OSMONT (J.B.L.). Dictionnaire Typographique, Historique et Critique des Livres Rares, Singuliers, Estimes et Recherches en tous Genres...1768

Chez Lacombe, Paris. First Edition, 2 vols., xii,515,[1]; [iv],456,[4]pp., with half-titles, several ornamental head & tail-pieces, stamps of Merton House Library on verso of titles, recent blue cloth, maroon & gilt leather spine label, red speckled edges. There are over 700 works listed, many with prices fetched for them on the open market and at particular auctions. Points are given for recognizing the best editions and several "Anecdotes historiques, critiques & interessantes". This book "had a large share in determining the character of the later French catalogues of rare books... Osmont's title suggests his preface states clearly that he was making a list of choice books suitable for a good private library as well as a list of rare books." (Taylor, Catalogues of Rare Books). Osmont was helped in his compilation by Barthelemy Mercier, Librarian of the abbey of Ste.-Genevieve, and Albert Francois Floncel, the royal censor and owner of a large library of Italian books.