Provenance Research in Book History : A Handbook

British Library, London, first edition, 1994. Cloth, 8vo, 24 cm,. x, 326 pp, ills, facs. From the blurb: "This handbook will provide a basic reference source for anyone who is concerned with the provenance of printed books and manuscripts. More specifically, its aim is to help researchers who are either (a) attempting to identify previous owners from inscriptions, bookplates, binding stamps or other marks in particular books; or (b) trying to trace the present whereabouts or prior existence of books once owned by a particular individual. It should also be of relevance to anyone interested in book ownership - those who are studying it as a branch of historical bibliography, those who are pursuing the history of reading, and those who wish to trace the circulation of particular texts by identifying the people who once owned them. The various categories of evidence are each dealt with in turn, supported by many representative illustrations and examples, together with listings of other books and sources of information which will help the provenance researcher in elucidating commonly encountered problems. While the historical emphasis is on British book owners, works relating to foreign provenance are included, and the comprehensive list of provenance indexes takes in North American libraries as well as British ones. Near Fine in a dustwrapper which is slightly faded at the top of the front panel and on the spine-panel.