Introduction

Abstract

The 19th century is well known as a period of great innovation in methods of book production, huge increases in the supply of books, changes in methods of distribution, and development of new genres of literature. Nevertheless, relatively few libraries have given the productions of this period special treatment. They have been considered just out-of-date books—too old to be practically useful, too new to be interesting, too common to be rare. However, as the 19th century recedes further into our past and we see its productions disappearing, dying of their own inherent vice, leaving our libraries as repositories of brittle paper . . .