A History of Bibliographies of Bibliographies

The essay surveys the development of universal bibliographies that catalog other bibliographies, defining its scope by excluding national lists, special-subject compilations, and reference works. It traces early antecedents in classical and Renaissance indexes and biobibliographies, examines the field's maturation through key practitioners, and analyzes categories such as lists entitled Bibliotheca, a later renewal of the genre, and the emergence of periodical and cooperative bibliographical enterprises. The author also addresses editorial methods, selection principles, and historical continuities, and provides a supporting bibliography and index for further study.