To gain a knowledge of the method, aim, necessity, etc., of Textual
Emendation the best books to read are:
Madvig Adversaria Critica, 3 vols., Copenhagen 1871-4 (emendations
of Latin and Greek authors);
Cobet Variae Lectiones, Leyden, 2nd ed., 1873 (emendations of Greek
authors);
and the great critical editions of Latin classics, such as Ribbeck's
Virgil, Keller and Holder's Horace, Lachmann's Lucretius, and the
Ritschl Plautus, may be studied with advantage.
On the forms of letters in Latin MSS and other details of palaeography
see:
Thompson Handbook of Greek and Latin Palaeography (International
Scientific Series), London 1893;
Wattenbach Anleitung zur lateinischen Palaeographie,
Leipzig, 4th ed., 1886 (3 s.)
On the forms of abbreviations and contractions in Latin MSS:
Chassant Dictionnaire des Abréviations, Paris, 5th ed. 1884;
or the larger and fuller:
Walther Lexicon Diplomaticum, Ulm 1756.
The best photographic facsimiles are the costly
Palaeographical Society's Publications, London 1873 sqq. (Greek
and Latin);
and (especially useful for Latin Textual Emendation)
Chatelain Paléographie des Classiques latins, Paris 1884 sqq.
(10 s. per number).
Cheaper is:
Arndt Schrifttafeln zum Gebrauch bei Vorlesungen und zum
Selbstunterricht, Berlin 1874 (9 s.) (photolithograph).
To identify MSS according to their Latin designations, e.g. “codex
Montepessulanus,” etc., the student may find useful:
Graesse Orbis Latinus, Dresden 1861 (with the Latin names of
modern towns).
