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It constantly happens that “a lady,” in one of her later publications will mention a former one. In this case it is necessary to look at the publication so referred to, when it will be ascertained if it is anonymous. Works are also advertised at the end of others, either as published, or forthcoming, and these works themselves must all be looked at.

A most extensive library is requisite for references such as these. Indeed, it frequently happens that the works required cannot be found even in the enormous library of the British Museum.

To take the following as an example, in Mrs. H. Mozley’s: Louisa, or the bride, by the author of the fairy bower [motto]. London, James Burns, Portman street, and Henry Mozley & sons, Derby, 1842, 12o, pp. 302.

It is pseudonymous. We find advertised at the end by the same author: Bessie Gray, or the dull child. Hymns for children on the Lord’s Prayer, our duty to God and scripture history. Robert Marshall, or the cleverest boy in the school. The Stanley Ghost. The old Bridge. Some published, others in the press, none of them, however, have I (1872), been able to find in the Catalogue of the Library of the British Museum^[30]. They may be there nevertheless.

As another example, I have traced the following works to the same author, without, however, ascertaining the author’s name.

Spain yesterday and to-day, by a lady, London, Harvey and Darton [1829?], sm. 8o.—Portugal, or the young travellers, … 1830.—The new estate, or the young travellers in Wales and Ireland, by the author of Portugal, … 1831.—The East Indians at Selwood, or the orphans’ home, by the author of Portugal; the new estate, &c., &c., Lond. Darton and Harvey, 1834, small 12o.—Gleanings from many fields, by the author of Portugal, the new estate, &c., &c., Lond., Darton and Harvey, 1834, 12o.

Sometimes it is possible to make a tolerably certain guess at the author, from the similarity in style, or some trick of the author, as in the punctuation, or the use of italics, as by Archbishop Whately, or the constant use of the dash, as in the works of James Flamank.

But in all cases corroborative evidence is necessary. For how wrong a guess of this kind may be has been amply illustrated in Notes and Queries.

Every celebrated man has had numerous publications attributed to him by people who professed themselves quite certain of the authorship, from the style and subject matter.

There is at present no book which will give any help in an investigation like the present. In the “Handbook of Fictitious Names,” at pages 7 and 8, only seven real names of ladies are revealed, with a note to the effect that there were upwards of fifty works unknown.

The very useful series of catalogues published by Messrs. Bent, Hodgson, and Sampson Low, the English Catalogue of the latter being the best of the kind, afford great assistance.

The London catalogue of books, 1814-1851, has a classified index, and in this anonymous works are frequently attributed to their real authors, though without any indication of their anonymity.

The British catalogue also has a subject index.

The following include the majority of publications from 1800 to the present time, except pamphlets and privately printed works.

The London catalogue of books … since the year 1800 to March 1827, Lond. pub. for the executor of the late W. Bent by Longman &c. 1827, 8o.

The London catalogue … 1814 to 1846.

The London catalogue … 1816 to 1851, Lond., Thomas Hodgson 13 Paternoster row and sold by Longman &c., 1851, 8o.

The classified index to the London catalogue … 1816 to 1851, London T. Hodgson 1853, 8o.

The British catalogue of books published from oct. 1837, to dec. 1852 … by Sampson Low, vol. 1. general alphabet, Lond. S. Low & son, 1853.

In this the dates of publication were added for the first time. The author published an Index to the above in 1858, in which he acknowledges the assistance of Dr. Crestadoro.

The English catalogue of books, published from january, 1835, to january, 1863, comprising the contents of the “London” and the “British” catalogues, and the principal works published in the United States of America and Continental Europe … compiled by Sampson Low [and assistants], London, S. Low Son & Marston, 1864, r. 8o. And continuations to the present time. So that we thus have names of authors and index of subjects from 1814 to the present time. For the years from 1800 to 1814, Watt’s Bibliotheca Britannica can be referred to.

I will now give an illustration.

Information we will say, for example, is sent to the following effect:—

“Sir,—Seeing that you are collecting, with a view to publication, names of authors of the nineteenth century, I beg to say that I was well acquainted with Miss Seaman, who died about the year 1830, a notice of whom you will find in the Ryde papers. She wrote ‘Some Observations on Girl’s Schools and Boarding Schools,’ but whether with her name or not I forget. Also, about 1822, was published, by Smith of London, an interesting religious tale called Lily, and in 16o, 1825, a capital little work on the choice of books, with advice about Miss Edgeworth’s Novels.”

It will be evident to anyone that the whole of the above requires verification, a labour of hours, perhaps days, which might have been saved by a little bibliographical knowledge on the part of our informant.

On investigation it appears, then, that our informant has scarcely given a single date or title correctly.—1. Miss Seaman died in 1829, not 1830.—2. The reference to the Ryde papers is useless, as too wide for verification, and inaccessible.—3. The title of each of her works is given from recollection, or rather, from no recollection, and they are all incorrect.—4. The titles are made up.—5. Words not in the title-pages are interpolated without notice.—6. The size of the book is placed before the date—i.e. it is interpolated, and in fact everything is reversed.

The above information might be best put in this form.

Seaman (Lucy) the daughter of a Captain in the Royal Navy, born at Ryde, the 23 May, 1801, wrote several works which are held in high estimation, and died of consumption on the 15 September, 1829. The following are the only publications I know of from her pen; but as she published without giving her name, there are probably others that are unknown.

(1.) Remarks on education, as at present conducted, especially with reference to private tuition and the system of boarding schools for young ladies, London (printed at Ryde), for the author, 1822, 12mo, pp. iv. 33, anon.

The authoress says, that her father’s early death making her, while very young, acquainted with the routine of teaching, was the cause of her publishing these remarks.

(2.) Little Lily, a moral tale for children, by a lady, author of Remarks, &c., Lond. J. Smith, 1823, 8o, pp. 115, 2s 6d, pseudon.

This is the first edition of this excellent little book, the second and subsequent editions of which were published with her name.

We observe that a book entitled “Little Lily’s travels, Lond. Nelson, 1860,” has been published; but it is a different work to the above.

(3.) Miss Maria Edgeworth’s tales compared with other works of fiction; to which is added advice for the selection, and a list of works most suitable for children, by the author of Little Lily, &c., Lond., J. Smith, 1826 [1825], 18o, pp. xi and 200, 3s, auton.

In this she complains of her failing health, and expresses her great respect for the writings of her friend Miss Edgeworth.

Here it will be observed that the first work is strictly anonymous, as the abbreviation “anon,” indicates, that is to say, it has no name on the title-page, nor any name, pseudonym, nor initials to the preface; and has in fact no clue whatever as to who is the author, as the reference to her in the imprint cannot be considered such. But from the book being printed at Ryde for the author, though published in London, it may be inferred that she resided at Ryde at the time.

The second work is pseudonymous, as the abbreviation “pseudon,” indicates.

The third work would appear also by the title-page to be pseudonymous, it is not so, as the preface is signed by the authoress, and the abbreviation “auton,” warns us that it is autonymous.

In conclusion, I hope that my observations will not dishearten the student who is ambitious of being bibliographical. Let every one strive to do his best. But let no man suppose he can make a good catalogue simply from his desire to do so and without previous study. It is no use saying a man must be accurate, he cannot until he has studied the art of bibliography, and learned what has already been done in that science; so that by taking note of the errors of his predecessors, he may attempt a catalogue on the most modern and improved principles, and thereby contribute towards the advancement and improvement of bibliography.