints are now sought with a fervor never shared by bibliophiles of the previous century.If the elves of West, Lacliff Farmer, and Brown.How amazed the first three will be at what the last says of the value of some of the books in his library, being able to talk to each other from "where no traveler has returned"!But this trait of bibliomania is not incurable, nor is it entirely unhelpful. Under appropriate transformations, it has performed several important services in the advancement of English literature.It stimulated the study of Farmer and Stephens, and enabled them to wrap many beautiful sprigs on the forehead of their beloved Shakespeare. In short, although a very strong and common symptom of bibliomania, if handled carefully, it will not produce harmful results.But to devour anything printed in bold with an insatiable voracious appetite makes the patient, if not dead, infected with an incurable disease!