Preparatory Statement

The sources for this bibliography (an earlier version of which was published as M. J. Crowe, "Bibliography of the Publications of Sir John Herschel," in Brian Warner (ed.), John Herschel 1792-1992:  Bicentennial Symposium (Royal Society of South Africa, 1994), pp. 125-140) are numerous. The two most important of these are the bibliography Herschel himself compiled and published in 1861 ("A Complete Catalogue of the Writings of Sir John Herschel," Mathematical Monthly, 3 (1861), 220-7), and the list of his papers compiled in the Royal Society Catalogue of Scientific Papers.  The latter bibliography suffers from a number of limitations, e.g., no books or monographs were included. Its limitations are further indicated by the fact that whereas it listed 155 publications, the present bibliography, even without counting reprintings, provides information on nearly four hundred publications. The former bibliography, that compiled by Herschel himself and including 221 items, also suffers from limitations.  In addition to the obvious fact that it listed no post-1861 publications, its citations are in many cases inaccurate and/or overly cryptic, e.g., page references were in most cases not provided.

In addition to these two invaluable sources, the present bibliography is based on various lists made by Herschel of his publications and on his six volume compilation of his publications, these items being preserved at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas. The use of modern bibliographical finding sources, e.g., The Wellesley Index of Victorian Periodicals, has also expanded the present compilation.  The lists compiled by Herschel as well as the bibliography of his writings he prepared provide in most cases the evidence for ascribing to him the publications listed below that originally appeared anonymously.

In nearly every instance, the references in this bibliography have been checked against the original publication.  No attempt has been made in this bibliography to include references to reprintings of Herschel publications that have appeared in the twentieth century. No doubt inaccuracies and omissions appear in the present bibliography.  Its compiler will greatly appreciate receiving information about these.

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