28o 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



The Dating of Books. 



With reference to this subject, so often referred to in your columns, allow me 

 to bring to your notice " Memoranda of Books registered in the ' Catalogue of Books 

 printed in the Straits Settlements,' under the provisions of Ordinance No. xv. of 

 1886, during the quarter ending June 30, 1896." This is a sheet published by the 

 Registering Officer, under the direction of the Colonial Secretary for the Straits 

 Settlements, and gives the following items relative to each publication : — (i) Title of 

 Book ; (2) Language in which the Book is written ; (3) Name of Author, Translator, 

 or Editor of the Book ; (4) Subject ; (5) Place of Printing ; (6) Place of Publica- 

 tion ; (7) Name of Firm of Printer ; (8) Name of Firm of Publisher ; (9) Date of 

 Issue from the Press; (10) Date of Ptiblication ; (11) Number of Sheets, Leaves, or 

 Pages; (12) Size; (13) Number of the Edition ; (14) Number of copies of which 

 the Edition consists ; (15) Price at which the Book is sold to the Public ; (16) Name 

 and Residence of the Proprietor of the Copyright. The italics are mine. 



Here we have at once every item of interest or importance connected with 

 a book, certified by the authorities, and registered at a central bureau. I have 

 received this exceedingly important pubHcation, by the kindness of the Colonial 

 Secretary, for some years, and have found it invaluable in verifying references to the 

 literature of Singapore. It is curious that we have to go to one of our smallest 

 colonies, and one yet in its infancy as regards printing and publishing, in order t > 

 find such information registered — information which, in older countries, is most 

 difficult to obtain, from want of a system which prevents the false dates often placed 

 upon books by authors and by publishers, and provides a record of value to every 

 person concerned in a publication. 



C. Davies Sherborn. 



NOTICE. 



To Contributors. — All communications to be addressed to the Editor 

 0/ Natural Science, ^^ 22 St. Andrew Street, Holborn Circus, 

 London, E.C. Correspondence and notes intended for any particular month 

 should be sent in not later than the 10th of the preceding month. 



To THE Trade. — Natural Science is published on the i^th of each 

 month ; all advertisements should be in the Publishers' hands not later than the 

 20th. 



To our Subscribers and Others. — There are now published Kight 

 Volumes of Natural Science. Nos. i, 8, 11, 12, 13, 20, 23 and 24 

 being out of print, can only be supplied in the set of first Four Volumes. 

 All other Nos. can still be supplied at One Shilling each. 



Price of set of Vols. I., II., III., IV £2 o o 



„ „ „ v., VI., VII., VIII /I 4 o 



,, „ „ I--VIII £"3 o o 



It will shortly be necessary to raise the price of Vols. I. -IV. still further. 



