This is
the latest in the list of special publications of the British Pteridological
Society. The previous publications were of topics more likely to appeal
to fern enthusiasts than to a general audience, but this one is different.
Bibliographies
are fascinating sources of information and invaluable to researchers
of the topics they cover. As the authors explain in the introduction,
this special publication has been a long time in preparation, but the
extensive checking and re-checking has resulted in a book that is as
complete as the authors could make it. Here can be found details of
authors, titles with details of their publishers, editions and reprints,
books of pressed fems, catalogues of ferns for sale and advertising
ephemera. Some of these books are comparatively common, but others are
incredibly rare.
This publication
will be the starting place for any pteridologist. librarian or bibliophile
interested in books on fems. It will enable them to assess their collections
and look out for necessary additions. However, I have to add a warning
here: beware collecting fern books can become addictive.
Barry
A. Thomas
Past President BPS.
