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"