Harold Allison Mattice

“ However, the large collections of Chinese and Japanese books in this country, which are likely to be greatly augmented in the future, particularly on the Chinese side, will require a standard system of cataloguing adapted to our own needs. My experience indicates that an all-purpose bilingual card with full information in both languages, easily filed alphabetically or in the Chinese-Japanese order, is the most practical. ”

“ Many of these are basic necessities in cataloguing, yet cannot be used with any certitude.
These and other like difficulties are due in large part to the fact that Far Eastern books have had little attention from the viewpoint of western bibliography. Chinese-Japanese printing is very much older than ours, with extant examples of all kinds from the year 770 onward, but eastern books have excited little interest in comparison with eastern art and archaeology. ”

“ There is some authority for every entry, but values differ. Actual constant usage, a few brief lists by competent scholars, and the suggestions of educated persons of both nationalities, are among the best. ”