library of the late James West,
Esq., President of the Royal Society, deceased, &c.
Including the works of CAXTON, LETTOU, MACHLINIA, the
anonymous ST. ALBANS SCHOOLMASTE [Transcriber's Note:
Schoolmaster], WYNKYN DE WORDE, PYNSON, and the rest of the
old English typographers. Digested by Samuel Paterson,"
1773, 8vo.
ANALYSIS OF THE CATALOGUE.
1. _Volumes of Miscellaneous Tracts._
These volumes extend from No. 148 to 200, from 915 to
992, from 1201 to 1330, and from No. 1401 to 1480.
2. _Divinity._
In the whole, 560 articles; probably about 1200 volumes;
some of them exceedingly scarce and valuable.
3. _Education, Languages, Criticism, Classics, Dictionaries,
Catalogues of Libraries, &c._
There were about 700 volumes in these departments. The
catalogues of English books, from that of Maunsell, in 1595,
to the latest before Mr. West's time, were very complete.
The treatises on education and translations of the ancient
classics comprehended a curious and uncommon collection. The
Greek and Latin classics were rather select than rare.
4. _English Poetry, Romance, and Miscellanies._
This interesting part of the collection comprehended about
355 articles, or probably about 750 volumes: and if the
singularly rare and curious books which may be found _under
these heads alone_ were now concentrated in one library, the
owner of them might safely demand 4000 guineas for such a
treasure.
5. _Philosophy, Mathematics, Inventions, Agriculture and
Horticulture, Medicine, Cookery, Surgery, etc._
Two hundred and forty articles, or about 560 volumes.
6. _Chemistry, Natural History, Astrology, Sorcery,
Gigantology._
Probably not more than 100 volumes.
7. _History and Antiquities._
This comprehended a great number of curious and valuable
productions, relating both to foreign and domestic
transactions.
8. _Heraldry and Genealogy._
A great number of curious and scarce articles may be found
under these heads.
9. _Ancient Legends and Chronicles._
To the English antiquary, few departments of literature are
more interesting that these. Mr. West seems to have paid
particular attention to them, and to have enriched his
library with many articles of this description, of the
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