The bibliography of shorthand / by John Westby-Gibson.

  • Westby-Gibson, John, 1823-1892.
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The bibliography of shorthand / by John Westby-Gibson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    blunders,—especially in cases where other bibliographers, not having access to the books, had been misled by the hastily-made copies sent them by well-meaning correspondents. In several instances the cover-title had been given for the book title-page ; in others, both titles had been recorded, and two works made out of one. I have had much difficulty with the shorthand pe- riodicals, some 250 in number, five-sixths being phonographic. The British Museum Library contains a tenth of these only, and few of them perfect. The literature of Phonography has been the most difficult of all to register properly. I soon found it was impossible, from the combined resources of all the public and private libraries to which I had access, to render a record of even a twentieth portion of its voluminous bibliography, I therefore grate- fully accepted the invitation of Mr Isaac Pitman to visit Bath, and disport myself in his libraries. There, after a week’s research, I was able to make a goodly catalogue of this interesting class of shorthand literature, which, without violating my claim to be considered an impartial historian and a faithful bibliographer, I may venture to say, seems destined, from year to year, to increase and expand, and “ roll down ” its intellectual stream, like a “ mighty Missouri,” or a “ fruitful Nile,” long after the ready hand and busy brain of the ‘‘ Grand Master ” of Phonography are at rest, and to create centennial and tercentennial cycles of its own. During the progress of this work I have had several offers of assistance on special points, for which my thanks are due, although I have not been able to avail myself of them, in consequence of the Press being too far in advance. I have especially, however, to thank Mr Pocknell for the use of his library of 400 volumes of shorthand works, many of which are rare, and some unique. I regret I have not had a similar opportunity to again examine the shorthand library of the late Mr Walford, which is still intact. My notes were made five or six years ago, and would have been the better for a revision. I also thank two historians of Shorthand, Mr Thompson Cooper and Mr Matthias Levy, for interesting information drawn from their own collec- tions in kindly aid of my work while in progress. In conclusion, I have to say that in spite of inevitable omissions and errors, I believe this volume, which is more than twice the bulk of any pre- vious work of the kind, will be of greater service than its predecessors in the literature of shorthand. Any indebtedness to them I willingly acknow- ledge ; at the same time that I state that I have never relied upon any author’s description of a book or manuscript when the work itself was within my reach. May I hope that those who use this Bibliography will assist in correcting any erroneous statements which it must, of necessity, contain, and advise me of any omissions of importance, so that it may here- after become a perfect storehouse to the shorthand scholar, and at the same time a valuable book of reference to the advocates of Spelling Reform and the lovers of Cryptographic and Pasigraphic literature. London, August 2^th, 1887. JOHN WESTBY-GIBSON.