Bible collectors do not as a rule notice editions later than what is styled the "Vinegar" Bible, published in 1717. They commence with Coverdale's issue of 1535, and proceed onward in regular order, for the most part arranging their collection not according to date but under the various "versions". This subject is very extensive and exceedingly difficult to handle, so much so that, without a competent guide, it will be found impossible to make satisfactory progress. This is provided in Cotton's _Editions of the Bible and Parts thereof in English_ (1821, 2nd ed., 1852), and J. R. Dore's _Old Bibles_ (1876, 2nd ed., 1888). Mr. Dore is probably the best living authority upon English Bibles and Testaments, and his book is in itself amply sufficient for the amateur. It is published by Eyre & Spottiswoode at 5s.
For works on botany consult Pritzel's _Thesaurus Literaturæ Botanicæ_ (Leipsic, 1847-51, 2nd ed., 1872-7, 4to); and for books exclusively relating to tobacco, some of which are very rare and valuable, W. Bragge's _Bibliotheca Nicotiana_ (priv. prin., r. 8vo, 1880).
Angling and the whole of the literature devoted to it is dealt with in Westwood's new _Bibliotheca Piscatoria_ (1883), and swimming in R. Thomas' _Bibliographical List of Works on Swimming_ (1868, 8vo).
The Greek and Latin Classics were at one time great favourites with all classes of collectors, but of late they have fallen considerably from their high estate. Many of the early editions, being printed by famous houses, as the _editio princeps_ of Virgil's works was, which sold for £590 at the Hopetoun House dispersion, a few months ago, are still eagerly sought after, but not _quâ_ classics--merely as specimens of ancient typography. Ordinary editions of Horace, Virgil, Sallust, Plato, Livy, and the rest can be bought now for a fourth or fifth part of the sum they would have cost thirty or forty years ago, and, from all appearances, they are likely to decline still further in the market. The great work on this subject is Dibdin's _Rare and Valuable Editions of the Greek and Latin Classics_ (2 vols., 1827), which can sometimes be bought by auction for as little as £1.
Art books are so numerous, and so readily subdivided into an infinite number of classes, that they are rarely, if ever, collected as a whole. Amateurs invariably use the _Universal Catalogue of Books on Art_, which was compiled by order of the Lords of the Committee of the Council on Education, and published between the years 1870-7 (in 3 vols. sm. 4to). It is a work that would be exceedingly difficult to improve upon, though as time goes on it will of course be necessary to add to it.