orth. It will be perfect in three
parts: the third part, containing the supplement and tables,
is now at press." (A.D. 1804.) The preface and table of the
divisions of this catalogue were published in a small 8vo.
volume, 1801. This information I glean from Peignot's
_Curiosites Bibliographiques_, p. lix.; and from the _Cat.
de Boutourlin_, no. 3892, I learn that only 190 copies of
so useful, as well as splendid, a work were printed, of
which the French government took upon itself the
distribution.----CORDES. _Bibliothecae Cordesianae Catalogus,
cum indice titulorum_, Parisiis, 1643, 4to. The celebrated
Naude had the drawing up and publishing of this catalogue,
which is highly coveted by collectors, and is now of rare
occurrence. De Cordes was intimate with all the learned men
of his country and age; and his eulogy, by Naude, prefixed
to the catalogue, gives us a delightful account of an
amiable and learned man living in the bosom, as it were, of
books and of book-society. This collection, which was
purchased by Cardinal Mazarin, formed the foundation of the
latter's magnificent library. Consult the _Jugemens des
Savans_, vol. ii., p. 142; Colomie's _Biblioth. Choisie_, p.
126; _Mem. de l'Inst._, vol. i., p. 647. Nor must we forget
Morhof--_Polyhist. Literar._, vol. i., p. 211; who, after a
general commendation of the collection, tells us it is
remarkable for containing a fine body of foreign history. De
Cordes died A.D. 1642, in the 72d year of his age--nearly 50
years having been devoted by him to the formation of his
library. "Fortunate senex!"----COTTE. _Catalogue des Livres
rares et precieux et de MSS. composant la bibliotheque de
M---- (le President de Cotte)_, Paris, 1804, 8vo. We are
told by Peignot that the books at this sale were sold for
most exorbitant sums: "the wealthy amateurs striving to make
themselves masters of the LARGE PAPER Alduses, Elzevirs, and
Stephenses, which had been Count d'Hoym's copies." An uncut
first edition of Homer, in the highest state of
preservation, was purchased by Mons. Caillaird
[Transcriber's Note: Caillard] for 3,601 livres! See the
_Curiosites Bibliographiques_, pp. lxv, lxvj. According to
_Cat. de Caillard_, no. 2600 (1808, 8vo.), there were
only ten copies of this catalogue printe