Bibliotheca Universalis Selecta. A Catalogue of Books, Ancient and Modern, in various Languages and Faculties, and upon almost every Branch of Science and Polite Literature; including an extensive Collection of Classical, Critical and Philological Learning; Collected, for the most Part, in Germany and the Netherlands: Methodically Digested, With a View to render it useful to Students, Collectors and Librarians: to which is Added, An Index of Authors, Interpreters and Editors. Which will be sold by Auction, by Sam. Paterson, at his Great Room, in King-Street, Covent-Garden, London, on Monday, May 8, 1786, and the Thirty-Five following Days.. -

xii, 476 pp. 8vo, attractive antique half-calf & speckled boards (first three leaves somewhat foxed), spine gilt, red & green leather lettering pieces on spine. London: 1786. Samuel Paterson (1728-1802), was one of London's most important auctioneers of the second half of the 18th century; an innovator, he was the earliest auctioneer to sell books singly in lots. He produced catalogues for a series of notable sales, including the libraries of Sylvanus Morgan (1759), Robert Nelson (1760), James Parsons (1769), James West (1773), William Fletewode (1774), E. Rowe Mores (1779), Topham Beauclerk (1781), George Costard (1782), Thomas Crofts (1783), Maffeo Pinelli (1789), and John Strange (1801). He also was one of the first English dealers to purchase large quantities of books on the Continent and bring them back to London for auction under his own name. The present catalogue is the most important example of his importing activities; it describes 8001 items. "His series of catalogues established him as a pioneer in the book auction trade. Each was arranged in a single alphabet by author and not broken down by book format, as was the usual custom. They were classified catalogues, the arrangement being set out at the beginning as an ordo venditionis ('order of sale'). Normally Paterson would begin with books on the history of language, and proceed through bibliography (an early use of the word, with its modern meaning, in an English context) and the history of libraries, theology, classical authors, modern languages, philosophy, science and medicine, history, geography and travel, and end with local topography. He would follow this with a capita generalia, which gave more detail for each class. The Bibliotheca universalis selecta also contained an index of authors and editors, possibly the first English auction catalogue to contain such a feature."-O.D.N.B. The catalogue contains a fine and large section of bibliography and book catalogues. Very nice copy. ❧ Pollard & Ehrman, p. 245.