Sigla Books

London, 1734. 2nd revised English-language edition. Folio (14.5" tall) in 12s. 5 vols, with some 4500 pages. Before Dr Johnson singlehandedly wrote his Dictionary of the English Language, Bayle made this compendium of historical and mythological figures. The first paragraph of the dedication gives an idea of how the project was framed.

End of the year endpapers.

A scarce book, at least around here, especially now that a lot of titles published before, say, 1970 are turning up in fewer numbers. And some books are just worth having. One, for example, by somebody who devoted the better part of her scholarly life to elucidating a singularly odd work seldom read in the last century, and much less in this one. As it was a gift it isn't for sale.

Graphics Press, 1986. It's all in the hashed ags.