TheMS。wascopiedonvellumbyNicholasJarry，thegreatcalligraphofhistime。TheflowersonthemarginwerepaintedbyRobert。NotlongagoaFrenchamateurwassoluckyastodiscovertheMS。bookofprayersofJulie’snoblemother，theMarquisedeRambouillet。
TheMarquisewrotetheseprayersforherowndevotions，andJarry，theilluminator，declaredthathefoundthemmostedifying，anddelightfultostudy。ThemanuscriptiswrittenonvellumbythefamousJarry，containsaportraitofthefairJulieherself，andisboundinmoroccobyLeGascon。Thehappycollectorwhopossessesthevolumenow，heardvaguelythatamanuscriptofsomeinterestwasbeingexposedforsaleatatriflingpriceintheshopofacountrybookseller。Thedescriptionofthebook，casualasitwas，madementionofthemonogramonthecover。Thiswasenoughfortheamateur。Herushedtoarailwaystation，travelledsomethreehundredmiles，reachedthecountrytown，hastenedtothebookseller’sshop，andfoundthatthebookhadbeenwithdrawnbyitsowner。Happilythepossessor，unconsciousofhisbliss，wasathome。Theamateursoughthimout，paidthesmallsumdemanded，andreturnedtoParisintriumph。Thus，evenintheregionofmanuscript-collecting，thereareextraordinaryprizesfortheintelligentcollector。
TOKNOWIFAMANUSCRIPTISPERFECT
IfthemanuscriptisofEnglishorFrenchwritingofthetwelfth，thirteenth，fourteenth，orfifteenthcenturies，itisprobablyeither——（1）aBible，（2）aPsalter，（3）abookofHours，or（4），butrarely，aMissal。Itisnotworthwhiletogivethecollationofagradual，orahymnal，oraprocessional，orabreviary，oranyofthefiftydifferentkindsofservice-bookswhichareoccasionallymetwith，butwhicharenevertwicethesame。
Tocollateoneofthem，thereadermustgocarefullythroughthebook，seeingthatthecatch-words，ifthereareany，answertotheheadlines;andifthereare\"signatures，\"thatis，ifthefootoftheleavesofasheetofparchmenthasanymarkforenablingthebinderto\"gather\"themcorrectly，goingthroughthem，andseeingthateachsignedleafhasitscorresponding\"blank。\"
1。TocollateaBible，itwillbenecessaryfirsttogothroughthecatch-words，ifany，andsignatures，asabove;thentonoticethecontents。ThefirstpageshouldcontaintheEpistleofSt。Jerometothereader。Itwillbeobservedthatthereisnothingofthenatureofatitle-page，butIhaveoftenseentitle-pagessuppliedbysomeignorantimitatorinthelastcentury，withtheideathatthebookwasimperfectwithoutone。ThebooksoftheBiblefollowinorder——buttheordernotonlydiffersfromours，butdiffersindifferentcopies。TheApocryphalbooksarealwaysincluded。TheNewTestamentusuallyfollowsontheOldwithoutanybreak;andthebookconcludeswithanindexoftheHebrewnamesandtheirsignificationinLatin，intendedtohelppreacherstothefigurativemeaningofthebiblicaltypesandparables。ThelastlineoftheBibleitselfusuallycontainsacolophon，inwhichsometimesthenameofthewriterisgiven，sometimesthelengthoftimeithastakenhimtowrite，andsometimesmerelythe\"Explicit。LausDeo，\"
whichhasfounditswayintomanymodernbooks。Thiscolophon，whichcomesasaruleimmediatelybeforetheindex，oftencontainscuriousnotes，hexametersgivingthenamesofallthebooks，biographicalorlocalmemoranda，andshouldalwaysbelookedforbythecollector。Onesuchlineoccurstome。ItisinaBiblewritteninItalyinthethirteenthcentury-
\"Quiscripsitscribat。Vergiliusspedominivivat。\"
Vergiliuswas，nodoubt，inthiscasethescribe。TheLatinandthewritingareoftenequallycrabbed。IntheBodleianthereisaBiblewiththiscolophon-
\"FinitolibroreferemusgratiasChristom。cc。lxv。indict。viij。
EgoLafracusdePacisdeCmoascriptorscripsi。\"
ThiswasalsowritteninItaly。Englishcolophonsareoftenveryquaint——\"QuiscripsithunclibrumfiatcollocatusinParadisum，\"isanexample。ThefollowinggivesusthenameofoneMasterGerard，who，inthefourteenthcentury，thuspoeticallydescribedhisownership：-
\"SiGeponatur——etrarsimulassociatur-
Etdusreddatur——cuipertinetitavocatur。\"
InaBiblewritteninEngland，intheBritishMuseum，thereisalongcolophon，inwhich，afterthenameofthewriter——\"hunclibrumscripsitWillsdeHales，\"——thereisaprayerforRalphofNebham，whohadcalledHalestothewritingofthebook，followedbyadate——
\"Fes。fuitliberannoM。cc。i。quartoabincarnationedomini。\"InthisBiblethebooksoftheNewTestamentwereinthefollowingorder：-theEvangelists，theActs，theEpistlesofS。Peter，S。
James，andS。John，theEpistlesofS。Paul，andtheApocalypse。InaBibleatBrusselsIfoundthecolophonaftertheindex：-\"HicexpliciuntinterpretationesHebrayorumnominumDogrisquipotensestp。sup。omia。\"SomeoftheseBiblesareofmarvellouslysmalldimensions。ThesmallestIeversawwasatGhent，butitwasveryimperfect。Ihaveoneinwhichtherearethirteenlinesofwritinginaninchofthecolumn。TheorderofthebooksoftheNewTestamentinBiblesofthethirteenthcenturyisusuallyaccordingtooneorotherofthethreefollowingarrangements：-
（1。）TheEvangelists，RomanstoHebrews，Acts，EpistlesofS。
Peter，S。James，andS。John，Apocalypse。
（2。）TheEvangelists，Acts，EpistlesofS。Peter，S。James，andS。
John，EpistlesofS。Paul，Apocalypse。Thisisthemostcommon。
（3。）TheEvangelists，Acts，EpistlesofS。Peter，S。James，andS。
John，Apocalypse，andEpistlesofS。Paul。
OntheflyleavesoftheseoldBiblesthereareoftenverycuriousinscriptions。InoneIhavethis：-\"HaecbibliaemiHaquinaspriormonasteriiHatharbiensisdedonodominiregisNorwegie。\"WhowasthisKingofNorwaywho，in1310，gavethePriorofHatherbymoneytobuyaBible，whichwasprobablywrittenatCanterbury？AndwhowasHaquinas？HisnamehasaNorwegiansound，andremindsusofSt。
Thomasofthatsurname。InanothermanuscriptIhaveseen\"ArticulaFidei：-
Nascitur，abluitur，patitur，descenditatimaSurgitetascendit，veniensdiscernerecuncta。\"
Inanotherthis：-
\"Sacramentaecclesiae：-
Abluo，fumo，cibo，piget，ordinat，uxoretungit。\"
IwillconcludethesenotesonMS。BibleswiththefollowingcolophonfromacopywritteninItalyinthefifteenthcentury：-
\"FinitolibrovivamussemperinChristo-
SisemperinChristocarebimusultimoleto。
ExplicitDeogratias;Amen。StephanusdeTantaldisscripsitinpergamo。\"
2。The\"Psalter\"ofthethirteenthcenturyisusuallytobeconsideredaforerunnerofthe\"BookofHours。\"Italwayscontains，andusuallycommenceswith，aCalendar，inwhicharewrittenagainstcertaindaysthe\"obits\"ofbenefactorsandothers，sothatawell-
filledPsalteroftenbecomesahistoricaldocumentofhighvalueandimportance。ThefirstpageofthepsalmsisornamentedwithahugeB，whichoftenfillsthewholepage，andcontainsarepresentationofDavidandGoliathingeniouslyfittedtotheshapeoftheletter。
AttheendareusuallytobefoundthehymnsoftheThreeChildren，andothersfromtheBibletogetherwiththeTeDeum;andsometimes，inlateexamples，alitany。Insomepsaltersthecalendarisattheend。ThesePsalters，andtheBiblesdescribedabove，areveryfrequentlyofEnglishwork;morefrequently，thatis，thanthebooksofHoursandMissals。ThestudyoftheScriptureswasevidentlymorepopularinEnglandthanintheothercountriesofEuropeduringtheMiddleAges;andtheearlysuccessoftheReformershere，mustinpart，nodoubt，beattributedtothewidecirculationoftheBibleevenbeforeithadbeentranslatedfromtheLatin。Ineedhardly，perhaps，observethatevenfragmentsofaPsalter，aTestament，oraBibleinEnglish，aresopreciousastobepracticallyinvaluable。
3。WeareindebtedtoSirW。TiteforthefollowingcollationofaFlemish\"BookofHours\"：-
1。TheCalendar。
2。GospelsoftheNativityandtheResurrection。
3。PreliminaryPrayers（insertedoccasionally）。
4。Horae——（NocturnsandMatins）。
5。（Lauds）。
6。（Prime）。
7。（Tierce）。
8。（Sexte）。
9。（None）。
10。（Vespers）。
11。（Compline）。
12。ThesevenpenitentialPsalms13。TheLitany。
14。HoursoftheCross。
15。HoursoftheHolySpirit。
16。OfficeoftheDead。
17。TheFifteenJoysofB。V。M。
18。ThesevenrequeststoourLord。
19。PrayersandSuffragestovariousSaints。
20。Severalprayers，petitions，anddevotions。
Thisisanunusuallyfullexample，butthecalendar，thehours，thesevenpsalms，andthelitany，areinalmostalltheMSS。Thebuyermustlookcarefullytoseethatnominiatureshavebeencutout;butitisonlybycountingtheleavesintheirgatheringsthathecanmakesure。Thisisoftenimpossiblewithoutbreakingthebinding。
Themostvaluable\"Horae\"arethosewritteninEngland。SomeareoftheEnglishuse（SarumorYork，orwhateveritmayhappentobe），butwerewrittenabroad，especiallyinNormandy，fortheEnglishmarket。Thesearealsovaluable，evenwhenimperfect。LookforthepagebeforethecommencementoftheHours（No。4inthelistabove），andattheendwillbefoundalineinred，——\"IncipitHoraesecundumusumSarum，\"orotherwise，asthecasemaybe。
4。Missalsdonotoftenoccur，andarenotonlyveryvaluablebutverydifficulttocollate，unlessfurnishedwithcatch-wordsorsignatures。ButnoMissaliscompletewithouttheCanonoftheMass，usuallyinthemiddleofthebook，andifthereareanyilluminationsthroughoutthevolume，therewillbeafullpageCrucifixion，facingtheCanon。Missalsoflargesizeandcompletenesscontain——（1）aCalendar;（2）\"theproperoftheSeason;\"（3）theordinaryandCanonoftheMass;（4）theCommunalofSaints;（5）theproperofSaintsandspecialoccasions;（6）thelessons，epistles，andgospels;with（7）somehymns，\"proses，\"andcanticles。ThisisSirW。Tite’slist;but，asheremarks，MS。
Missalsseldomcontainsomuch。ThecollectorwilllookfortheCanon，whichisinvariable。
Breviariesruntoanimmenselength，andareseldomilluminated。Itwouldbeimpossibletogivethemanykindofcollation，andthesamemaybesaidofmanyotherkindsofoldservice-books，andofthechronicles，poems，romances，andherbals，inwhichmediaevalliteratureabounded，andwhichthecollectormustjudgeasbesthecan。
Thenameof\"missal\"iscommonlyandfalselygiventoalloldservice-booksbythebooksellers，butthecollectorwilleasilydistinguishonewhenheseesit，fromthenotesIhavegiven。InaSarumMissal，atAlnwick，thereisacolophonquotedbymylamentedfriendDr。Rockinhis\"TextileFabrics。\"Itisappropriatebothtothelaboursoftheoldscribesandalsotothoseoftheirmodernreaders：-
\"LibrumScribendo——JonWhasMonachuslaborabat-
EtmaneSurgendo——multumcorpusmacerabat。\"
Itisoneofthecharmsofmanuscriptsthattheyillustrate，intheirminuteway，alltheart，andeventhesocialcondition，oftheperiodinwhichtheywereproduced。Apostles，saints，andprophetswearthecontemporarycostume，andJonah，whenthrowntothehungrywhale，wearsdoubletandtrunkhose。Theornamentsillustratethearchitecturaltasteoftheday。Thebackgroundschangefromdiaperedpatternstolandscapes，asthemodernwayoflookingatnaturepenetratesthemonasteriesandreachesthescriptoriumwheretheilluminatorsitsandrefresheshiseyeswiththesightoftheslendertreesandbluedistanthills。Printedbookshavenotsuchresources。Theycanonlyshowvarietiesoftype，quaintfrontispieces，printers’devices，andfleuronsattheheadsofchapters。Theseattractions，andeventheengravingsofalaterday，seemmeagreenoughcomparedwiththeallurementsofmanuscripts。Yetprintedbooksmustalmostalwaysmakethegreaterpartofacollection，anditmaybewelltogivesomerulesastothefeaturesthatdistinguishtheproductionsoftheearlypress。
Butnoamountof\"rules\"isworthsixmonths’practicalexperienceinbibliography。Thatexperiencetheamateur，ifheiswise，willobtaininapubliclibrary，liketheBritishMuseumortheBodleian。
Nowhereelseishelikelytoseemuchoftheearliestofprintedbooks，whichveryseldomcomeintothemarket。
ThoseofthefirstGermanpressaresorarethatpracticallytheyneverreachthehandsoftheordinarycollector。AmongthemarethefamousPsaltersprintedbyFustandSchoffer，theearliestofwhichisdated1457;andthebibleknownastheMazarineBible。TwocopiesofthislastwereinthePerkinssale。Iwellremembertheexcitementonthatoccasion。Thefirstcopyputupwasthebest，beingprinteduponvellum。Thebiddingcommencedat1000pounds，andveryspeedilyroseto2200pounds，atwhichpointtherewasalongpause;itthenroseinhundredswithverylittledelayto3400
pounds，atwhichitwasknockeddowntoabookseller。Thesecondcopywasonpaper，andtherewerethosepresentwhosaiditwasbetterthantheother，whichhadasuspicionattachingtoitofhavingbeen\"restored\"withafacsimileleaf。Thefirstbidwasagain1000pounds，whichthebuyerofthepreviouscopymadeguineas，andthebiddingspeedilywentupto2660pounds，atwhichpricethefirstbidderpaused。Athirdbidderhadsteppedinat1960pounds，andnow，amidbreathlessexcitement，bid10poundsmore。Thishehadtodotwicebeforethebookwasknockeddowntohimat2690pounds。
Ascenelikethishasreallyverylittletodowithbook-collecting。
Thebeginnermustlabourhardtodistinguishdifferentkindsofprinting;hemustbeabletorecogniseataglanceevenfragmentsfromthepressofCaxton。Hiseyemustbeaccustomedtoallthetricksofthetradeandothers，sothathemaytellafacsimileinamoment，ordetectaforgery。
Butnowletusreturntothedistinctivemarksofearlyprintedbooks。Thefirstis，saysM。Rouveyre，-
1。Theabsenceofaseparatetitle-page。Itwasnottill1476-1480
thatthetitlesofbookswereprintedonseparatepages。Thenextmarkis-
2。Theabsenceofcapitallettersatthebeginningsofdivisions。
Forexample，inanAldineIliad，thefifthbookbeginsthus-
[Greektext]
Itwasintendedthattheopenspace，occupiedbythesmallepsilon（[epsilonsymbol]），shouldbefilledupwithacolouredandgildedinitialletterbytheilluminator。Copiesthusdecoratedarenotverycommon，buttheAldine\"Homer\"ofFrancisI。，rescuedbyM。
DidotfromarubbishheapinanEnglishcellar，haditsdueilluminations。Intheearliestbookstheguidetotheilluminator，thesmallprintedletter，doesnotappear，andheoftenputsinthewronginitial。
3。Irregularityandrudenessoftypeisa\"note\"oftheprimitiveprintingpress，whichveryearlydisappeared。Nothinginthehistoryofprintingissoremarkableasthebeautyofalmostitsfirstefforts。Othernotesare-
4。Theabsenceoffiguresatthetopofthepages，andofsignaturesatthefoot。Thethicknessandsolidityofthepaper，theabsenceoftheprinter’sname，ofthedate，andofthenameofthetownwherethepressstood，andtheabundanceofcrabbedabbreviations，areallmarks，moreorlesstrustworthy，oftheantiquityofbooks。Itmustnotbesupposedthatallbookspublished，letussaybefore1500，arerare，ordeservethenoticeofthecollector。Morethan18，000works，ithasbeencalculated，leftthepressbeforetheendofthefifteenthcentury。Allofthesecannotpossiblybeofinterest，andmanyofthemthatare\"rare，\"arerarepreciselybecausetheyareuninteresting。Theyhavenotbeenpreservedbecausetheywerethoughtnotworthpreserving。Thisisagreatcauseofrarity;butwemustnothastilyconcludethatbecauseabookfoundnofavourinitsownage，thereforeithasnoclaimonourattention。ALondonbooksellertellsmethatheboughtthe\"remainder\"ofKeats’s\"Endymion\"forfourpenceacopy！Thefirsteditionof\"Endymion\"isnowrareandvalued。Intryingtomendthebindingofanold\"Odyssey\"lately，I
extractedfromthevellumcoverspartsoftwocopiesofaveryscarceandcuriousFrenchdictionaryofslang，\"LeJargon，ouLangagedel’ArgotReforme。\"Thistreatisemayhavebeenvalueless，almost，whenitappeared，butnowitisserviceabletothephilologist，andtoallwhocaretotrytointerprettheslangballadesofthepoetVillon。Anoldpamphlet，anoldsatire，mayholdthekeytosomehistoricalproblem，orthrowlightonthepastofmannersandcustoms。Still，oftheearliestprintedbooks，collectorsprefersuchrareandbeautifulonesastheoldestprintedBibles：German，English，——asTaverner’sandtheBishop’s，——orHebrewandGreek，orthefirsteditionsoftheancientclassics，whichmaycontainthereadingsofMSS。nowlostordestroyed。
TalkingofearlyBibles，letusadmiretheluckandprudenceofacertainMr。Sandford。HealwayslongedforthefirstHebrewBible，butwouldoffernofancyprice，beingconvincedthatthebookwouldonedayfallinhisway。Hisforebodingwasfulfilled，andhepickeduphistreasurefortenshillingsinashopintheStrand。
Thetasteforincunabula，orveryearlyprintedbooks，slumberedinthelatterhalfofthesixteenth，andalltheseventeenthcentury。
Itrevivedwiththethirdjubileeofprintingin1740，andsincethenhasrefineditself，andonlycravesbooksveryearly，veryimportant，orworksfromthepressofCaxton，theSt。AlbansSchoolmaster，orotherfamousoldartists。Enoughhasbeensaidtoshowthebeginner，alwaysenthusiastic，thatalloldbooksarenotprecious。Forfurtherinformation，the\"BiographyandTypographyofWilliamCaxton，\"byMr。Blades（Trubner，London，1877），maybeconsultedwithprofit。
FollowingthecategoriesintowhichM。Brunetclassifiesdesirablebooksinhisinvaluablemanual，wenowcometobooksprintedonvellum，andonpeculiarpapers。Attheoriginofprinting，examplesofmanybooks，probablypresentationcopies，wereprintedonvellum。
ThereisavellumcopyofthecelebratedFlorentinefirsteditionofHomer;butitistrulysadtothinkthatthetwinvolumes，IliadandOdyssey，havebeenseparated，andpineindistantlibraries。Earlyprintedbooksonvellumoftenhavebeautifullyilluminatedcapitals。
Dibdinmentionsin\"Bibliomania\"（London，1811），p。90，thataM。
VanPraetwascompilingacatalogueofworksprintedonvellum，andhadcollectedmorethan2000articles。WhenhardthingsaresaidaboutHenryVIII。，letusrememberthatthismonarchhadafewcopiesofhisbookagainstLutherprintedonvellum。TheDukeofMarlborough’slibrarypossessedtwenty-fivebooksonvellum，allprintedbefore1496。Thechapter-houseatPaduahasa\"Catullus\"of1472onvellum;letMr。RobinsonEllisthinkwistfullyofthattreasure。ThenotableCountM’CarthyofToulousehadawonderfullibraryofbooksinmembranis，includingabookmuchcovetedforitsrarity，oddity，andthebeautyofitsillustrations，the\"Hypnerotomachia\"ofPoliphilus（Venice，1499）。Vellumwasthefavourite\"vanity\"ofJunot，Napoleon’sgeneral。Forreasonsconnectedwithitsmanufacture，andbestnotinquiredinto，theItalianvellumenjoyedthegreatestreputationforsmoothandsilkywhiteness。Dibdincalls\"ourmodernbooksonvellumlittleshortofdownrightwretched。\"Buttheeditorofthisseriescould，Ithink，showexamplesthatwouldhavemadeDibdinchangehisopinion。
Manycomparativelyexpensivepapers，largeinformat，areusedinchoiceeditionsofbooks。Whatmanpapers，Dutchpapers，Chinesepapers，andevenpapierverge，havealltheiradmirers。Theamateurwillsoonlearntodistinguishthesematerials。Astobooksprintedoncolouredpaper——green，blue，yellow，rhubarb-coloured，andthelike，theyareanoffencetotheeyesandtothetaste。Yeteventhesehavetheiradmirersandcollectors，andthegreatAldushimselfoccasionallyusedazurepaper。Undertheheadof\"largepaper，\"perhaps\"uncutcopies\"shouldbementioned。Mostownersofbookshavehadtheedgesofthevolumesgildedormarbledbythebinders。Thuspartofthemarginislost，anoffencetotheeyeofthebibliomaniac，whilecopiesuntouchedbythebinder’sshearsarerare，andthereforeprized。Theinconvenienceofuncutcopiesis，thatonecannoteasilyturnovertheleaves。But，inthepresentstateofthefashion，areallyrareuncutElzevirmaybeworthhundredsofpounds，whileacroppedexamplescarcelyfetchesasmanyshillings。AsetofShakespeare’squartoes，uncut，wouldbeworthmorethanarespectablelandedestateinConnemara。Forthesereasonstheamateurwilldowelltohavenewbooksofpricebound\"uncut。\"Itisalwayseasytohavetheleavesparedaway;butnoteventhefabledfountainatArgos，inwhichHerayearlyrenewedhermaidenhood，couldrestoremarginsonceclippedaway。Somuchforbookswhicharechieflypreciousforthequantityandqualityofthematerialonwhichtheyareprinted。Eventhisratherfoolishweaknessoftheamateurwouldnotbeuselessifitmadeourpublishersmorecarefultoemployasoundcleanhand-madepaper，insteadofdruggedtrash，fortheirmorevaluablenewproductions。
Indeed，atasteforhand-madepaperiscomingin，andispartoftherevoltagainstthepassionforeverythingmachine-made，whichruinedartandhandiworkintheyearsbetween1840and1870。
ThethirdofM。Brunet’scategoriesofbooksofprose，includeslivresdeluxe，andillustratedliterature。EveryChristmasbringsuslivresdeluxeinplenty，bookswhicharenobooks，buthavegiltandmagentacovers，andgreatstaringillustrations。Theseareregardedasdrawing-roomornamentsbypeoplewhoneverread。ItisscarcelynecessarytowarnthecollectoragainstthesegaudybaitsofunregulatedChristmasgenerosity。Allageshavenotproducedquitesuchgarishlivresdeluxeasours。But，onthewhole，abookbroughtoutmerelyforthesakeofdisplay，isgenerallyabookill\"gotup，\"andnotworthreading。Moreover，itisgenerallyafolio，orquarto，solargethathewhotriestoreaditmustsupportitonakindofscaffolding。Intheclassofillustratedbookstwosortsareatpresentmostindemand。Theancientwoodcutsandengravings，oftentheworkofartistslikeHolbeinandDurer，canneverlosetheirinterest。Amongoldillustratedbooks，themostfamous，andoneoftherarest，isthe\"HypnerotomachiaPoliphili，\"\"whereinallhumanmattersareprovedtobenomorethanadream。\"Thisisanallegoricalromance，publishedin1499，forFrancescoColonna，byAldusManucius。PoliamFraterFranciscusColumnaperamavit。
\"BrotherFrancescoColonnadearlylovedPolia，\"istheinscriptionanddeviceofthisromance。PoorFrancesco，oftheorderofpreachers，disguisedinthisstrangeworkhispassionforaladyofuncertainname。Hereisatranslationofthepassageinwhichtheladydescribesthebeginningofhisaffection。\"Iwasstanding，asisthemannerofwomenyoungandfair，atthewindow，orratheronthebalcony，ofmypalace。Myyellowhair，thecharmofmaidens，wasfloatingroundmyshiningshoulders。Mylocksweresteepedinunguentsthatmadethemglitterlikethreadsofgold，andtheywereslowlydryingintheraysoftheburningsun。Ahandmaid，happyinhertask，wasdrawingacombthroughmytresses，andsurelytheseofAndromedaseemednotmorelovelytoPerseus，nortoLuciusthelocksofPhotis。{6}Onasudden，Poliphilusbeheldme，andcouldnotwithdrawfrommehisglancesoffire，andeveninthatmomentarayofthesunoflovewaskindledinhisheart。\"
ThefragmentisitselfapicturefromtheworldoftheRenaissance。
Wewatchtheblonde，learnedlady，dreamingofPerseus，andLucius，Greekloversofoldtime，whilethesungildsheryellowhair，andtheyoungmonk，passingbelow，seesandloves，and\"fallsintothedeepwatersofdesire。\"Theloverisnolesslearnedthanthelady，andthereisagreatdealofamorousarchaeologyinhisaccountofhisvoyagetoCythera。Astothedesignsinwood，quaintintheirvigorousefforttobeclassical，theyhavebeenattributedtoMantegna，toBellini，andotherartists。JeanCousinissaidtohaveexecutedtheimitations，inthePariseditionsof1546，1556，and1561。
The\"Hypnerotomachia\"seemstodeservenotice，becauseitistheverytypeofthebooksthataredeartocollectors，asdistinctfromthebooksthat，inanyshape，areforevervaluabletotheworld。A
cheapTauchnitzcopyoftheIliadandOdyssey，oraGlobeShakespeare，are，fromthepointofviewofliterature，worthawildernessof\"Hypnerotomachiae。\"Butacleancopyofthe\"Hypnerotomachia，\"especiallyonVELLUM，isoneofthejewelsofbibliography。Ithasalltherightqualities;itisveryrare，itisverybeautifulasaworkofart，itiscuriousandevenbizarre，itistherecordofastrangetime，andastrangepassion;itisarelic，lastly，ofitsprinter，thegreatandgoodAldusManutius。
Nexttotheoldwoodcutsandengravings，executedintimeswhenartistswereversatileanddidnotdisdaineventodrawabook-plate（asDurerdidforPirckheimer），thedesignsoftheFrench\"littlemasters，\"areatpresentinmostdemand。Thebookillustrationsoftheseventeenthcenturyarecuriousenough，andinvaluableasauthoritiesonmannersandcostume。Buttheattitudesofthefiguresaretoooftenstiffandungainly;whilethecompositionisfrequentlylefttochance。EnglandcouldshownothingmuchbetterthanOgilby’stranslationsofHomer，illustratedwithbigfloridengravingsinshamantiquestyle。Theyearsbetween1730and1820，sawtheFrench\"littlemasters\"intheirperfection。Thedressofthemiddleoftheeighteenthcentury，oftheageofWatteau，waspreciselysuitedtothegayandgracefulpencilsofGravelot，Moreau，Eisen，Boucher，Cochin，Marillier，andChoffard。Tounderstandtheirmerits，andthelimitsoftheirart，itisenoughtoglancethroughaseriesofthedesignsforVoltaire，Corneille，orMoliere。Thedrawingsofsocietyarealmostinvariablydaintyandpleasing，theseriousscenesoftragedyleavethespectatorquiteunmoved。ThusitisbutnaturalthattheseartistsshouldhaveshonemostintheillustrationofairytrifleslikeDorat’s\"Baisers，\"ortaleslikeManonLescaut，orindesigningtailpiecesfortranslationsoftheGreekidyllicpoets，suchasMoschusandBion。Insomeofhisillustrationsofbooks，especially，perhaps，inthedesignsfor\"LaPhysiologiedeGout\"（Jouaust，Paris，1879），M。LalauzehasshownhimselftheworthyrivalofEisenandCochin。
Perhapsitisunnecessarytoaddthatthebeautyandvalueofallsuchengravingsdependsalmostentirelyontheir\"state。\"Theearlierproofsaremuchmorebrilliantthanthosedrawnlater，andetchingsonfinepapersarejustlypreferred。Forexample，M。
Lalauze’sengravingson\"Whatmanpaper，\"haveabeautywhichcouldscarcelybeguessedbypeoplewhohaveonlyseenspecimenson\"papierverge。\"EverycollectoroftheoldFrenchvignettes，shouldpossesshimselfofthe\"Guidedel’amateur，\"byM。HenryCohen（Rouquette，Paris，1880）。AmongEnglishillustratedbooks，varioustastesprefertheimaginativeworksofWilliamBlake，theetchingsofCruikshank，andthewoodcutsofBewick。Thewholeofthelastchapterofthissketchisdevoted，byMr。AustinDobson，tothetopicofEnglishillustratedbooks。Hereitmaybesaid，inpassing，thatanearlycopyofWilliamBlake’s\"SongsofInnocence，\"
written，illustrated，printed，coloured，andboardedbytheauthor’sownhand，isoneofthemostcharmingobjectsthatabibliophilecanhopetopossess。TheversesofBlake，inaframeworkofbirds，andflowers，andplumes，allsoftlyandmagicallytinted，seemlikesomebookoutofKingOberon’slibraryinfairyland，ratherthantheproductionsofamortalpress。ThepicturesinBlake’s\"propheticbooks，\"andevenhisillustrationsto\"Job，\"showanimaginationmoreheavilyweightedbythetechnicaldifficultiesofdrawing。
ThenextclassofrarebooksiscomposedofworksfromthefamouspressesoftheAldiandtheElzevirs。Otherpresseshave，perhaps，doneworkasgood，butEstienne，theGiunta，andPlantin，arecomparativelyneglected，whilethetastefortheperformancesofBaskervilleandFoulisisnotveryeager。AsafejudgmentaboutAldinesandElzevirsisthegiftofyearsandoflongexperience。
Inthisplaceitisonlypossibletosayafewwordsonawidesubject。ThefounderoftheAldinepress，AldusPiusManutius，wasbornabout1450，anddiedatVenicein1514。Hewasamanofcarefulandprofoundlearning，andwasdeeplyinterestedinGreekstudies，thenencouragedbythearrivalinItalyofmanyeducatedGreeksandCretans。OnlyfourGreekauthorshadasyetbeenprintedinItaly，when（1495）AldusestablishedhispressatVenice。
Theocritus，Homer，AEsop，andIsocrates，probablyinverylimitededitions，wereinthehandsofstudents。ThepurposeofAlduswastoputGreekandLatinworks，beautifullyprintedinaconvenientshape，withinthereachofalltheworld。Hisreformwastheintroductionofbooksatoncecheap，studiouslycorrect，andconvenientinactualuse。Itwasin1498thathefirstadoptedthesmalloctavosize，andinhis\"Virgil\"of1501，heintroducedthetypecalledAldineorItalic。Theletterswereunitedasinwriting，andthetypeissaidtohavebeencutbyFrancescodaBologna，betterknownasFrancia，inimitationofthehandofPetrarch。ForfullinformationaboutAldusandhisdescendantsandsuccessors，theworkofM。FirminDidot，（\"AldeManuceetl’HellenismeaVenise：Paris1875），\"andtheAldineannalsofRenouard，mustbeconsulted。Thesetwoworksarenecessarytothecollector，whowillotherwisebedeceivedbythemisleadingassertionsofthebooksellers。Asarule，thevolumespublishedinthelifetimeofAldusManutiusarethemostesteemed，andofthesetheAristotle，thefirstHomer，theVirgil，andtheOvid，areperhapsmostindemand。TheearlierAldinesareconsultedalmostasstudiouslyasMSS。bymoderneditorsoftheclassics。
JustasthehouseofAlduswanedandexpired，thatofthegreatDutchprinters，theElzevirs，beganobscurelyenoughatLeydenin1583。TheElzevirswerenot，likeAldus，ripescholarsandmenofdevotiontolearning。Alduslabouredfortheloveofnoblestudies;
theElzevirswereacute，andtoooften\"smart\"menofbusiness。ThefounderofthefamilywasLouis（bornatLouvain，1540，died1617）。
ButitwasinthesecondandthirdgenerationsthatBonaventuraandAbrahamElzevirbegantopublishatLeyden，theireditionsinsmallduodecimo。LikeAldus，theseElzevirsaimedatproducingbooksatoncehandy，cheap，correct，andbeautifulinexecution。Theiradventurewasacompletesuccess。TheElzevirsdidnot，likeAldus，surroundthemselveswiththemostlearnedscholarsoftheirtime。
Theirfamousliteraryadviser，Heinsius，wasfullofliteraryjealousies，andkeptstudentsofhisowncalibreatadistance。TheclassicaleditionsoftheElzevirs，beautiful，buttoosmallintypeformoderneyes，areanythingbutexquisitelycorrect。Theireditionsofthecontemporary。Frenchauthors，nowclassicsthemselves，arelovelyexamplesofskillinpracticalenterprise。
TheElzevirstreatedtheFrenchauthorsmuchasAmericanpublisherstreatEnglishmen。Theystolerightandleft，butnoonecomplainedmuchinthesetimesofslackcopyright;and，atallevents，thepiraticlarcenouspublicationsoftheDutchprinterswerepretty，andsofarsatisfactory。Theythemselves，inturn，werethevictimsoffraudulentanduntradesmanlikeimitations。Itisforthis，amongotherreasons，thatthecollectorofElzevirsmustmakeM。Willems’sbook（\"LesElzevier，\"BrusselsandParis，1880）hisconstantstudy。
Differencessominutethattheyescapetheunpractisedeye，denoteeditionsofmostvariousvalue。InElzevirsaline’sbreadthofmarginisoftenworthahundredpounds，andamisprintisquotedatnolessasum。ThefantasticcapriceofbibliophileshasrevelledinthebibliographyoftheseDutcheditions。TheyareatpresentveryscarceinEngland，whereachangeinfashionsomeyearsagohadmadethemcommonenough。NoElzevirisvaluableunlessitbecleanandlargeinthemargins。Whentheseconditionsaresatisfiedthequestionofraritycomesin，andRemyBelleau’sMacaronicpoem，or\"LePastissierFrancais，\"mayrisetothepriceoffourorfivehundredpounds。ARabelais，Moliere，orCorneille，ofa\"good\"
edition，isnowmoreinrequestthantheonceadored\"ImitatioChristi\"（dateless），orthe\"Virgil\"’of1646，whichisfullofgrosserrorsofthepress，butisesteemedforredcharactersinthelettertoAugustus，andanotherpassageatpage92。TheordinarymarksoftheElzevirswerethesphere，theoldhermit，theAthena，theeagle，andtheburningfaggot。ButalllittleoldbooksmarkedwithspheresarenotElzevirs，asmanybooksellerssuppose。Otherprintersalsostolethedesignsforthetopsofchapters，theAegipan，theSiren，theheadofMedusa，thecrossedsceptres，andtherest。InsomecasestheElzevirspublishedtheirbooks，especiallywhentheywerepiracies，anonymously。WhentheypublishedfortheJansenists，theyallowedtheirclientstoputfantasticpseudonymsonthetitlepages。But，exceptinfourcases，theyhadonlytwopseudonymsusedonthetitlesofbookspublishedbyandforthemselves。Thesedisguisesare\"JeanSambix\"forJeanandDanielElzevir，atLeyden，andfortheElzevirsofAmsterdam，\"JacquesleJeune。\"Thelastofthegreatrepresentativesofthehouse，Daniel，diedatAmsterdam，1680。Abraham，anunworthyscion，struggledonatLeydentill1712。Thefamilystillprospers，butnolongerprints，inHolland。ItiscommontoaddduodecimosofFoppens，Wolfgang，andotherprinters，tothecollectionsoftheElzevirs。ThebooksofWolfganghavethesignofthefoxrobbingawildbee’snest，withthemottoQuaerendo。
Curiousandsingularbooksarethenextinourclassification。Thecategoryistoolarge。Thebooksthatbe\"curious\"（notinthebooksellers’senseof\"prurient\"and\"disgusting，\"）areinnumerable。
Allsuppressedandcondemnedbooks，from\"LesFleursduMal\"toVanini’s\"Amphitheatrum，\"ortheEnglishtranslationofBruno’s\"SpacciadellaBestiaTrionfante，\"aremoreorlessrare，andmoreorlesscurious。Wildbooks，likeWilliamPostel’s\"ThreeMarvellousTriumphsofWomen，\"are\"curious。\"Freakishbooks，likemacaronicpoetry，writteninamedleyoflanguages，arecurious。
Booksfromprivatepressesaresingular。TheoldEnglishpoetsandsatiriststurnedoutmanyabookcurioustothelastdegree，andpricedatafantasticvalue。Suchare\"Jordan’sJewelsofIngenuity，\"\"Micro-cynicon，sixSnarlingSatyres\"（1599），andthe\"TreatizemadeofaGalaunt，\"printedbyWynkyndeWorde，andfoundpastedintothefly-leaf，ontheoak-boardbindingofanimperfectvolumeofPynson’s\"Statutes。\"AllourearlyEnglishpoemsandmiscellaniesarecurious;and，asrelicsofdelightfulsingers，aremostcharmingpossessions。Sucharethe\"SongesandSonnettesofSurrey\"（1557），the\"ParadyceofdayntyDeuices\"（1576），the\"SmallHandfulofFragrantFlowers，\"and\"TheHandfulofDaintyDelights，gatheredoutofthelovelyGardenofSacredScripture，fitforanyworshipfulGentlewomantosmellunto，\"（1584）。\"TheTearesofIreland\"（1642），aresaid，thoughonewouldnotexpectit，tobe\"extremelyrare，\"and，therefore，precious。Butthereisnoendtothelistofsuchdesirablerarities。Ifweaddtothemallbookscovetedasearlyeditions，and，therefore，asrelicsofgreatwriters，Bunyan，Shakespeare，Milton，Sterne，Walton，andtherest，wemighteasilyfillabookwithremarksonthistopicalone。Thecollectionofsucheditionsisthemostrespectable，themostuseful，and，alas，themostexpensiveoftheamateur’spursuits。ItiscuriousenoughthattheearlyeditionsofSwift，Scott，andByron，arelittlesoughtfor，ifnotwhollyneglected;whileearlycopiesofShelley，Tennyson，andKeats，haveagreatpricesetontheirheads。ThequartoesofShakespeare，likefirsteditionsofRacine，areoutofthereachofanybutveryopulentpurchasers，orunusuallylucky，fortunatebook-hunters。Beforeleavingthetopicofbookswhichderivetheirvaluefromthetasteandfantasyofcollectors，itmustberemarkedthat，inthismatter，thefashionoftheworldchanges。Dr。Dibdinlamented，seventyyearsago，thewaningrespectpaidtocertaineditionsoftheclassics。Hewouldfindthatthingshavebecomeworsenow，andmodernGermaneditions，onexecrablepaper，havesupplantedhisoldfavourites。Fiftyyearsago，M。BrunetexpressedhiscontemptforthedesignsofBoucher;
nowtheyareatthetopofthefashion。Thestudyofoldbooksellers’cataloguesisfullofinstructionastothechangesofcaprice。ThecollectionofDr。Rawlinsonwassoldin1756。\"TheVisionofPiercePlowman\"（1561），andthe\"CreedeofPiercePlowman\"
（1553），broughtbetweenthemnomorethanthreeshillingsandsixpence。Elevenshillingswerepaidforthe\"BokeofChivalrie\"byCaxton。The\"BokeofSt。Albans，\"byWynkyndeWorde，cost1
pounds：1s。，andthiswasthehighestsumpaidforanyoneoftwohundredrarepiecesofearlyEnglishliterature。In1764，acopyofthe\"Hypnerotomachia\"wassoldfortwoshillings，\"APettiePallaceofPettiehisPleasures，\"（ah，whatathoughtfortheamateur！）wentforthreeshillings，while\"PalmerinofEngland\"（1602），attainednomorethanthepaltrysumoffourteenshillings。WhenOsbornesoldtheHarleycollection，thescarcestoldEnglishbooksfetchedbutthreeorfourshillings。IfthewanderingJewhadbeenacollectorinthelastcenturyhemighthaveturnedaprettyprofitbysellinghisoldEnglishbooksinthisageofours。InoldFrench，too，Ahasueruswouldhavedoneagoodstrokeofbusiness，forthepricesbroughtbyoldVillons，RomancesoftheRose，\"LesMargueritesdeMarguerite，\"andsoforth，attheM’Carthysale，weretrulypitiable。AhundredyearshencetheoriginaleditionsofThackeray，orofMissGreenaway’sChristmasbooks，or\"ModernPainters，\"maybetherulingpassion，andAldinesandElzevirs，blackletterandFrenchvignettesmayallbedespised。Abookwhichiscommonplaceinourcenturyiscuriousinthenext，anddisregardedinthatwhichfollows。Oldbooksofahereticalcharacterweretreasuresonce，rareunholypossessions。NowwehaveseensomanyhereticsthattheworldisindifferenttotheaudacitiesofBruno，andtheveiledimpietiesofVanini。
Thelastofourcategoriesofbooksmuchsoughtbythecollectorincludesallvolumesvaluedfortheirancientbindings，forthemarkandstampoffamousamateurs。TheFrench，whohavesuppliedtheworldwithsomanyeminentbinders，——asEve，Padeloup，Duseuil，LeGascon，Derome，Simier，Bozerian，Thouvenin，Trautz-Bauzonnet，andLortic——arethechiefpatronsofbooksinhistoricalbindings。InEnglandanhistoricalbinding，abookofLaud’s，orJames’s，orGarrick’s，orevenofQueenElizabeth’s，doesnotseemtoderivemuchaddedcharmfromitsassociations。But，inFrance，peculiarbindingsarenowtheobjectsmostindemandamongcollectors。TheseriesofbooksthusrenderedpreciousbeginswiththoseofMaioliandofGrolier（1479-1565），remarkablefortheirmottoesandthegeometricalpatternsonthecovers。ThencomesDeThou（whohadthreesetsofarms），withhisblazon，thebeesstampedonthemorocco。ThevolumesofMargueriteofAngoulemearesprinkledwithgoldendaisies。DianedePoictiershadhercrescentsandherbow，andtheinitialofherroyalloverwasintertwinedwithherown。
ThethreedaughtersofLouisXV。hadeachtheirfavouritecolour，andtheirbookswearliveriesofcitron，red，andolivemorocco。
TheAbbeCotin，theoriginalofMoliere’sTrissotin，stampedhisbookswithintertwinedC’s。HenriIII。preferredreligiousemblems，andsepulchralmottoes——skulls，crossbones，tears，andtheinsigniaofthePassion。Mortm’estvieisafavouritedeviceoftheeffeminateandvoluptuousprince。Molierehimselfwasacollector，iln’espasdebouquinquis’echappedesesmains，——\"neveranoldbookescapeshim，\"saystheauthorof\"LaGuerreComique，\"thelastofthepamphletswhichflewfromsidetosideinthegreatliterarysquabbleabout\"L’EcoledesFemmes。\"M。SouliehasfoundaroughcatalogueofMoliere’slibrary，butthebooks，exceptalittleElzevir，havedisappeared。{7}MadamedeMaintenonwasfondofbindings。Mr。Tooveypossessesacopyofadevotionalworkinredmorocco，tooledandgilt，whichshepresentedtoafriendlyabbess。
ThebooksatSaint-Cyrwerestampedwithacrownedcross，besprentwithfleurs-de-lys。Thebooksofthelatercollectors——Longepierre，thetranslatorofBionandMoschus;D’Hoymthediplomatist;
McCarthy，andLaValliere，areallvaluedataratewhichseemsfairgameforsatire。
AmongthemostinterestingbibliophilesoftheeighteenthcenturyisMadameDuBarry。In1771，thisnotoriousbeautycouldscarcelyreadorwrite。Shehadrooms，however，intheChateaudeVersailles，thankstothekindnessofamonarchwhoadmiredthosenativequalitieswhicheducationmaypolish，butwhichitcanneverconfer。
AtVersailles，MadameDuBarryheardoftheliterarygeniusofMadamedePompadour。ThePompadourwasapersonoftaste。HerlargelibraryofsomefourthousandworksofthelightestsortoflightliteraturewasboundbyBiziaux。Mr。TooveypossessestheBrantomeofthisdamegalante。Madameherselfhadpublishedetchingsbyherownfairhands;andtohearofthesethingsexcitedtheemulationofMadameDuBarry。ShemightnotbeCLEVER，butshecouldhavealibrarylikeanother，iflibrarieswereinfashion。
OnedayMadameDuBarryastonishedtheCourtbyannouncingthathercollectionofbookswouldpresentlyarriveatVersailles。Meantimeshetookcounselwithabookseller，whoboughtupexamplesofallthecheap\"remainders，\"astheyarecalledinthetrade，thathecouldlayhishandsupon。Thewholeassortment，aboutonethousandvolumesinall，washastilyboundinrosemorocco，elegantlygilt，andstampedwiththearmsofthenoblehouseofDuBarry。ThebillwhichMadameDuBarryowedherenterprisingagentisstillinexistence。Thethousandvolumescostaboutthreefrancseach;thebinding（extremelycheap）cametonearlyasmuch。Theamusingthingisthatthebookseller，inthecataloguewhichhesentwiththeimprovisedlibrary，markedthebookswhichMadameDuBarrypossessedBEFOREherlargeorderwassopunctuallyexecuted。Thereweretwo\"MemoiresdeDuBarry，\"anoldnewspaper，twoorthreeplays，and\"L’HistorieAmoureusedePierreleLong。\"LouisXV。observedwithpridethat，thoughMadamePompadourhadpossessedalargerlibrary，thatofMadameDuBarrywasthebetterselected。Thankstohernewcollection，theladylearnedtoreadwithfluency，butsheneverovercamethedifficultiesofspelling。
Aladycollectorwholovedbooksnotverywellperhaps，butcertainlynotwisely，wastheunhappyMarieAntoinette。ThecontroversyinFranceabouttheprivatecharacteroftheQueenhasbeenasacrimoniousastheScotchdiscussionaboutMaryStuart。
Evidence，goodandbad，lettersasapocryphalasthelettersofthefamous\"casket，\"havebeenproducedonbothsides。Afewyearsago，undertheempire，M。LouisLacourfoundamanuscriptcatalogueofthebooksintheQueen’sboudoir。Theywereallnovelsoftheflimsiestsort，——\"L’AmitieDangereuse，\"\"LesSuitesd’unMomentd’Erreur，\"andeventhestoriesofLouvetandofRetifdelaBretonne。Thesevolumesallboretheletters\"C。T。\"（ChateaudeTrianon），andduringtheRevolutiontheywerescatteredamongthevariouspubliclibrariesofParis。TheQueen’smoreimportantlibrarywasattheTuileries，butatVersaillesshehadonlythreebooks，asthecommissionersoftheConventionfound，whentheymadeaninventoryofthepropertyoflafemmeCapet。Amongthethreewasthe\"GerusalemmeLiberata，\"printed，witheightyexquisitedesignsbyCochin，attheexpenseof\"Monsieur，\"afterwardsLouisXVIII。
BookswiththearmsofMarieAntoinetteareveryrareinprivatecollections;insalestheyareasmuchsoughtafterasthoseofMadameDuBarry。
Withtheseillustrationsofthekindofinterestthatbelongstobooksofoldcollectors，wemayclosethischapter。Thereaderhasbeforehimalist，withexamples，ofthekindsofbooksatpresentmostinvogueamongamateurs。Hemustjudgeforhimselfwhetherhewillfollowthefashion，byaideitherofalongpurseorofpatientresearch，orwhetherhewillfindoutnewpathsforhimself。A
scholarisrarelyarichman。Hecannotcompetewithplutocratswhobuybydeputy。But，ifhepursuestheworkshereallyneeds，hemaymakeavaluablecollection。Hecannotgofarwrongwhilehebringstogetherthebooksthathefindsmostcongenialtohisowntasteandmostusefultohisownstudies。Here，then，inthewordsoftheold\"sentiment，\"Ibidhimfarewell，andwish\"successtohisinclinations，providedtheyarevirtuous。\"Thereisasetofcollectors，alas！whoseinclinationsarenotvirtuous。Themostfamousofthem，aFrenchman，observedthathisowncollectionofbadbookswasunique。ThatofanEnglishrival，headmitted，wasrespectable，——\"maismilordselivreadesautrespreoccupations！\"
Hethoughtacollector’swholeheartshouldbewithhistreasures。
Enbouquinantsetrouvegrandsoulas。
Soubentm’envaymusant，apetispas，Aulongdesquais，pourflairermaintbieuxlivre。
DesElzevierlaSpheremerendyure，EtlaSireneaussim’esmeut。GrandcasFais-jed’Estienne，Aide，ouDolet。MaisIas！
LevieuxCaxtonneserencontrepas，Plusqu’agneaud’orparmijetonsdecuivre，Enbouquinant！
Pourtoutplaisirquel’ongouteicy-basLaGraceaDieu。Mieuxvaut，sansaltercas，Chasserbouquin：Nulmaln’enpeults’ensuivre。
Drsusaulivre：ilestlegrandappas。
Clairestleciel。Amis，quiveutmesuivreEnbouquinant？
A。L。
ILLUSTRATEDBOOKS{8}
ModernEnglishbook-illustration——towhichthepresentchapterisrestricted-hasnolongordoubtfulhistory，sincetofinditsfirstbeginnings，itisneedlesstogofartherbackthanthelastquarteroftheeighteenthcentury。Notthat\"illustrated\"booksofacertainclasswerebyanymeansunknownbeforethatperiod。Onthecontrary，formanyyearspreviously，literaturehadboastedits\"sculptures\"ofbe-wiggedandbe-laurelled\"worthies，\"its\"prospects\"and\"land-skips，\"itsphenomenalmonstersandits\"curiousantiques。\"But，despitethecoupletinthe\"Dunciad\"
respectingbookswhere\"……thepicturesforthepageatone，AndQuarlesissavedbybeautiesnothisown;\"-
illustrations，inwhichthedesignerattemptedtheactualdelineationofscenesoroccurrencesinthetext，werecertainlynotcommonwhenPopewrote，norweretheyforsometimeafterwardseitherverynumerousorverynoteworthy。ThereareHogarth’sengravingsto\"Hudibras\"and\"DonQuixote;\"therearethedesignsofhiscronyFrankHaymantoTheobald’s\"Shakespeare，\"toMilton，toPope，toCervantes;therearePine’s\"Horace\"andSturt’s\"Prayer-
Book\"（inbothofwhichtextandornamentwerealikeengraved）;
therearethehistoricalandtopographicaldrawingsofSandby，Wale，andothers;andyet——notwithstandingallthese——itiswithBewick’scutstoGay’s\"Fables\"in1779，andStothard’splatestoHarrison’s\"Novelist’sMagazine\"in1780，thatbook-illustrationbyimaginativecompositionsreallybeginstoflourishinEngland。ThoselittlemasterpiecesoftheNewcastleartistbroughtaboutarevivalofwood-engravingwhichcontinuestothisday;butengravinguponmetal，asameansofdecoratingbooks，practicallycametoanendwiththe\"Annuals\"ofthirtyyearsago。Itwillthereforebewelltospeakfirstofillustrationsuponcopperandsteel。
Stothard，Blake，andFlaxmanarethenamesthatcomefreshesttomemoryinthisconnection。ForaperiodoffiftyyearsStothardstandspre-eminentinillustratedliterature。Measuringtimebypoets，hemaybesaidtohavelentsomethingofhisfancyandamenitytomostofthewritersfromCowpertoRogers。Asadraughtsmanheisundoubtedlyweak：hisfiguresareoftenlimpandinvertebrate，andhistypeofbeautyinsipid。Still，regardedasgroups，themajorityofhisdesignsareexquisite，andhepossessedoneall-pervadingandun-Englishquality——thequalityofgrace。
Thisishisdominantnote。Nothingcanbemoreseductivethanthesuaveflowofhisline，hisfeelingforcostume，hisgentleandchastenedhumour。Manyofhiswomenandchildrenaremodelsofpurityandinnocence。Butheworksateaseonlywithinthelimitsofhisspecialpowers;heishappierinthepastoralanddomesticthantheheroicandsupernatural，andhisstyleisbetterfittedtotheformalsalutationsof\"Clarissa\"and\"SirCharlesGrandison，\"
thantheroughhorse-playof\"PeregrinePickle。\"WhereRowlandsonwouldhaverevelled，Stothardwouldbeawkwardandconstrained;
whereBlakewouldgiveusanewsensation，Stothardwouldbepoorandmechanical。Neverthelessthegiftshepossessedwerethoroughlyrecognisedinhisownday，andbroughthim，ifnotriches，atleastcompetenceandhonour。Itissaidthatmorethanthreethousandofhisdrawingshavebeenengraved，andtheyarescatteredthroughahundredpublications。Thosetothe\"Pilgrim’sProgress\"andthepoemsofRogersarecommonlyspokenofashisbest，thoughheneverexcelledsomeoftheold-fashionedplates（withtheirprettybordersinthestyleofGravelotandtheFrenchmen）toRichardson’snovels，andsuchforgotten\"classics\"as\"JoeThompson\"，\"Jessamy，\"\"BetsyThoughtless，\"andoneortwoothersinHarrison’sverymiscellaneouscollection。
Stothardwasfortunateinhisengravers。BesidesJamesHeath，hisbestinterpreter，Schiavonetti，Sharp，Finden，theCookes，Bartolozzi，mostofthefashionabletranslatorsintocopperwerebusilyemployeduponhisinventions。Amongtherestwasanartistofpowersfargreaterthanhisown，althoughscarcelysohappyinturningthemtoprofitableaccount。ThegeniusofWilliamBlakewasnotamarketablecommodityinthesamewayasStothard’stalent。
Theonecaughtthetrickofthetimewithhisfacileelegance;theotherscornedtomakeanyconcessions，eitherinconceptionorexecution，tothemerepopularityofprettiness。
\"Givepensionstothelearnedpig，Orthehareplayingonatabor;
AngluscanneverseeperfectionButinthejourneyman’slabour，\"-
hewroteinoneofthoserough-hewnandbitterepigramsofhis。Yettheworkthatwasthensolukewarmlyreceived——if，indeed，itcanbesaidtohavebeenreceivedatall——isatpresentfarmoresoughtafterthanStothard’s，andthepricesnowgivenforthe\"SongsofInnocenceandExperience，\"the\"InventionstotheBookofJob，\"andeven\"TheGrave，\"wouldhavebroughtaffluencetothestrugglingartist，who（asCromektauntedhim）wasfrequently\"reducedsolowastobeobligedtoliveonhalfaguineaaweek。\"Notthatthiswasentirelythefaultofhiscontemporaries。Blakewasavisionary，andanuntuneableman;and，likeotherswhoworkfortheselectpublicofallages，hecouldnotalwaysescapetheconsequencethattheselectpublicofhisown，howeverwilling，werescarcelynumerousenoughtosupporthim。Hismostindividualworksarethe\"SongsofInnocence，\"1789，andthe\"SongsofExperience，\"
1794。These，afterwardsunitedinonevolume，wereuniqueintheirmethodofproduction;indeed，theydonotperhapsstrictlycomewithinthecategoryofwhatisgenerallyunderstoodtobecopperplateengraving。Thedrawingswereoutlinedandthesongswrittenuponthemetalwithsomeliquidthatresistedtheactionofacid，andtheremainderofthesurfaceoftheplatewaseatenawaywithaqua-fortis，leavingthedesigninboldrelief，likearudestereotype。Thiswasthenprintedoffinthepredominanttone——
blue，brown，oryellow，asthecasemightbe——anddelicatelytintedbytheartistinaprismaticandetherealfashionpeculiarlyhisown。StitchedandboundinboardsbyMrs。Blake，acertainnumberoftheseleaflets——twenty-seveninthecaseofthefirstissue——madeupatinyoctavoofawhollyexceptionalkind。Wordsindeedfailtoexactlydescribetheflower-likebeauty——thefascinationofthese\"fairymissals，\"inwhich，ithasbeenfinelysaid，\"thethrillingmusicoftheverse，andthegentlebedazzlementofthelinesandcolourssointermingle，thatthemindhangsinapleasantuncertaintyastowhetheritisapicturethatissinging，orasongwhichhasnewlybuddedandblossomedintocolourandform。\"Theaccompanyingwoodcut，afteroneoftheillustrationstothe\"SongsofInnocence，\"givessomeindicationofthegeneralcomposition，butitcanconveynohintofthegorgeouspurple，andcrimson，andorangeoftheoriginal。
Ofthe\"IllustrationstotheBookofJob，\"1826，thereareexcellentreducedfacsimilesbytherecently-discoveredphoto-intaglioprocess，intheneweditionofGilchrist’s\"Life。\"TheoriginalswereengravedbyBlakehimselfinhisstrongdecisivefashion，andtheyarehisbestwork。Akindofdeisidaimonia——asacredawe——
fallsupononeinturningoverthesewonderfulproductionsoftheartist’sdecliningyearsandfailinghand。
\"Leavingtheold，bothworldsatoncetheyview，Thatstanduponthethresholdofthenew，\"
singsWaller;anditisalmostpossibletobelieveforamomentthattheircreatorwas（ashesaid）\"underthedirectionofmessengersfromHeaven。\"ButhisdesignsforBlair’s\"Grave，\"1808，popularisedbytheburinofSchiavonetti，attractedgreaterattentionatthetimeofpublication;and，beinglessrare，theyareevennowperhapsbetterknownthantheothers。Thefacsimileheregivenisfromthelatterbook。Thewornoldman，thetrustfulwoman，andtheguilelesschildaresleepingpeacefully;butthekingwithhissceptre，andthewarriorwithhishandonhissword-hilt，lieopen-eyed，waitingthesummonsofthetrumpet。Onecannothelpfancyingthattheartist’slongvigilsamongtheAbbeytombs，duringhisapprenticeshiptoJamesBasire，musthavebeenpresenttohismindwhenheselectedthisimpressivemonumentalsubject。
TooneofBlake’sfewfriends——tothe\"dearSculptorofEternity，\"
ashewrotetoFlaxmanfromFelpham——theworldisindebtedforsomenotablebookillustrations。Whetherthegreatestwriters——theHomers，theShakespeares，theDantes——caneverbe\"illustrated\"
withoutlossmayfairlybequestioned。Atallevents，theshowydexteritiesoftheDoresandGilbertsprovenothingtothecontrary。
Butnowandthentherecomestothegraphicinterpretationofagreatauthoranartisteithersoreverential，orsostronglysympatheticatsomegivenpoint，that，indefaultofanyrelationmorenarrowlyintimate，weatonceaccepthisconceptionsasthebestattainable。InthisclassareFlaxman’soutlinestoHomerandAEschylus。FlaxmanwasnotaHellenistasmenareHelleniststo-
day。Nevertheless，hisRomanstudieshadsaturatedhimwiththespiritofantiquebeauty，andbyhisgrandknowledgeofthenude，hiscalm，hisrestraint，heissuchanillustratorofHomerasisnotlikelytoariseagain。Forwho——withallouraddedknowledgeofclassicalantiquity——who，ofourmodernartists，couldhopetorivalsuchthoroughlyGreekcompositionsastheball-playofNausicaainthe\"Odyssey，\"orthatlovelygroupfromAEschylusofthetender-
hearted，womanlyOceanides，coweringlikeflowersbeatenbythestormundertheterribleangerofZeus？InourdayFlaxman’sdrawingswouldhavebeenreproducedbysomeofthemodernfacsimileprocesses，andthegainwouldhavebeengreat。Asitis，somethingislostbytheirtransferencetocopper，eventhoughthetranslatorsbePiroliandBlake。Blake，infact，didmorethanheisusuallycreditedwith，for（besidetheacknowledgedandlater\"Hesiod，\"
1817）hereallyengravedthewholeofthe\"Odyssey，\"Piroli’splateshavingbeenlostonthevoyagetoEngland。ThenameoftheRomanartist，nevertheless，appearsonthetitle-page（1793）。ButBlakewastoooriginaltobeasuccessfulcopyistofothermen’swork，andtoappreciatethefullvalueofFlaxman’sdrawings，theyshouldbestudiedinthecollectionsatUniversityCollege，theRoyalAcademy，andelsewhere。{9}
FlaxmanandBlakehadfewimitators。Butahostofcleverdesigners，suchasCipriani，AngelicaKauffmann，Westall，Uwins，Smirke，Burney，Corbould，Dodd，andothers，viedwiththepopularStothardin\"embellishing\"theendless\"Poets，\"\"novelists，\"and\"essayists\"ofourforefathers。Someofthese，andmostoftherecognisedartistsoftheperiod，lenttheiraidtothatboldly-
plannedbutunhappily-executed\"Shakespeare\"ofBoydell，——\"blackandghastlygalleryofmurkyOpies，glumNorthcotes，straddlingFuselis，\"asThackeraycallsit。Theyarecertainlynotenlivening——
thosecumbrous\"atlas\"foliosof1803-5，andtheyhelpedtoruintheworthyalderman。EvencourtlySirJoshuaisclearlyillateaseamongthepushingHamiltonsandMortimers;and，wereitnotforthewhimsicaldiscoverythatWestall’s\"GhostofCaesar\"strangelyresemblesMr。Gladstone，therewouldbenoresting-placeforthemodernstudentofthesedismalmasterpieces。Thetruthis，Reynoldsexcepted，therewerenocontemporarypaintersstrongenoughforthetask，andthehonoursoftheenterprisebelongalmostexclusivelytoSmirke’s\"SevenAges\"andoneortwoplatesfromthelightercomedies。Thegreat\"Bible\"ofMacklin，arivalandevenmoreincongruouspublication，uponwhichsomeofthesamedesignerswereemployed，hasfallenintocompleteroblivion。Aratherbetterfateattendedanotherbookofthisclass，which，althoughbelongingtoalaterperiod，maybebrieflyreferredtohere。The\"Milton\"ofJohnMartinhasdistinctindividuality，andsomeoftheneedfulqualitiesofimagination。Nevertheless，posterityhaspracticallydecidedthatscenicgrandeurandsombreeffectsalonearenotasufficientpictorialequipmentforthevariedstoryof\"ParadiseLost。\"
ItistoBoydelloftheShakespearegallerythatweowethe\"LiberVeritatis\"ofClaude，engravedbyRichardEarlom;andindirectly，sincerivalryofClaudepromptedtheattempt，thefamous\"LiberStudiorum\"ofTurner。Neitherofthese，however——which，likethe\"RiversofFrance\"andthe\"PicturesqueViewsinEnglandandWales\"
ofthelatterartist，arecollectionsofengravingsratherthanillustratedbooks——belongstothepresentpurpose。ButTurner’snamemayfitlyservetointroducethoseoncefamiliar\"Annuals\"and\"Keepsakes，\"that，beginningin1823withAckermann’s\"Forget-me-
Not，\"enjoyedapopularityofmorethanthirtyyears。TheirgeneralcharacteristicshavebeenpleasantlysatirisedinThackeray’saccountoftheelegantmiscellanyofBaconthepublisher，towhichMr。ArthurPendenniscontributedhisprettypoemof\"TheChurchPorch。\"Hiseditress，itwillberemembered，wastheLadyVioletLebas，andhiscolleaguestheHonourablePercyPopjoy，LordDodo，andthegiftedBedwinSands，whose\"EasternGhazuls\"lentsospecialadistinctiontothevolumeinwatered-silkbinding。Thetalentedauthors，itistrue，wereinmostcasesunderthedisadvantageofhavingtowritetotheplatesofthetalentedartists，apracticewhichevennowisnotextinct，thoughitisscarcelyconsideredfavourabletoliterarymerit。Andthereal\"Annuals\"werenoexceptiontotherule。Asamatteroffact，theirgeneralliterarymeritwasnotobtrusive，although，ofcourse，theysometimescontainedworkwhichafterwardsbecamefamous。Theyarenowsocompletelyforgottenandoutofdate，thatonescarcelyexpectstofindthatWordsworth，Coleridge，Macaulay，andSouthey，wereamongtheoccasionalcontributors。Lamb’sbeautiful\"Albumverses\"