POLYBILLION. — In order to inform readers about the content and value of the principal contemporary literary production, both French and foreign, *P.* first appeared in Paris with the subtitle *Revue bibliographique universelle*, edited by the Société bibliographique, on 12 February 1868, with a monthly frequency.
Each issue is divided into two parts. The first, the «litteraire» section, contains extensive reviews of works, especially French ones, organized by subject, along with some miscellaneous pages such as chronicles and bibliographic information. The second part, the «bibliographie» section, provides a straightforward list of newly published books and an analysis of various French and foreign journals, as well as literary articles from major French newspapers. Each of the two sections has its own continuous pagination for the semester. The entire publication is accompanied by systematic indexes. In August 1870 (Vol. 6), *P.* suspended publication, only to reappear in March of the following year.
In 1875, the second series began (Vol. 13), richer and more substantial than the first, consisting not of one but of two monthly issues: one containing the «partie littéraire» and the other the «partie technique». The literary issues formed two volumes per year, while the technical ones formed one volume. In 1931, the third series appeared (Vol. 181), much reduced and with a single monthly issue, divided—like the first series—into two parts. In December 1937, due to financial difficulties, the journal *P.* was forced to cease publication. A new publisher resumed it from July 1938 to June 1939 (Vol. 195).
Renata Orazzi Ausenda