A History of Bibliographies of Bibliographies

"A History of Bibliographies of Bibliographies" by Archer Taylor is a historical account written in the mid-20th century. The book examines the development and significance of bibliographies that specifically catalog bibliographies across various eras, focusing particularly on major contributors to this field. It serves as an analytical overview of how bibliographic scholarship has evolved and highlights influential works that paved the way for contemporary bibliographic practices. The opening of the work sets the stage for an exploration of early bibliographical efforts, tracing back to figures such as St. Jerome and later bibliographers like Conrad Gesner and Philip Labbé. Taylor outlines the historical context in which these bibliographers operated, emphasizing their contributions and the methods they employed to compile their lists. The text discusses the classification and organization of bibliographies as scholarly disciplines, illustrating the gradual recognition of bibliographies of bibliographies as significant intellectual endeavors in their own right, a theme that will continue to unfold as the book progresses.