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A martyr to bibliography

Chapter 2: TO ANTONIO PANIZZI, ESQ.
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About This Book

A concise life-and-work notice of Joseph-Marie Quérard assembled from his autobiography and contemporary notices, tracing his bibliographical methods, major compilations, and original contributions such as the study of literary forgeries and the compilation of thousands of author entries. The author describes Quérard's meticulous research practices, collaborative networks, proposed projects, and persistent struggles for recognition, patronage, and official posts, highlighting bouts of poverty and institutional neglect. The volume includes critical commentary by peers, a glossary of bibliographical terms, annotations, and an index, while prefatory remarks explain the compiler's admiration and the labor involved in producing the memoir.

TO ANTONIO PANIZZI, ESQ.

Sir,

I dedicate this notice of the life and works of one of the greatest of bibliographers to you, without asking your permission, for different reasons: you might not care to have your name placed on a pamphlet thus; and I wish to place it side by side with that of J.-M. Quérard, to which you would, doubtless, not object, though you might, possibly, to the manner in which I do it. I dedicate this to you from a feeling of respect, not only for yourself, but for your departed brother bibliographer: respect for your great talents, which, spite of taunts, jeerings, and the most discourageing imputations, you perseveringly employed for the benefit and advantage of this country, even against itself; by which you have—amongst other things—raised a bibliographical monument that, I trust, will cause you to be remembered as long as the great French bibliographer himself, though his works are printed and yours are only written. From a feeling of respect for J.-M. Quérard, whose name could not be placed in conjunction with that of any other more appropriately than your own.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

THE AUTHOR.

May 1867.