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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Book-Hunter in London, by William Roberts
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Book-Hunter in London
+ Historical and Other Studies of Collectors and Collecting
+
+Author: William Roberts
+
+Release Date: September 15, 2007 [EBook #22607]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK-HUNTER IN LONDON ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Christine D., Lisa Reigel,
+and the booksmiths at http://www.eBookForge.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note: Some typographical and punctuation errors have been
+corrected. A complete list follows the text. Words in Greek in the
+original are transliterated and placed between +plus signs+. Words
+italicized in the original are surrounded by _underscores_.
+
+
+
+
+THE BOOK-HUNTER IN LONDON.
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration: '_His soul was never so staked down as in a bookseller's
+shop._'
+ ROGER NORTH.]
+
+
+
+
+THE
+
+BOOK-HUNTER IN LONDON
+
+
+Historical and other Studies of Collectors
+and Collecting
+
+
+_WITH NUMEROUS PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS_
+
+
+BY
+
+W. ROBERTS
+
+_Author of
+'The Earlier History of English Bookselling,'
+'Printers' Marks,' etc._
+
+
+LONDON
+ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.
+1895
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+ PAGE
+ PREFACE xiii
+
+ INTRODUCTION xv
+
+ EARLY BOOK-HUNTING 1
+
+ BOOK-HUNTING AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF PRINTING 12
+
+ FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW 44
+
+ BOOK-AUCTIONS AND SALES 98
+
+ BOOKSTALLS AND BOOKSTALLING 149
+
+ SOME BOOK-HUNTING LOCALITIES 168
+
+ WOMEN AS BOOK-COLLECTORS 259
+
+ BOOK THIEVES, BORROWERS, AND KNOCK-OUTS 274
+
+ SOME HUMOURS OF BOOK-CATALOGUES 293
+
+ SOME MODERN COLLECTORS 299
+
+ INDEX 323
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+
+ PAGE
+ 'HIS SOUL WAS NEVER SO STAKED DOWN AS IN A
+ BOOKSELLER'S SHOP.'--ROGER NORTH _Frontispiece_
+
+ IN A SCRIPTORIUM 2
+
+ LAMBETH PALACE LIBRARY 5
+
+ ROMAN BOOKS AND WRITING MATERIALS 11
+
+ EARL OF ARUNDEL'S BADGE 16
+
+ SIR ROBERT COTTON 21
+
+ SIR JULIUS CAESAR'S TRAVELLING LIBRARY 22
+
+ ARCHBISHOP USHER 26
+
+ WOTTON HOUSE IN 1840 28
+
+ MAGDALEN COLLEGE, OXFORD 29
+
+ SIR HANS SLOANE'S MONUMENT 30
+
+ LITTLE BRITAIN IN 1550 33
+
+ CHARLES, THIRD EARL OF SUNDERLAND 37
+
+ LONDON HOUSE, ALDERSGATE STREET, 1808 40
+
+ ST. BERNARD'S SEAL 43
+
+ MR. AUSTIN DOBSON 45
+
+ WILLIAM BECKFORD, BOOK-COLLECTOR 48
+
+ GEORGE JOHN, EARL SPENCER 51
+
+ JOHN, DUKE OF ROXBURGHE, BOOK-COLLECTOR 52
+
+ A CORNER IN THE ALTHORP LIBRARY 53
+
+ MICHAEL WODHULL, BOOK-COLLECTOR 57
+
+ GEORGE NICOL, THE KING'S BOOKSELLER 60
+
+ THOMAS FROGNALL DIBDIN, BIBLIOGRAPHER 63
+
+ REV. C. MORDAUNT CRACHERODE, M.A., BOOK-COLLECTOR 65
+
+ J. O. HALLIWELL-PHILLIPPS 71
+
+ CANONBURY TOWER, GEORGE DANIEL'S RESIDENCE 73
+
+ SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE 76
+
+ LAMB'S COTTAGE AT COLEBROOK ROW, ISLINGTON 77
+
+ WILLIAM HAZLITT 78
+
+ THOMAS HILL, AFTER MACLISE 79
+
+ SAMUEL ROGERS'S HOUSE IN ST. JAMES'S PLACE 81
+
+ SAMUEL ROGERS 82
+
+ ALEXANDER DYCE, BOOK-COLLECTOR 83
+
+ W. J. THOMS, BOOK-COLLECTOR 88
+
+ HOLLINGBURY COPSE, THE RESIDENCE OF THE LATE MR.
+ HALLIWELL-PHILLIPPS 91
+
+ JOHN DUNTON, BOOK-AUCTIONEER IN 1698 101
+
+ SAMUEL BAKER, THE FOUNDER OF SOTHEBY'S 102
+
+ SAMUEL LEIGH SOTHEBY 104
+
+ MR. E. G. HODGE, OF SOTHEBY'S 105
+
+ A FIELD-DAY AT SOTHEBY'S 106
+
+ KEY TO THE CHARACTERS IN THE 'FIELD-DAY AT SOTHEBY'S' 107
+
+ R. H. EVANS, BOOK-AUCTIONEER, 1812 109
+
+ JOHN WALKER, BOOK-AUCTIONEER, 1776 112
+
+ STAIRCASE AT PUTTICK AND SIMPSON'S 113
+
+ THE LATE HENRY STEVENS, OF VERMONT 115
+
+ MR. JAMES CHRISTIE, 'THE SPECIOUS ORATOR' 117
+
+ BENJAMIN HEATH, BOOK-COLLECTOR, 1738 123
+
+ SPECIMEN OF TYPE OF THE MAZARIN BIBLE 125
+
+ A CORNER IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM 127
+
+ ALDUS, FROM A CONTEMPORARY MEDAL 129
+
+ THE FIFTY-SEVEN ALTHORP CAXTONS 134
+
+ FROM 'GAME AND PLAY OF CHESSE,' BY CAXTON 135
+
+ SPECIMEN OF THE TYPE OF 'THE BOKE OF ST. ALBANS' 137
+
+ SPECIMEN PAGE OF TYNDALE'S TESTAMENT, 1526 138
+
+ JOHN MURRAY, OF SACOMB, BOOK-HUNTER 139
+
+ TITLE-PAGE OF THE FIRST EDITION OF 'THE COMPLEAT
+ ANGLER' 144
+
+ FROM THE 'PILGRIM'S PROGRESS,' PART II. 145
+
+ CORNELIUS WALFORD, BOOK-COLLECTOR 152
+
+ THE SOUTH SIDE OF HOLYWELL STREET 153
+
+ EXETER 'CHANGE IN 1826 154
+
+ A BARROW IN WHITECHAPEL 155
+
+ A BOOK-BARROW IN FARRINGDON ROAD 158
+
+ A FEW TYPES IN FARRINGDON ROAD 159
+
+ HENRY LEMOINE, AUTHOR AND BOOKSELLER 161
+
+ THE LATE EDMUND HODGSON, BOOK-AUCTIONEER 164
+
+ ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, 1606. FROM THE CRACE COLLECTION 169
+
+ THOMAS BRITTON, 'THE SMALL-COAL MAN,' COLLECTOR OF
+ MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND MSS. 173
+
+ DUKE STREET, LITTLE BRITAIN, FORMERLY CALLED DUCK LANE 175
+
+ CHARLES LAMB, AFTER D. MACLISE 177
+
+ OLD HOUSES IN MOORFIELDS 178
+
+ JONES AND CO. (SUCCESSORS TO LACKINGTON) 180
+
+ INTERIOR OF LACKINGTON'S SHOP 181
+
+ LACKINGTON'S HALFPENNY 182
+
+ THE POULTRY IN 1550 184
+
+ THE OLD MANSION HOUSE, CHEAPSIDE 185
+
+ GILBERT AND FIELD'S SHOP IN COPTHALL COURT 186
+
+ E. GEORGE'S (LATE GLADDING'S) SHOP, WHITECHAPEL ROAD 188
+
+ MIDDLE ROW, HOLBORN, 1865 195
+
+ WILLIAM DARTON, BOOKSELLER 197
+
+ INTERIOR OF DARTON'S SHOP, HOLBORN HILL 198
+
+ JAMES WESTELL'S, 114, OXFORD STREET 200
+
+ SALKELD'S SHOP--'IVY HOUSE'--IN CLAPHAM ROAD 203
+
+ JOHN BAGFORD, SHOEMAKER AND BOOK-DESTROYER 204
+
+ MR. TREGASKIS'S SHOP--'THE CAXTON HEAD'--IN HOLBORN 205
+
+ DAY'S CIRCULATING LIBRARY IN MOUNT STREET 207
+
+ PATERNOSTER ROW ON A BANK HOLIDAY 209
+
+ JOHN EVELYN, BOOK-COLLECTOR 212
+
+ NEWBERY'S SHOP IN ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD 213
+
+ CHARLES TILT'S SHOP 221
+
+ BUTCHER ROW, 1798 224
+
+ CHARLES HUTT'S HOUSE IN CLEMENT'S INN PASSAGE 226
+
+ MR. WILLIAM D. REEVES, BOOKSELLER 227
+
+ MESSRS. HILL AND SON'S SHOP IN HOLYWELL STREET 231
+
+ MESSRS. SOTHERAN'S SHOP IN PICCADILLY 233
+
+ HONEST TOM PAYNE 239
+
+ HENRY G. BOHN, BOOKSELLER 243
+
+ JOHN H. BOHN 244
+
+ MR. F. S. ELLIS 245
+
+ A CORNER AT ELLIS AND ELVEY'S 246
+
+ WESTMINSTER HALL WHEN OCCUPIED BY BOOKSELLERS AND
+ OTHERS 247
+
+ JOHN HATCHARD (1768-1849) 252
+
+ JAMES TOOVEY, BOOKSELLER 253
+
+ JAMES TOOVEY'S SHOP, PICCADILLY 254
+
+ BERNARD QUARITCH, THE NAPOLEON OF BOOKSELLERS 256
+
+ QUEEN ELIZABETH'S GOLDEN MANUAL OF PRAYERS (FRONT
+ COVER) 262
+
+ QUEEN ELIZABETH'S GOLDEN MANUAL OF PRAYERS (BACK
+ COVER) 263
+
+ THE FRONTISPIECE TO 'THE LADIES' LIBRARY' OF STEELE 266
+
+ ELIZABETH PINDAR'S BOOKPLATE 267
+
+ THE ESHTON HALL LIBRARY 269
+
+ 'EARNING HIS DINNER' 275
+
+ THE KING'S LIBRARY, BRITISH MUSEUM 276
+
+ 'STEALS A BOOK, PLACES IT IN A NOVELETTE, AND WALKS
+ AWAY' 280
+
+ 'HE HAD PLACED THE BOOK IN HIS POCKET. SOMEONE HAD
+ RELIEVED HIM OF IT' 282
+
+ THE LATE HENRY HUTH, BOOK-COLLECTOR 300
+
+ MR. HENRY H. GIBBS, BOOK-COLLECTOR 302
+
+ MR. R. COPLEY CHRISTIE, BOOK-COLLECTOR 303
+
+ THE LATE FREDERICK LOCKER-LAMPSON 312
+
+ PORTRAIT BOOKPLATE OF MR. JOSEPH KNIGHT 313
+
+ 'AN ORDER FROM MR. GLADSTONE' 315
+
+ PORTRAIT BOOKPLATE OF MR. H. S. ASHBEE 316
+
+ MR. T. J. WISE, BOOK-COLLECTOR 317
+
+ MR. CLEMENT SHORTER'S BOOKPLATE 318
+
+ MR. A. BIRRELL, BOOK-COLLECTOR 319
+
+ FACSIMILE OF TITLE-PAGE, 'PILGRIM'S PROGRESS,' FIRST
+ EDITION 321
+
+[Illustration: _Roman Book-box._]
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+_'THE Book-hunter in London' is put forth as a contribution to the
+fascinating history of book-collecting in the metropolis; it does not
+pretend to be a complete record of a far-reaching subject, which a dozen
+volumes would not exhaust; the present work, however, is the first
+attempt to deal with it in anything like a comprehensive manner, but of
+how far or in what degree this attempt is successful the reader himself
+must decide._
+
+_The task itself has been an exceedingly pleasant one to the author, and
+it only remains for him to thank, collectively, the large number of
+friends and acquaintances who have so cordially favoured him with advice
+and information on so many points. In only a couple of quite unimportant
+instances has he experienced anything approaching churlishness. The
+geniality and courtesy of the book-collector are proverbial, but
+specimens of a different type are evidently to be found here and there._
+
+_As regards the chapter on Modern Collectors, the author's object has
+been to deal with a representative selection of the bibliophiles of
+to-day. To aim at anything like completeness in this section of the book
+would be highly undesirable, having regard to a proportionate
+representation of the subject as a whole. Completeness, moreover, would
+be an impossibility, even in a volume devoted entirely to modern men._
+
+_The greatest possible care has been taken to prevent inaccuracy of any
+kind, but whilst freedom from error is a consummation which every author
+desires, it is also one of which few can boast. The reader will be doing
+the author a favour by informing him of any mistake which may be
+detected in the following pages. An omission in the account of Stewart,
+the founder of Puttick's, may be here made good: he had the privilege of
+selling David Garrick's choice library in 1823. The author regrets to
+learn that Purcell (p. 165), a very intelligent bookseller, died some
+months ago._
+
+_'The Book-hunter in London' is the outcome not only of material which
+has been accumulating for many years past, from published and
+unpublished sources, but also of a long and pleasant intercourse with
+the leading book-collectors and booksellers in London, not to mention a
+vigorous and constant prosecution of one of the most pleasant and
+instructive of hobbies. The author has freely availed himself of the
+information in the works of Dibdin, Nichols, and other writers on the
+subject, but their statements have been verified whenever possible, and
+acknowledgements have been made in the proper places to the authorities
+laid under contribution._
+
+ _W. R._
+
+86, GROSVENOR ROAD, S.W.
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+
+IT would be quite as great a fallacy to assume that a rich man is also a
+wise one, as to take for granted that he who has accumulated a large
+library is necessarily a learned man. It is a very curious fact, but
+none the less a fact, that just as the greatest men have the shortest
+biographies, so have they been content with the smallest libraries.
+Shakespeare, Voltaire, Humboldt, Comte, Goethe had no collection of
+books to which the term library could fairly be applied. But though each
+preferred to find in Nature and in Nature's handiworks the mental
+exercise which less gifted men obtain from books, that did not prevent
+them from being ardent book-lovers. Shakespeare--to mention one
+only--must have possessed a Plutarch, a Stowe, a Montaigne, and a Bible,
+and probably half a dozen other books of less moment. And yet, with this
+poor show, he was as genuine a book-lover as Ben Jonson or my Lord
+Verulam. Lord Burleigh, Grotius, and Bonaparte are said to have carried
+their libraries in their pockets, and doubtless Shakespeare could have
+carried his under his arm.
+
+If all great men have not been book-collectors in the manner which is
+generally understood by the phrase, it is certain that they have,
+perhaps without a single exception, been book-lovers. They appear, for
+the most part, to have made a constant companion of some particularly
+favourite book; for instance, St. Jerome slept with a copy of Aristotle
+under his pillow; Lord Clarendon had a couple of favourites, Livy and
+Tacitus; Lord Chatham had a good classical library, with an especial
+fondness for Barrow; Leibnitz died in a chair with the 'Argenis' of
+Barclay in his hand; Kant, who never left his birthplace, Koenigsburg,
+had a weakness in the direction of books of travel. 'Were I to sell my
+library,' wrote Diderot, 'I would keep back Homer, Moses, and
+Richardson.' Sir W. Jones, like many other distinguished men, loved his
+Caesar. Chesterfield, agreeing with Callimachus, that 'a great book is a
+great evil,' and with La Fontaine--
+
+ 'Les longs ouvrages me font peur
+ Loin j'epuiser une matiere
+ Il faut n'en prendre que la fleur'--
+
+hated ponderous, prosy, pedantic tomes. Garrick had an extensive
+collection on the history of the stage, but Shakespeare was his only
+constant friend. Gibbon was a book-collector more in the sense of a man
+who collects books as literary tools than as a bibliophile. But it is
+scarcely necessary just now to enter more fully into the subject of
+great men who were also book-lovers. Sufficient it is, perhaps, to know
+that they have all felt the blessedness of books, for, as Washington
+Irving in one of his most lofty sentences has so well put it, 'When all
+that is worldly turns to dross around us, these [the comforts of a
+well-stored library] only retain their steady value; when friends grow
+cold, and the converse of intimates languishes into vapid civility and
+commonplace, _these_ only continue the unaltered countenance of happier
+days, and cheer us with that true friendship which never deceived hope
+nor deserted sorrow.'
+
+It is infinitely easier to name those who have collected books in this
+vast and unwieldy London of ours, than it is to classify them. To adopt
+botanical phraseology, the _genus_ is defined in a word or two, but the
+species, the varieties, the hybrids, and the seedlings, how varied and
+impossible their classification! Most men have bought books, some have
+read a few, and others many; but beyond this rough grouping together we
+shall not attempt anything. One thing, however, the majority of
+book-collectors agree in, and that is in regarding their own generation
+as a revolution--they have, as Butler has described it in his picture of
+an antiquary, 'a great value for that which is past and gone, like the
+madman that fell in love with Cleopatra.'
+
+Differing in many, and often material, points as one book-collector does
+from another, the entire passion for collecting may be said to focus
+itself into two well-defined grooves. A man either collects books for
+his own intellectual profit, or out of pure ostentatious vanity. In the
+ensuing pages there will be found ample and material facts in regard to
+the former, so that we may say here all that we have to say regarding
+the latter. The second type of book-enthusiast has two of the most
+powerful factors in his apparently reckless career--his own book-greed,
+and the bookseller who supplies and profits by him.
+
+'What do you think of my library?' the King of Spain once asked Bautru,
+the French wit, as he showed him the collection at the Escurial, at that
+time in the charge of a notoriously ignorant librarian.
+
+'Your Majesty's library is very fine,' answered Bautru, bowing low; 'but
+your Majesty ought to make the man who has charge of it an officer of
+the Treasury.'
+
+'And why?' queried the King.
+
+'Because,' replied Bautru, 'the librarian of your Majesty seems to be a
+man who never touches that which is confided to him.'
+
+There are many varieties of the ignorant collector type. The most
+fruitful source is the _nouveau riche_. Book-collecting is greatly a
+matter of fashion; and most of us will remember what Benjamin Franklin
+said of this prevailing vice: 'There are numbers that, perhaps, fear
+less the being in hell, than out of the fashion.' The enterprising
+individual who, on receipt of a catalogue of medical books, wired to the
+bookseller, 'What will you take for the lot?' and on a price being
+quoted, again telegraphed, 'Send them along,' was clearly a person who
+wished to be fashionable. Another characteristically amusing
+illustration of this type of book-collector is related by an
+old-established second-hand bookseller, who had bought at a country sale
+some two or three hundred volumes in a fair condition. But they were
+principally old sermons, or, what is worse, theology and political
+economy. He placed a sample lot outside his shop, leaving the bulk of
+the stock untouched. The little parcel attracted the attention of a
+stylishly dressed man, who entered the shop and said, 'I'll take these
+books, and, say, have you any more of this kind with this shield onto
+them?' pointing to the bookplate attached, which bore the arms and name
+of a good old county family. 'That box, sir, is full of books from the
+same house, and probably every book has the same bookplate, but I have
+not yet had time to examine them.' 'What's yer figger for them, any way?
+See here, I start back to Chicago to-morrow, and I mean to take these
+books right back along. I'm goin' to start a libery thar, and these
+books will just fit me, name and all. Just you sort out all that have
+that shield and name, and send them round to the Langham at seven sharp.
+I'll be round to settle up; but see, now, don't you send any without
+that name-plate, for that's my name, too, and I reckon this old hoss
+with the daggers and roosters might have been related to me some way.'
+
+'I remember,' says the Marquis d'Argenson, in his 'Memoires,' 'once
+paying a visit to a well-known bibliomaniac, who had just purchased an
+extremely scarce volume, quoted at a fabulous price. Having been
+graciously permitted by its owner to inspect the treasure, I ventured
+innocently to remark that he had probably bought it with the
+philanthropic intention of having it reprinted. "Heaven forbid!" he
+exclaimed in a horrified tone; "how could you suppose me capable of such
+an act of folly! If I were, the book would be no longer scarce, and
+would have no value whatever. Besides," he added, "I doubt, between
+ourselves, if it be worth reprinting." "In that case," said I, "its
+rarity appears to be its only attraction." "Just so," he complacently
+replied; "and that is quite enough for me."'
+
+Another type which borders dangerously near to that which we have been
+describing is the collector who, not necessarily ignorant, collects for
+himself alone. The motto which Grolier adopted and acted upon--'Io
+Grolierii et amicorum'--might have been a very safe principle to go upon
+in the sixteenth century, but it would most certainly fail in the
+nineteenth, when one's dearest friends are the most unmitigated
+book-thieves. But perhaps even the too frequent loss of books is an evil
+to be preferred to the egoistical meanness of the selfish collector.
+Balzac gives in his 'Cousin Pons' a vivid delineation of such a person.
+The hero is a poor drudging music-teacher and orchestra-player, who has
+invested every franc of his hard-won earnings in the collecting of
+exquisite paintings, prints, bric-a-brac, and other rare mementoes of
+the eighteenth century. Despised by all, even by his kindred, trodden
+upon as a nobody, slow, patient, and ever courageous, he unites to a
+complete technical knowledge a marvellous intuition of the beautiful,
+and his treasures are for him pride, bliss, and life. There is no show
+in this case, no desire for show, no ambition of the despicable
+shoddy-genteel sort--a more than powerful creation of fiction. A
+strikingly opposite career of selfishness is suggested by the fairly
+well-known story of Don Vincente, the friar bookseller of Barcelona,
+who, in order to obtain a volume which a rival bookseller, Paxtot, had
+secured at an auction, set fire one night to Paxtot's shop, and stole
+the precious volume--a supposed unique copy of the 'Furs e ordinacions
+fetes per los gloriosos reys de Arago als regnicoes del regne de
+Valencia,' printed by Lambert Palmart, 1482. When the friar was brought
+up for judgment, he stolidly maintained his innocence, asserting that
+Paxtot had sold it to him after the auction. Further inquiry resulted in
+the discovery that Don Vincente possessed a number of books which had
+been purchased from him by customers who were shortly afterwards found
+assassinated. It was only after receiving a formal promise that his
+library should not be dispersed, but preserved in its integrity, that he
+determined to make a clean breast of it, and confess the details of the
+crimes that he had committed. In cross-examination, Don Vincente spurned
+the suggestion that he was a thief, for had he not given back to his
+victims the money which they had paid him for the books?
+
+'And it was solely for the sake of books that you committed these
+murders?' asked the judge.
+
+'Books! yes, books! Books are the glory of God!'
+
+Vincente's counsel, in defence of his client, in this desperate strait
+maintained that there might exist several copies of the books found in
+his possession, and that it was out of the question to condemn, on his
+own sham avowal, a man who appeared to be half cracked. The counsel for
+the prosecution said that that plea could not be urged in the case of
+the book printed by Lambert Palmart, as but one copy of that was in
+existence. But the prisoner's counsel retorted by putting in evidence
+attested affirmation that a second copy was in France.
+
+Up to this moment Vincente had maintained an imperturbable calm; but on
+hearing his counsel's plea he burst into tears. In the end, Don Vincente
+was condemned to be strangled, and when asked if he had anything more to
+urge, all he could utter, sobbing violently, was, 'Ah! your worship,
+_my copy was not unique_!'
+
+Cousin Pons and Don Vincente are extreme instances of bibliomaniacs to
+whom the possession of a book was the supreme happiness of life. The man
+of Fiction and the man of Fact were at one in this passion of
+acquisitiveness. Don Vincente was compelled by hunger--_mala suada
+fames_--to become a book _seller_; and if it became a general rule for
+book-collectors to become booksellers there would, we venture to think,
+be a very material increase in police-court and, perhaps, criminal cases
+generally. Mr. G. A. Sala tells us an amusing story of the late
+Frederick Guest Tomlins, a historian and journalist of repute. In the
+autumn of his life Tomlins decided to set up as a bookseller. He
+purposed to deal chiefly in mediaeval literature, in which he was
+profoundly versed. The venture was scarcely successful. A customer
+entered his shop one day and asked for a particular book, as marked in
+the catalogue. 'I had really no idea it was there,' meditatively
+remarked Mr. Tomlins, as he ascended a ladder to a very high shelf and
+pulled out a squabby little tome. Then he remained about five-and-twenty
+minutes on the ladder absorbed in the perusal of the volume, when the
+customer, growing impatient, began to rap on the counter with his stick.
+Thereupon Mr. Tomlins came down the ladder. 'If you think,' he remarked,
+with calm severity, to the intending purchaser, 'that any considerations
+of vile dross will induce me to part with this rare and precious little
+volume, you are very much mistaken. It is like your impudence. Be off
+with you!' A not altogether dissimilar anecdote is related by Lord
+Lytton in that curious novel 'Zanoni,' in which one of the characters is
+an old bookseller who, after years of toil, succeeded in forming an
+almost perfect library of works on occult philosophy. Poor in everything
+but a genuine love for the mute companions of his old age, he was
+compelled to keep open his shop, and trade, as it were, in his own
+flesh. Let a customer enter, and his countenance fell; let him depart
+empty-handed, and he would smile gaily, oblivious for a time of bare
+cupboard and inward cravings.
+
+_A propos_ of a literary man turning bookseller, the experiment has
+often been tried, but it has generally failed. Second-hand bookselling
+seems to be a frequent experiment after the failures of other trades
+and callings. We have known grocers, greengrocers, coal-dealers,
+pianoforte-makers, printers, bookbinders, cheap-jacks, in London, adopt
+the selling of books as a means of livelihood. Sometimes--and several
+living examples might be cited--the experiment is a success, but
+frequently a failure. The knowledge of old books is not picked up in a
+month or a year. The misfortune which seems to dog the footsteps of many
+men in every move they make, does not fail to pursue them in
+bookselling. Some of them might almost say with Fulmer, in Cumberland's
+'West Indian' (1771): 'I have beat through every quarter of the
+compass . . . I have blustered for prerogatives, I have bellowed for
+freedom, I have offered to serve my country, I have engaged to betray
+it . . . I have talked treason, writ treason. . . . And here I set up as
+a bookseller, but men leave off reading, and if I were to turn butcher I
+believe they'd leave off eating.'
+
+There can be no doubt about the fact that Englishmen as a rule do not
+attach sufficient importance to book-buying. If the better-class
+tradesman, or professional man, spends a few pounds at Christmas or on
+birthday occasions, he feels that he has become a patron of literature.
+How many men, who are getting L1,000 a year, spend L1 per month on
+books? The library of the average middle-class person is in ninety-nine
+cases out of a hundred the cruelest possible commentary on his
+intelligence, and, as a matter of fact, if it contains a couple of
+volumes worthy of the name of books, their presence is more often than
+not an accidental one. A few volumes of the _Sunday at Home_, the
+_Leisure Hour_, _Cassell's Magazine_, or perhaps a few other monthly
+periodicals, carefully preserved during the twelve months of their
+issue, and bound up at the end of the year--with such stuff as this is
+the average Englishman's bookcase filled. Mark Pattison has gone so far
+as to declare that while the aggregate wealth of the United Kingdom is
+many times more than it was one hundred and fifty years ago, the circle
+of book-buyers, of the lovers of literature, is certainly not larger, if
+it be not absolutely smaller. It may be urged that a person with L1,000
+per annum as income usually spends L100 in rent, and that the
+accommodation which can be got for that amount does not permit of one
+room being devoted to library purposes. This may be true, but this
+explanation is not a valid excuse, for a set of shelves, 13 feet by 10
+feet 6 inches, placed against a wall will accommodate nearly one
+thousand octavo volumes--the genius of the world can be pressed into a
+hundred volumes. An American has advised his readers to 'own all the
+books you can, use all the books you own, and as many more as you can
+get.' The advice is good, and it is well to remember that by far the
+majority of great book-collectors have lived to a ripe old age. The
+companionship of books is unquestionably one of the greatest antidotes
+to the ravages of time, and study is better than all medical formulas
+for the prolongation of life.
+
+The man who has resolved upon getting together a collection of
+first-class books may not unreasonably be appalled at the difficulties
+which stand in the way. And what, indeed, it may be asked, will become
+of the hundreds and thousands of books which are now all the fashion?
+How many will survive the levelling process of the next half a score of
+years, and how few will be known, except to bibliographers, half a
+century hence? The lessons of the past would aid us in arriving at some
+sort of conclusion as regards the future, if we were inclined to indulge
+in speculation of this vain character. It will, however, be interesting
+to point out that of the 1,300 books printed before the beginning of the
+sixteenth century, not more than 300 are of any importance to the
+book-collector. Of the 50,000 published in the seventeenth century, not
+more than perhaps fifty are now held in estimation; and of the 80,000
+published in the eighteenth century not more than 300 are considered
+worth reprinting, and not more than 500 are sought after.
+
+In a curious little book, 'L'An 2440, revue s'il en fut jamais,'
+published in Paris a century ago, there is a very quaint description of
+the process by which, in an improved state of society, men would apply
+themselves not to multiply books, but to gather knowledge. The sages of
+the political millennium exhibited their stores of useful learning in a
+cabinet containing a few hundred volumes. All the lumber of letters had
+perished, or was preserved only in one or two public libraries for the
+gratification of a few harmless dreamers that were tolerated in their
+laborious idleness. This pleasant little picture, drawn by M. L. S.
+Mercier, of the state of things five centuries hence, is in strong
+contrast to the painful plethora of books of the present day. Dr.
+Ingleby, the famous Shakespearian scholar, is credited with the idea of
+establishing a society for the purpose of procuring books which no one
+else would buy; but this society (the 'Syncretic Book-club') could not
+have had any success if the vast quantities of unsaleable rubbish which
+one meets with on every hand are to be taken into account. Doubtless Dr.
+Ingleby would have included in his scope such books as Lord Lonsdale's
+'Memoir of the Reign of James II.,' 1803, which fifty years ago sold for
+5-1/2 guineas, but which, within the past few months, has declined to
+two shillings!
+
+There was a time when even old and unsaleable books had a commercial
+value. Before the cheapening of paper, a second-hand bookseller had
+always the paper-mill to fall back on, and the price then paid, L1 10s.
+per cwt., was one inducement to dispose of folios and quartos which
+remained year in and year out without a purchaser. The present price of
+waste-paper is half a crown a hundredweight, so that the bookseller is
+now practically shut out of this poor market. Indeed, an enterprising
+bibliopole was lately offering 'useful old books,' etc., at 3s. 6d. per
+cwt., free on the rails, provided not less than six hundredweight is
+bought. 'To young beginners,' he states, 'these lots are great
+bargains'; but whether he means young beginners in literature or young
+beginners in trade, is an open question. In either case, 'useful old
+books' at the price of waste-paper are a novelty. There is a certain
+amount of danger in the wholesale destruction of books, for posterity
+may place a high value, literary and commercial, on the very works which
+are now consigned to the paper-mill. Unfortunately, posterity will not
+pay booksellers' rent of to-day. Just as those books which have the
+largest circulation are likely to become the rarest, so do those which
+were at one time most commonly met with often, after the lapse of a few
+decades, become difficult to obtain. In one of his 'Echoes' notes,
+Mr. G. A. Sala tells us that, in the course of forty years'
+bookstall-hunting, he has known a great number of books once common
+become scarce and costly--_e.g._, Lawrence's 'Lectures on Man'; Walker's
+'Analysis of Beauty'; Millingen's 'Curiosities of Medical Experience';
+Beckford's 'Vathek' in French; Jeremy Bentham's works; and Harris's
+'Hermes.' Possibly the disappearance of these and many other books may
+be attributed to certain definite causes. For example, in the early
+years of this century one of the commonest books at 1s. or 1s. 6d. was
+Theobald's 'Shakespeare Restored'; but fifty years later it was a very
+rare book. The interest in Shakespeare and his editors had become quite
+wide-spread in literary circles, and literature in any way bearing on
+the subject found ready purchasers.
+
+Just as the disappearance of certain books sends their prices up
+considerably in the market, so the unexpected appearance of others has
+just the reverse effect. Until quite recently one of the scarcest of the
+first editions of the writings of Charles Dickens was a thin octavo
+pamphlet of seventy-one pages, entitled 'The Village Coquettes: a Comic
+Opera. In two Acts. London: Richard Bentley, 1836.' So rare was this
+book that very few collectors could boast the possession of it, and an
+uncut example might always be sold for L30 or L40. About a year before
+his death, Dickens was asked by Mr. Locker-Lampson whether he had a
+copy; his reply was: 'No, and if I knew it was in my house, and if I
+could not get rid of it in any other way, I would burn the wing of the
+house where it was'--the words, no doubt, being spoken in jest. Not long
+since, a mass of waste-paper from a printer's warehouse was returned to
+the mills to be pulped, and would certainly have been destroyed had not
+one of the workmen employed upon the premises caught sight of the name
+of 'Charles Dickens' upon some of the sheets. The whole parcel was
+carefully examined, and the searchers were rewarded by the discovery of
+nearly a hundred copies of 'The Village Coquettes,' in quires, clean and
+unfolded. These were passed into the market, and the price at once fell
+to about L5. The most curious things turn up sometimes in a similar
+manner. A little sixpenny bazaar book ('Two Poems,' by Elizabeth Barrett
+and Robert Browning, 1854) was for a long time extremely rare, as much
+as L3 or L4 being paid for it when it occurred for sale. Suddenly it
+appeared in a bookseller's catalogue at 2s., and as every applicant
+could have as many as he wanted, it then leaked out that the bookseller,
+Mr. Herbert, had purchased about 100 copies with books which he purposed
+sending to the mill. Even 'remainders' sometimes turn out to be little
+gold-mines. The late Mr. Stibbs bought the 'remainder' of Keats's
+'Endymion' at 4d. per copy. We do not know what he realized by this
+investment, but their value for some years has been L4 and upwards.
+
+[Illustration: _The late Henry Stevens, of Vermont._]
+
+The subject of book-finds is one about which a volume might be written.
+Every 'special' collector has his fund of book-hunting anecdotes and
+incidents, for, where the rarity of a well-known book is common
+property, there is not usually much excitement in running it to earth.
+The fun may be said to begin when two or three people are known to be on
+the hunt after a rare and little-known volume, whose interest is of a
+special character. To take, as an illustration, one of the most
+successful book-hunters of modern times, the late Henry Stevens, of
+Vermont. Until Mr. Stevens created the taste for Americana among his
+fellow-countrymen, very few collectors considered the subject worth
+notice. And yet, in the space of a quarter of a century, he unearthed
+more excessively rare and unique items than the wildest dreamer could
+have supposed to exist. Books and pamphlets which were to be had for the
+proverbial old song when he first came to this country quickly became
+the objects of the keenest competition in the saleroom, and invariably
+found buyers at extravagant prices. As an illustration, although not an
+American item, we may mention that when a copy of the Mazarin Bible was
+offered at Sotheby's in 1847, the competitors were an agent of Mr. James
+Lenox (Stevens' client) and Sir Thomas Phillipps in person; the latter
+went to L495, but the agent went L5 better, and secured the prize at the
+then unheard-of price of L500. At first Mr. Lenox declined to take the
+book, but eventually altered his mind, wisely as it proved, for although
+at long intervals copies are being unearthed, the present value of Mr.
+Lenox's copy cannot be much short of L4,000. During 1854 and 1855 Mr.
+Stevens bought books to the value of over 50,000 dollars for Mr. Lenox,
+and on reviewing the invoices of these two years, 'I am confident,' says
+Mr. Stevens, 'that, if the same works were now' (1887) 'to be collected,
+they would cost more than 250,000 dollars. But can so much and so many
+rare books ever be collected again in that space of time?' In December,
+1855, Mr. Stevens offered Mr. Lenox in one lump about forty Shakespeare
+quartos, all in good condition, and some of them very fine, for L500,
+or, including a fair set of the four folios, L600, an offer which was
+accepted, and it may be doubted whether such a set could now be
+purchased for L6,000. Mr. Lenox was for over ten years desirous of
+obtaining a perfect copy of 'The Bay Psalter,' printed by Stephen Daye
+at Cambridge, New England, 1640, the first book printed in what is now
+the United States, and had given Mr. Stevens a commission of L100 for
+it. After searching far and wide, the long-lost 'Benjamin' was
+discovered in a lot at the sale of Pickering's stock at Sotheby's in
+1855. 'A cold-blooded coolness seized me, and advancing towards the
+table behind Mr. Lilly, I quietly bid, in a perfectly neutral tone,
+"Sixpence"; and so the bids went on, increasing by sixpences, until half
+a crown was reached and Mr. Lilly had loosened the string. Taking up
+this very volume, he turned to me and remarked, "This looks a rare
+edition, Mr. Stevens; don't you think so? I do not remember having seen
+it before," and raised the bid to 5s. I replied that I had little doubt
+of its rarity, though comparatively a late edition of the Psalms, and at
+the same time gave Mr. Wilkinson a sixpenny nod. Thenceforward a
+"spirited competition" arose between Mr. Lilly and myself, until finally
+the lot was knocked down to Stevens for 19s.' The volume had cost the
+late Mr. Pickering 3s. It became Mr. Lenox's property for L80.
+Twenty-three years later another copy was bought by Mr. Cornelius
+Vanderbilt for 1,200 dollars.
+
+In a letter to Justin Windsor, the late J. Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps
+gave some very curious and interesting information respecting
+book-collecting in the earlier half of the present century. 'About the
+year 1836,' he wrote, 'when I first began hunting for old books at the
+various stalls in our famous London city, black-letter ones and rare
+prints were "plenty as blackberries," and I have often found such things
+in unlikely places and amidst a mass of commonplace rubbish, exposed for
+sale in boxes labelled, "These books and pamphlets 6d. or 1s. each,"
+outside an old bookseller's window, where another notice informed the
+passer-by that "Libraries were purchased or books bought;" and thus
+plainly showed how such now indeed rarities came into the possession of
+an ignorant bibliopole. It was not, however, till about 1840 that I
+turned my attention to the more special work of collecting Shakespeare
+quartos, in which, I may say, I have been very successful. It was at one
+of George Chalmers' sales that I first bought one or two, and after that
+I hunted for them in all parts of the country, and met with considerable
+success, often buying duplicates, and even triplicates, of the same
+edition and play. At one time I possessed no less than three copies of
+the very rare quarto edition of "Romeo and Juliet," 1609, and sometimes
+even had four copies of more than one of the other quartos. Not so very
+long before this period, old Jolley, the well-known collector, picked up
+a Caxton at Reading, and a "Venus and Adonis," 1594, at Manchester, in
+a volume of old tracts, for the ignoble sum of 1s. 3d. Jolley was a
+wealthy orange-merchant of Farringdon Street, London, and entertained me
+often with many stories of similar fortunate finds of rare books, which
+served to whet my appetite only the more. But I was soon stopped in my
+book-hunting career by the appearance all at once on the scene of a
+number of buyers with much longer purses than my own, and thus I was
+driven from a market I had derived so much pleasure from with great
+regret. Some time afterwards circumstances rendered it desirable that I
+should part with a large number of my book-treasures by auction and to
+the British Museum; but even then I retained enough to be instrumental
+in founding the first Shakespearian library in Scotland, by presenting
+to the University of Edinburgh, amongst other rarities, nearly fifty
+copies of original quartos of Shakespeare's plays, printed before the
+Restoration, and to keep sufficient myself of the rarest and most
+valuable examples.'
+
+Sometimes the notes of a former possessor have a considerable literary
+interest, as, for example, the copy of Stowe's 'Survey of London,' 1618,
+presented to the Penzance Library by the late J. O. Halliwell-Phillipps,
+who has written, under date December 24, 1867, the following note: 'This
+is a favourite book of mine. I like to read of London as it was, with
+the bright Thames crowded with fish, and its picturesque
+architecture. . . . I should not have discarded this volume for any
+library, had I not this day picked up a beautiful _large paper_ copy of
+it, the only one in that condition I ever saw or heard of.'
+
+As an illustration of the enhanced value possessed by books having notes
+written in them by their owners, it may be mentioned that when the great
+Mr. Fox's furniture was sold by auction after his death in 1806, amongst
+the books there happened to be the first volume of Gibbon's 'Decline and
+Fall,' which apparently had been given by the author to Fox, who wrote
+on the fly-leaf this note: 'The author at Brooks' said there was no
+salvation for this country, until six heads of the principal persons in
+the administration were laid on the table. Eleven days after, this same
+gentleman accepted a place of "lord of trade" under those very
+ministers, and has acted with them ever since.' This peculiarly nasty
+little note sent the value of the odd volume up to L3 3s. Gibbon,
+writing in his 'Autobiography' of Fox, says, 'I admired the powers of a
+superior man, as they are blended in his attractive character with the
+softness and simplicity of a child,' an opinion which he might have
+modified if he had lived to read the foregoing note. When Canning's
+books, for the most part of an exceedingly commonplace and uninteresting
+character, came under the hammer at Christie's in 1828, the competition
+was extremely keen for all volumes which bore the great statesman's
+autograph, and as most of the books contained more or less elaborate
+indications of Canning's proprietorship, his executors received nearly
+double the sum which they could reasonably expect. Similar illustrations
+occur every year at book-auctions.
+
+The idiosyncrasies of collectors might make quite as long a chapter as
+that of books which have belonged to famous persons, and it is for the
+same reason that we have to deal briefly with each. It is curious that
+almost as soon as book-collecting became at all general, the 'faddy' man
+came into existence. Dr. John Webster, of Clitheroe, who died June 18,
+1682, aged seventy-two, for example, had a library which was rich in
+books of romance, and what was then termed 'the black art'; but Webster
+was the author of a rare volume on witchcraft, so that his books were
+his literary tools--just as, a century later, John Rennie, the
+distinguished civil engineer, made a speciality of mathematical books,
+of which he had a collection nearly complete in all languages. Dr.
+Benjamin Moseley's library, which was sold by Stewart in March, 1814,
+was composed for the most part of books on astrology, magic, and
+facetiae. The Rev. F. J. Stainforth, whose library was sold at Sotheby's
+in 1867, collected practically nothing but books written by or relating
+to women; he aimed to secure not only every book, but every edition of
+such books. He was a most determined book-hunter, and when Holywell
+Street was at its lowest moral ebb, this eccentric gentleman used to
+visit all the bookshops almost daily, his inquiry being, 'Have you any
+women for me to-day?' Mr. Stainforth, who died in September, 1866, was
+for many years curate of Camden Church, Camberwell, and was from 1851
+incumbent of All Hallow's, Staining, the stipend of which was about
+L560, and the population about 400. 'Bless my books--all my Bible books,
+all my _hocus pocus_, and all my _leger-de-main_ books, and all my other
+books, whether particularly mentioned at this time or not,' was the
+prayer of a Scotsman of about a century and a quarter ago, and so
+perhaps the Rev. Mr. Stainforth thought, if he did not utter
+occasionally some such petition.[xxix-A]
+
+Half a century ago one of the most inveterate frequenters of
+book-auctions was a certain Dr. G., of diminutive stature, on account of
+an awkward deviation of the spine. At that time the appearance of a
+private purchaser at a sale was a very rare event, and one which, when
+it occurred, invariably met with a more or less hostile reception from
+the fraternity. Dr. G.'s first appearance produced a good deal of
+sensation. The hunchback, it is true, was rather shabbily dressed, but
+'l'habit ne fait pas le moine,' and is certainly no trustworthy index to
+the pockets of the wearer. Excitement reached fever-heat when a Wynkyn
+de Worde was put up and persistently contested for by the doctor, who
+ran it up against the booksellers present (some of whom quickly desisted
+from the fun for fear of burning their fingers), one of whom, far
+exceeding his commission, obstinately refused to give in until the book
+was knocked down to him to his own dismay, and the delight and ironical
+compliments of his colleagues. After this _contretemps_ the doctor had
+it pretty much his own way; his name was duly entered on the sale
+catalogue, and his address was known. The next day our bookseller,
+sobered by reflection, called on the doctor, confessed his sin of the
+previous day, humbly asked for absolution, and offered him the book at
+an immense loss on the sale price. 'If you were,' replied the doctor,
+'to bring the book at my door for nothing, I would take it with a pair
+of tongs and drop it into the gutter.' It was a puzzle to everyone what
+the little doctor did with all his purchases, which were limited chiefly
+to classical books. At his death, however, it transpired that he bought
+for the various Universities of the United Kingdom. The doctor's son, a
+poor curate, entered his late father's library for the first time, and
+found there a mass of books, which occupied nearly a month in selling,
+and realized, to his delight, a large sum of money.
+
+The contempt with which Dr. G. received the bookseller's proposal is
+peculiarly typical of the book-collector. If he cannot obtain what he
+wants just exactly when he wants it, he does not care about it. The
+book-collector is doubtless too prone to despise everything which is not
+quite in his line, forgetting that all branches of literature contribute
+in some degree, greater or lesser, to the bulk of human knowledge. No
+man can be universal, even if he had the wealth of a dozen Rothschilds,
+or the mental vigour and versatility of a hundred Gladstones.
+
+The book-hunter has, however, his good traits, which sometimes require a
+good deal of finding, it is true. We need not dwell at great length on
+his apparently unconquerable habit of beating down the prices, for the
+custom is too well known to require much explanation; but a view of the
+other side of the picture is only fair. A few years ago a well-known
+bookseller catalogued a copy of the 'Book of Job' at a very low figure.
+A wealthy collector, whose purchases were generally closed on the
+judgment of a distinguished bookman, asked to have the copy sent on
+approval. It was despatched; but came back within a few days. No
+explanation was volunteered: when, however, the collector came into the
+shop a short time after, he was asked why he had returned the book. His
+answer was to the effect that he could not persuade himself that the
+illustrations were really by Blake, particularly as the price asked was
+so low. A week or so after this a distinguished art-critic, hearing of
+the whereabouts of this copy, asked to have it on approval: in sending
+it the bookseller enclosed a note to the effect that some doubt had been
+expressed as to the genuineness of the plates. In a few days came a
+cheque from the man of art for L10 over and above the catalogue price,
+and a note to the effect that the illustrations were not only
+unquestionably by Blake, but in the finest possible state.
+
+Last summer a certain bookseller sold, after some considerable amount of
+haggling, a very fine Missal for L65, which was L5 less than its
+catalogue price. A few weeks after the purchaser called and paid the
+additional L5, explaining that a friend of his had taken a violent fancy
+to the book, and begged to be allowed to possess it at L70. Another
+honest book-collector, discovering that he had bought a book
+considerably cheaper than an example had been sold at Sotheby's, and L2
+less than Mr. Quaritch had asked for a similar copy, sent his bookseller
+a present of a parcel of books to make up the difference in the two
+amounts.
+
+With these few introductory and perhaps desultory pages, the reader is
+invited to the more solid feast provided for his delectation in the
+following pages.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[xxix-A] Mr. Stainforth's collection ranged over 300 years, and, amid
+much utter rubbish, there were a few things of considerable rarity,
+notably one of only three complete copies known of T. Bentley's
+'Monument of Matrones,' 1582, formerly in the libraries of Herbert,
+Woodhouse, Heber and Bliss. It included two autograph letters of the
+Right Hon. T. Grenville, and realized L63; Anne Bradstreet's 'Tenth Muse
+lately sprung up in America,' 1650, L12 10s.; and a copy of Dame Juliana
+Berners' 'Booke of Hauking,' etc., L13. Nearly fifty items appear under
+the name of Aphra Behn; whilst there are twenty-one editions of Jane
+Porter's 'Poems,' which realized the grand total of 14s. The library
+comprised 3,076 lots (representing, perhaps, twenty times that number of
+volumes), and realized the total of L792 5s.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE BOOK-HUNTER IN LONDON
+
+
+
+
+EARLY BOOK-HUNTING.
+
+
+THOSE who have studied the earlier phases of English history will
+readily understand that the terms book-hunting in England and
+book-hunting in London are by no means synonymous. The passion for books
+had manifested itself in various and remote parts of this country long
+before London had developed into a place of importance; when, indeed, it
+was battling from without and within with conflicts which seemed to
+predict complete annihilation. But the growth of London is essentially
+typical of the growth of the nation, and of the formation of the
+national character. When it was laying the foundation of its future
+greatness London had no thought of intellectual pursuits, even if
+Londoners themselves had any conception of an intellectual life. For any
+trace of such unthought-of, and perhaps, indeed, unheard-of, articles as
+books, we must go to localities far remote from London--to spots where,
+happily, the strife and din of savage warfare scarcely made themselves
+heard. The monasteries were the sole repositories of literature; to the
+monk alone had the written book any kind of intelligence, any species of
+pleasure. To him it was as essential as the implements of destruction to
+the warrior, or the plough to the husbandman. The one had no sympathy,
+no connection, with the other, only in so far that the events which
+transpired in the battlefield had to be recorded in the _scriptorium_.
+Although London was a place of importance at a very early stage of the
+Roman occupation, it was not in any sense an intellectual centre for
+centuries after that period.
+
+[Illustration: _In a Scriptorium._]
+
+Indeed, it might be laid down as a general principle that the farther
+the seeker went from London the more likelihood there was of meeting
+with books. To Northumbria, from the end of the sixth to the end of the
+seventh century, we shall have to look for the record of book-buying,
+for during that period books were imported in very considerable
+quantities; abbeys arose all along the coast, and scholars
+proportionately increased. In a letter to Charlemagne, Alcuin speaks of
+certain 'exquisite books' which he studied under Egbert at York. At
+Wearmouth, Benedict Biscop (629-690) was amassing books with all the
+fury of half a dozen ordinary bibliomaniacs. He collected everything,
+and spared no cost. At York, Egbert had a fine library in the minster.
+St. Boniface, the Saxon missionary, was a zealous collector. There were
+also collections--and consequently collectors--of books at places less
+remote from London--such as Canterbury, Salisbury, Glastonbury, and even
+St. Albans; but of London itself there is no mention.
+
+Scarcely any such thing as book-hunting or book-selling could possibly
+have existed in London before the accession of Alfred, who, among the
+several ways in which he encouraged literature, is said to have given an
+estate to the author of a book on cosmography. Doubtless, it was after
+the rebuilding of the city by Alfred that, in the famous letter to
+Wulfseg, Bishop of London, he takes a retrospective view of the times in
+which they lived, as affording 'churches and monasteries filled with
+libraries of excellent books in several languages.' Bede describes
+London, even at the beginning of the eighth century, as a great market
+which traders frequented by land and sea; and from a passage in Gale we
+learn that books were brought into England for sale as early as 705.
+With the reconstruction of London, the wise government, and the
+enthusiastic love for letters which animated the great Saxon King, the
+commerce of the capital not only increased with great rapidity, but the
+commerce in books between England and other countries, particularly from
+such bibliopolic centres as Paris and Rome, began to assume very
+considerable proportions. If, as is undoubtedly the case, books were
+continually being imported, it follows that they found purchasers. By
+the beginning of the eleventh century there were many private and
+semi-private collections of books in or near London. The English
+book-collectors of the seventh century include Theodore, Archbishop of
+Canterbury, Benedict, Abbot of Wearmouth, and Bede; those of the eighth
+century, Ina, King of the West Saxons, and Alcuin, Abbot of Tours;
+whilst the tenth century included, in addition to Alfred, Scotus
+Erigena, Athelstan, and St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury.
+
+But it cannot be said, with due regard to truth, that London was in any
+sense a seat of learning, or a popular resort for learned men, until
+well on into the thirteenth century. Doubtless many consignments of
+books passed through the city on the way to their respective
+destinations.
+
+Edward I. may be regarded as the first English monarch who took any
+interest in collecting books; most of his, however, were service books.
+They are mentioned in the Wardrobe Accounts (1299-1300) of this King,
+and are only eleven in number. These he may have purchased in 1273 in
+France, through which he passed on his way home from Palestine. But it
+is much more probable that he had no thought of books when hurrying home
+to claim the crown of his father. Contemporary with Edward was another
+book-collector of a very different type, an abbot of Peterborough,
+Richard of London, who had a 'private library' of ten books, including
+the 'Consolation of Philosophy,' which he may have formed in London. But
+quite the most interesting book-collector (so far as we are concerned
+just now) of this period is Richard de Gravesend, Bishop of London. A
+minute catalogue of this collection is among the treasures of St. Paul's
+Cathedral, and has been privately printed. In this case, the price of
+each book is affixed to its entry; the total number of volumes is one
+hundred, their aggregate value being L116 14s. 6d., representing,
+according to Milman's estimate, L1,760 of our present money. Twenty-one
+Bibles and parts of Bibles were valued at L19 5s. Twenty-two volumes in
+this collection deal with canon and civil law, four with ecclesiastical
+history, and about an equal number with what may be designated science
+and arts, the rest being of a theological character. The entries run
+thus:
+
+ 'Tractatus fr'is Dertti'i de proprietatibus rerum.
+ Libellus instructionum.
+ Liber Avicennae.
+ Liber naturalis.'
+
+The two last-named are respectively the highest and lowest priced items
+in the list--for books of a single volume only--the 'Liber Avicennae'
+being valued at the very high figure of L5, and the 'Liber Naturalis' at
+3s. A Bible in thirteen volumes is valued at L10; and a 'little Bible'
+at L1. The total value of the property of this Bishop was scheduled at
+about L3,000.
+
+In spite of civil strife and foreign complications, the taste for
+literature made great strides during the twelfth and thirteenth
+centuries, with the very natural consequence of an increased demand
+for, and supply of, books. And the curious thing is that book-collecting
+was gradually passing away from the monks, and becoming exceedingly
+popular with the laity. 'Flocks and fleeces, crops and herds, gardens
+and orchards, the wine of the winecup, are the only books and studies of
+the monks.' The Franciscans, who (like the Dominicans) came to England
+in 1224, were expressly forbidden 'the possession of books or the
+necessary materials for study.' When Roger Bacon joined this order, he
+was deprived of his books. St. Francis himself, it seems, was once
+'tempted to possess books'--by honest means, let us hope, although the
+point is not quite clear--and he almost yielded to the temptation, but
+finally decided that it would be sinful. The plague of books seems to
+have troubled this poor saint's soul, for he hoped that the day would
+come when men would throw their books out of the window as rubbish.
+
+[Illustration: _Lambeth Palace Library._]
+
+In proof of the theory that laymen at a very early period became
+book-collectors, the most interesting example which we can quote is that
+of Guy de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who died in 1315, and who
+bequeathed his library to Bordesley Abbey, Worcestershire, where it had
+already been deposited during his lifetime. Beginning with this
+preamble, 'A tus iceux qe ceste lettre verront ou orrount. Guy de
+Beauchamp, Comte de Warr. Saluz en Deu. Nous avoir bayle e en lagarde le
+Abbe e le covent de Bordesleye, lesse a demorer a touz jours les
+Romaunces de souz nomes; ces est assaveyr,' the bequest recites, with
+great minuteness, a remarkably interesting list of books. This list
+('escrites ou Bordesleye le premer jour de may, le an du regn le Roy
+Edw{d} trentime quart') is in the Lambeth Library, but it is reprinted
+by Todd in his 'Illustrations of Gower and Chaucer,' pp. 161, 162. This
+list is of more than ordinary interest, chiefly because the collection
+formed by a layman gives us a very good insight into the class of books
+which the early nobility of England read, or, at all events, collected.
+Religious books, of course, formed the background of the library, but
+there were many romances, such, for instance, as those of King Arthur,
+of 'Josep alb Arimathie e deu Seint Grael,' of 'Troies,' etc. There was
+also a book 'De Phisik et de Surgie.'
+
+This collection contained between forty and fifty volumes, in which was
+included pretty nearly the entire range of human knowledge as it then
+extended. It is well to remember in connection with this bequest that,
+at the same time, or, more correctly, in 1300, the academical library of
+Oxford consisted of a few tracts kept in chests under St. Mary's Church.
+
+With the greatest book-collector of this period, Richard de Bury
+(1287-1345), the author of the 'Philobiblon,' unfortunately, we have
+little to do, as his book expeditions appear to have been confined
+almost entirely to foreign countries. He collected books from every
+source open to him, and wrote of his passion with a warmth of eloquence
+of which even Cicero might have been proud. His most important book
+transaction, which comes within the purview of the present volume,
+relates to the gift by an Abbot of St. Albans of four volumes to De
+Bury, then Clerk of the Privy Seal, viz., Terence, Virgil, Quintilian,
+and Hieronymus against Rufinus. In addition to these, the Abbot sold him
+thirty-two other books for fifty pounds of silver. When De Bury became
+Bishop this 'gift' troubled his conscience, and he restored several of
+the books which had come into his possession in a perfectly honest and
+legitimate manner, whilst others were secured from the Bishop's
+executors. One of the volumes acquired in the latter manner is now in
+the British Museum. It is a large folio MS. on the works of John of
+Salisbury, and bears upon it a note to the effect that it was written by
+Simon (Abbot of St. Albans, 1167-1183), and another to the following
+effect: 'Hunc librum venditum Domino Ricardo de Biry Episcopo Dunelmensi
+emit Michael Abbas Sancti Albani ab executoribus predicti episcopi anno
+Domini millesimo ccc{o} xlv{to} circa purificationem Beate Virginis.'
+
+The catalogue of the library of the Benedictine monastery of Christ
+Church, Canterbury, in the Cottonian Collection, British Museum, and
+printed for the first time at length in Edward's 'Memoirs of Libraries'
+(i. 122-235), is a remarkable list of the most extensive collection of
+books at that time in this country. It was formed at the end of the
+thirteenth and beginning of the fourteenth century. This library was
+well furnished with works in science and history, and particularly so
+with the classics--Aristotle, Cicero, Lucan, Plato, Suetonius, Seneca,
+Terence, and Virgil. The extreme probability is that London was the
+highway through which the greater part of this and other early libraries
+passed. If, early in the fifteenth century, the book-hunter in London
+possessed few opportunities of purchasing books, he would have found
+several very good libraries which were open to his inspection. There
+was, for example, a very considerable collection in the Franciscan
+monastery, which once stood on the site now occupied by Christ's
+Hospital, Newgate Street. The first stone of this monastery was laid in
+October, 1421, amid much pomp, by the then Lord Mayor, Sir Richard
+Whittington, who gave L400 in books. It was covered in before the winter
+of 1422, and completed in three years, and furnished with books. From
+Stow's 'Survey' we learn that one hundred marks were expended on the
+transcription of the works of Nicholas de Lira, to be chained in the
+library, and of which cost John Frensile remitted 20s. One of the
+chained books, 'The Lectures of Hostiensis,' cost five marks. From
+another source we learn that a Carmelite friar named John Wallden
+bequeathed to this library as many MSS. as were worth 2,000 pieces of
+gold.
+
+Anthony a Wood refers to the oft-repeated charge of the
+book-covetousness of the mendicant friars, which, in fact, was carried
+to such an extreme 'that wise men looked upon it as an injury to laymen,
+who therefore found a difficulty to get any books.' Of the same period,
+there is a very curious anecdote in Rymer's 'Foedera' about taking off
+the duty upon six barrels of books sent by a Roman cardinal to the Prior
+of the conventual church of St. Trinity, Norwich. These barrels, which
+lay at the Custom-house, were imported duty free.
+
+Neither the book-hunger of the mendicant friars, nor the difficulties
+which surrounded the importation of books, appears to have militated
+greatly against the growing passion. We have the name, and only the
+name, of a very famous book-hunter--John of Boston--of the first decade
+of the fifteenth century, whose labours, however, have been completely
+blotted out of existence by the dispersed monasteries. But there were
+many other collectors whose memories have been handed down to us in a
+more tangible form, even if their collections of books are almost as
+abstract and indefinite as that of John of Boston. During the first
+quarter of the fifteenth century, we have quite a considerable little
+group of royal book-collectors--Henry IV., Henry V., and his brothers,
+John, Duke of Bedford, and Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. The last-named
+was undoubtedly the most enthusiastic bibliophile of the four, but
+whilst his extensive gifts of books to the University of Oxford may be
+said to have formed the foundation of the library there, they were in
+the following century destroyed by the mob. A few examples of his gifts
+are now preserved in the British Museum and at Oxford. His books were
+estimated at a very high figure, the value placed on 120 of them (out of
+the total of 600) being no less than L1,000. The memory of the Duke of
+Bedford's library is best perpetuated by the famous Bedford Missal, or
+Book of Hours, perhaps the most splendid example of fifteenth-century
+illustration. It is now in the British Museum, where it has been since
+1852. The history of this missal, perhaps the most interesting in
+existence, is too well known to be dealt with here (see p. 109).
+
+Henry V. was undoubtedly fond of books. Rymer refers to two petitions to
+the Council after the King's death for the return of valuable books of
+history, borrowed by him of the Countess of Westmoreland, and of the
+priory of Christ Church, Canterbury, and not returned, though one of
+them had been directed to be delivered to its owner by the King's last
+will. The elegantly illuminated copy of Lydgate's 'Hystory, Sege, and
+Destruccion of Troye,' 1513, in the Bodleian, is doubtless the copy
+which Lydgate gave to Henry V. At Cambridge there is the MS. of a French
+translation of Cardinal Bonaventure's 'Life of Christ,' with the note
+'this wasse sumtyme Kinge Henri the fifeth his booke,' etc.
+
+Henry VI. does not appear to have cared for books, and it is not
+surprising, what with wars abroad and excessive taxation, plague and
+famine at home, that literary tastes received a severe check. We get
+several glimpses of the dearth of books. In the MS. history of Eton
+College, in the British Museum, the Provost and Fellows of Eton and
+Cambridge are stated, 25 Henry VI., to have petitioned the King that he
+would be pleased to order one of his chaplains, Richard Chestre, 'to
+take to him such men as shall be seen to him expedient in order to get
+knowledge where such bookes [for Divine service] may be found, paying a
+reasonable price for the same, and that the sayd men might have the
+choice of such bookes, ornaments, and other necessaries as now late were
+perteynyng to the Duke of Gloucester, and that the king would
+particular[ly] cause to be employed herein John Pye--his stacioner of
+London.'
+
+Book-importation by the galleys that brought the produce of the East to
+London and Southampton had assumed very considerable proportions during
+the fifteenth century; but the uncertainties which attended it were not
+at all favourable to its full development. Book-production was still
+progressing in the immediate neighbourhood of London. At St. Albans, for
+example, over eighty were transcribed under Whethamstede during this
+reign, a number which is peculiarly interesting when the degeneracy of
+the monasteries is remembered. Neither Edward IV. nor Richard III. seems
+to have availed himself of the increasing plenty of books. The library
+of the former was a very unimportant affair. From the Wardrobe Account
+of this King (1480) we get a few highly interesting facts concerning
+book-binding, gildings, and garnishing: 'For vj unces and iij quarters
+of silk to the laces and tassels for garnysshing of diverse Bookes,
+price the unce xiiij_d._--vij_s._ x_d._ ob.; for the making of xvj laces
+and xvj tassels made of the said vj unces and iij of silke, price in
+grete ij_s._ vii_d._' These moneys were paid to Alice Claver, a
+'sylk-woman.' And again 'to Piers Bauduyn, stacioner, for bynding,
+gilding and dressing of a booke called "Titus Livius," xx_s._; for
+bynding, gilding and dressing of a booke of the Holy Trinitie, xvj_s._;
+for bynding, gilding and dressing of a booke called "Frossard," xvj_s._;
+for bynding, gilding and dressing of a booke called the Bible, xvj_s._;
+for bynding, gilding and dressing of a booke called "Le Gouvernement of
+Kinges and Princes," xvj_s._; for bynding and dressing of the three
+smalle bookes of Franche, price in grete vj_s._ viiij_d._; for the
+dressing of ij bookes whereof oon is called "La Forteresse de Foy" and
+the other called the "Book of Josephus," iij_s._ iiij_d._; and for
+bynding, gilding and dressing a booke called the "Bible Historial,"
+xx_s._'
+
+The only incident which calls for special mention in the two next short
+reigns is a law, 1 Richard III., 1483, by which it was enacted that if
+any of the printers or sellers of printed books--the 'great plenty' of
+which came from 'beyond the sea'--'vend them at too high and
+unreasonable prices,' then the Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, or any
+of the chief justices of the one bench or the other, were to regulate
+the prices.
+
+[Illustration: _Roman Books and Writing Materials._]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+BOOK-HUNTING AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF PRINTING.
+
+
+I.
+
+THE introduction of printing into this country by Caxton during the
+latter half of the fifteenth century had very little immediate effect on
+book-collecting. The operations of the press were slow, its patrons few,
+and its work controlled by one man. The reproduction of MSS. was
+essentially a slow process, but when these transcriptions were finished,
+they rarely failed to find a purchaser. Caxton, like Sweynheim and
+Pannartz at Subiaco, soon learned the seriousness of over-printing an
+edition. Collectors were few, and the introduction of printing did not
+very materially add to their number. London, however, soon became a
+recognised centre of the trade in books, and Henry VII. patronized, in
+his curious fashion, the collecting of them. He read, according to
+Bacon, 'most books that were of any worth in the French tongue,' and one
+of the most commendable actions of this King was the purchase of the
+noble series of vellum copies of the works printed at Paris by Antoine
+Verard, now in the British Museum--an act by which he may be said to
+have laid the foundation of our great national library. The value of
+books at this period is not without interest; but we must confine
+ourselves to one or two facts relating to Caxton's books. At his death
+in 1492, a copy of the 'Golden Legend' was valued at 6s. 8d. in the
+books of the Westminster churchwarden. From a note by Dibdin, it would
+seem that the price of Caxtons towards the end of the reign of Henry
+VII. was as follows:
+
+ 'Godfray of Boulogne' (imperfect), ii_s._
+ Virgil's 'AEneid' (perfect), xij_d._
+ 'Fait of Arms and Chivalry' (perfect), ij_s._ viij_d._
+ 'Chastising of God's Children,' viij_d._
+
+Henry VIII. was undoubtedly a book-lover as well as a book-collector. He
+established a library at St. James's. But perhaps it is rather as a
+book-disperser that Henry is entitled to notice in this place. The
+dissolution of the monasteries is the genesis of book-collecting in
+London. The first move in this respect is entitled 'An Act that all
+religious houses under the yearly revenue of L200 shall be dissolved and
+given to the King and his heirs,' and is dated 1535 (27 Henry VIII.,
+cap. 28, ii. 134). The second is dated 1539. Whatever advantages in a
+general way the dissolution of the monasteries may have had, its
+consequences, so far as regards the libraries, which the monks
+considered as among their most cherished possessions, were disastrous
+beyond measure. Indeed, we have no conception of our losses. Addressing
+himself to Edward VI. in 1549, John Bale, afterwards Bishop of Ossory,
+who had but little love for Popery of any description, writes in this
+strain: 'Avarice was the other dispatcher which hath made an end both of
+our libraries and books . . . to the no small decay of the commonwealth.
+A great number of them who purchased those superstitious mansions
+[monasteries], reserved of these Library-books, some . . . to scour
+their candlesticks, and some to rub their boots; some they sold to the
+grocers and soap-sellers, and some they sent over sea to the
+bookbinders, not in small numbers, but at times whole shipsfull, to the
+wondering of the foreign nations. Yea, the universities of this realm
+are not all clear in this detestable fact. But cursed is that belly
+which seeketh to be fed with so ungodly gains, and so deeply shameth his
+natural country. I know a merchantman, which shall at this time be
+nameless, that bought the contents of two noble Libraries for forty
+shillings price: a shame it is to be spoken. This stuff hath he occupied
+in the stead of gray paper by the space of more than these ten years;
+and yet he hath store enough for as many years to come. . . . Our
+posterity may well curse this wicked fact of our age, this unreasonable
+spoil of England's most noble antiquities, unless they be stayed in
+time.' Fuller, in his 'Church History of Britain,' quotes Bale's
+lamentation, and adds his own testimony on the same subject: 'As brokers
+in Long Lane, when they buy an old suit buy the linings together with
+the outside, so it was considered meet that such as purchased the
+buildings of monasteries should in the same grant have the Libraries
+(the stuffing thereof) conveyed unto them. And now these ignorant
+owners, so long as they might keep a ledger-book or terrier by direction
+thereof to find such straggling acres as belonged unto them, they cared
+not to preserve any other monuments. The covers of books, with curious
+brass bosses and clasps, intended to protect, proved to betray them,
+being the baits of covetousness. And so many excellent authors, stripped
+out of their cases, were left naked, to be buried or thrown away. . . .
+What soul can be so frozen as not to melt into anger thereat? What
+heart, having the least spark of ingenuity, is not hot at this indignity
+offered to literature? I deny not but that in this heap of books there
+was much rubbish; legions of lying legends, good for nothing but fuel
+. . . volumes full fraught with superstition, which, notwithstanding,
+might be useful to learned men; except any will deny apothecaries the
+privilege of keeping poison in their shops, when they can make antidotes
+of them. But, beside these, what beautiful Bibles, rare Fathers, subtile
+Schoolmen, useful Historians--ancient, middle, modern; what painful
+Comments were here amongst them! What monuments of mathematics all
+massacred together; seeing every book with a cross was condemned for
+Popish; with circles for conjuring.'
+
+The calamities bewailed in such picturesque language by Bale and Fuller
+would have been much more serious but for the labours of one of our
+earliest antiquaries and book-lovers, John Leland. 'The laboryouse
+Journey and serche of Johan Leylande for Englandes Antiquities geven of
+hym as a newe yeares gyfte to kynge Henry the viii in the xxxvij yeare
+of his Reygne,' 1549, is a remarkable publication, of great interest to
+the book-hunter and the antiquary.
+
+But the fruits of Leland's researches cannot now be fully known, for he
+was too intent on accumulating material to draw up an adequate
+inventory. Much that he preserved from destruction is now in the British
+Museum, and some is in the Bodleian at Oxford. Some of the fragments
+which he had saved from the general destruction had been placed in the
+King's own library in Westminster.
+
+The dissolution of the monasteries had among its many effects the
+creation, so to speak, of a large number of collectors. One of the most
+famous of the early sixteenth-century collectors, Sir Thomas More,
+however, died (in 1535) before he could have availed himself of the many
+treasures scattered to all quarters of the earth.
+
+Dibdin records a bibliomaniacal anecdote which is well worth repeating
+here, as it shows how More's love of books had infected even those who
+came to seize upon him to carry him to the Tower, and to endeavour to
+inveigle him into treasonable expressions: 'While Sir Richard Southwell
+and Mr. Palmer weare bussie in trussinge upp his bookes, Mr. Riche,
+pretending,' etc., 'whereupon Mr. Palmer, on his deposition, said, that
+he was soe bussie ab{t} the trussinge upp Sir Tho. Moore's bookes in a
+sacke, that he tooke no heed of there talke.'
+
+Henry, Earl of Arundel, was not slow to seize upon the advantages which
+the dissolution placed before everyone. At Nonsuch, in Surrey, he formed
+a library, which is described in a biography of him, written shortly
+after his death, as 'righte worthye of remembrance.' Besides his
+numerous MSS. and printed books, he acquired a considerable portion of
+the library of Cranmer, which was dispersed at the death of the
+Archbishop. His books passed to his son-in-law, Lord Lumley, at whose
+decease they were purchased by Henry, Prince of Wales, and are now in
+the British Museum. The Earl of Arundel's books are handsomely bound,
+and are known by his badge of the white horse and oak branch which
+generally occurs on the covers.
+
+[Illustration: _Earl of Arundel's Badge._]
+
+In Jeremy Collier's 'Ecclesiastical History' (vol. ii. 307) we get a
+glimpse of book-matters in London in the middle of the sixteenth
+century. At the end of February, 1550, we learn that the Council book
+mentions the King's sending a letter for the purging of the library at
+Westminster. The persons are not named, but the business was to cull out
+all superstitious books, as missals, legends, and such-like, and to
+deliver the garniture of the books, either gold or silver, to Sir
+Anthony Archer. These books were many of them plated with gold and
+silver and curiously embossed. This, as far as we can collect, was the
+superstition that destroyed them. 'Here avarice had a very thin
+disguise, and the courtiers discovered of what spirit they were to a
+remarkable degree.' Here is another picture of an almost contemporaneous
+event, equally vivid in its suggestiveness: 'John Tyndale, the
+translator's brother, and Thomas Patmore, merchants, were condemned to
+do penance by riding with their faces to their horses' tails, with their
+books fastened thick about them, pinned, or tacked, to their gowns or
+clokes, to the Standard in Cheap; and there with their own hands to
+fling them into the fire, kindled on purpose to burn them.'
+
+As a book-collecting period the sixteenth century, from the accession of
+Henry VIII.--when books became the organs of the passions of mankind--to
+the death of Elizabeth, is full of intense interest. The old order had
+changed; the world itself had made an entirely fresh start. Men and
+events of the previous two or three centuries were almost as antique
+then as they are to-day, and perhaps in many respects they were
+infinitely less clearly understood. As the century grew in age, so the
+number of book-collectors increased. The hobby became first a passion
+with the few, and then the fashion with the many. Henry VIII. was
+perhaps a passive rather than an active collector, with a distinct
+leaning in favour of beautiful books. His three children, who followed
+him on the throne of England, were collectors of books, and the majority
+of their purchases must have been made in London. Many of these books
+have, at some time or other, drifted from private hands into the
+sale-rooms, but perhaps the majority of those now existing are to be
+found within the walls of our public institutions. For example, at the
+sale of Dr. Askew's MSS., in 1775, a very interesting item was purchased
+by a Mr. Jackson, a Quaker, and a dealer in wine and spirits, with whom
+book-collecting was a passion. The MS. proved to be in the handwriting
+of Edward VI.; it was in French, and dealt with his opinion of his right
+to the title of Supreme Head of the Church. At Jackson's sale the MS.
+became the property of the British Museum. As another illustration, we
+may refer to the copy of the 'Flores Historiarum per Matthaeum
+Westmonasteriensem,' etc., 1570, in the British Museum (Cracherode
+Collection) which is the identical one presented by Archbishop Parker
+(by whose authority it was published) to Queen Elizabeth. It afterwards
+fell into the hands of Francis, Earl of Bedford, who bequeathed it, with
+the furniture of a little study, to his secretary. It was subsequently
+in the possession of Ritson. And yet again, in the Eton College Library,
+there is a copy of the 'Missale Romanum,' printed at Paris by Hardouyn,
+1530, which belonged to Mary, with a sentence in her handwriting; this
+volume afterwards came into the possession of Mary of Este, Queen of
+James II., and subsequently into the hands of a London bookseller, from
+whom it was purchased for fifty-three shillings by Bishop Fleetwood, and
+presented to the college library. Indeed, a large volume might be
+compiled on the Adventures of Some Famous Books.
+
+Interesting and important as is the phase of book-collecting which
+relates to royal personages, it falls into insignificance beside that of
+men who have achieved greatness through their own abilities. The books
+collected by Thomas Cranmer, for example, quite overshadow in interest
+anything which the whole reign of the Tudors could produce. It has been
+well said that his knowledge of books was wide, and his opportunities
+for acquiring them unrivalled. Cranmer was a generous collector, for his
+library was quite open for the use of learned men. Latimer spent 'many
+an hour' there, and has himself told us that he met with a copy of
+Dionysius 'in my Lord of Canterbury's library.' We have already seen
+that many of Cranmer's books passed into the possession of the Earl of
+Arundel, but many were 'conveyed and stolen awaie.' Cranmer's books have
+found an enthusiastic historian in Prebendary Burbidge, who has almost
+rehabilitated the great ecclesiastic's library in the first part of Mr.
+Quaritch's 'Dictionary of English Book-collectors.' Another
+book-collector of a very different type was amassing an extensive
+library at a somewhat later period than Cranmer: Dr. Dee, the famous
+necromancer, had collected '4,000 volumes, printed and unprinted, bound
+and unbound, valued at 2,000 lib.,' of which one Greek, two French and
+one High Dutch volumes of MSS. alone were 'worth 533 lib.' It occupied
+forty years to form this library. Most of his books passed into the
+possession of Elias Ashmole--who was another collector with an
+insatiable appetite--and now form a part of the Ashmolean Museum. Some
+of Dee's singular MSS. were found, long after his death, in the secret
+drawer of a chest, which had passed through many hands undiscovered.
+Reverting for a moment to Ashmole, he himself tells us that he gave
+'five volumes of Mr. Dugdale's' works to the Temple Library. And
+further: 'My first boatful of books, which were carried to Mrs.
+Tradescant's, were brought back to the Temple.' In May, 1667, he bought
+Mr. John Booker's study of books, and gave L140 for them. In 1681 he
+bought 'Mr. Lilly's library of books of his widow, for L50.'
+
+A very distinguished book-collector of the Elizabethan period was Sir
+Francis Drake, the great Admiral. It did not seem to be at all known
+that the distinguished naval hero was also a bibliophile until 1883,
+when the collection of books was brought from the old residence of the
+Drakes, Nutwell Court, Lympstone, Devon, to Sotheby's. The sale
+comprised 1,660 lots, representing several thousand volumes, the total
+being L3,276 17s. 6d. It was especially rich in books and old tracts of
+the early seventeenth century relating to the English voyages to
+America, and some of these realized very high figures. Although the
+library was undoubtedly founded by Drake, it was evidently continued by
+his descendants. Bacon, Baron of Verulam, was a distinguished
+book-collector, as the shelves of his chambers in Gray's Inn would have
+testified. Archbishop Parker, than whom 'a more determined book-fancier
+never existed in Great Britain,' and Gabriel Harvey, the friend of
+Spenser, and the object of Tom Nash's withering scorn, were among the
+most inveterate book-collectors of Elizabethan London. Had Harvey--whose
+books usually contain his autograph on the title-page, and not a few of
+which were given him by Spenser--studied his books less, and the proper
+study of mankind a little more, he might have shown his talents off to a
+better advantage than in his conflicts with Nash. In the Bodleian there
+is a set of old tales and romances which Spenser lent Harvey, taking as
+a hostage, apparently, Harvey's copy of Lucian in four volumes. Harvey
+had a very poor opinion of such 'foolish' books, but he does not seem to
+have returned them to their rightful owner. The fire which destroyed Ben
+Jonson's MSS. undoubtedly consumed many of his printed books, but
+examples from his library, with 'Sum Ben Jonson' inscribed, are
+sometimes met with. Shakespeare may have had a library, but we have no
+evidence that he possessed even a copy of his own plays in quarto. The
+Elizabethan poets and dramatists were prodigious contributors to the
+press, but very poor patrons of booksellers. From various sources we get
+some highly-coloured and unflattering pictures of the typical
+booksellers of the period. Tom Nash has limned for us a vivid little
+portrait in 'Pierce Penilesse' (1592), in which he declares that if he
+were to paint Sloth, 'I swear that I would draw it like a stationer that
+I know, with his thumb under his girdle, who, if ever a man come to his
+stall to ask him for a book, never stirs his head, or looks upon him,
+but stands stone still, and speaks not a word, only with his little
+finger points backward to his boy, who must be his interpreter; and so
+all day, gaping like a dumb image, he sits without motion, except at
+such times as he goes to dinner or supper, for then he is as quick as
+other three, eating six times every day.'
+
+
+II.
+
+From start to finish the Stuart dynasty ruled England for close on
+three-quarters of a century. That book-collecting should have existed at
+all under it is a marvel. But the hobby no longer depended upon the
+patronage of courts and courtiers. From the Wise Fool, James I., to the
+Foolish Fool, the second James, collectors pursued their hobby in London
+and out of it. James I. began to collect books at a very early age, and
+a list of his library was published for the first time in the _Athenaeum_
+in 1893. It has, however, but little interest to us in this place, for
+doubtless most of the books were imported into Scotland from the great
+book centre, Paris. The library which he acquired after his accession to
+the throne of England is of little consequence, for he was not the
+person to purchase books when he had the means, and doubtless many of
+his bookish possessions were gifts. In the library at Eton College there
+is his copy of Captain John Smith's 'History of Virginia,' 1624, which
+was rescued by Storer from a dirty bookseller's shop in Derby, and the
+existence of many others might be traced. It is certain that 'he gave
+them shabby coverings, and scribbled idle notes on their margins.' Had
+his son Henry lived, he might have developed into a respectable
+book-collector. We know for certain that he 'paid a Frenchman that
+presented a book, L4 10s.'; and that he paid 'Mr. Holyoak for writing a
+catalogue of the library which the Prince had of Lord Lumley, L8 13s.
+4d.' Charles II., like his forbears, was not a book-buyer, and so far as
+he is concerned we must content ourselves with repeating a little
+anecdote after Dibdin, who refers to an 'old and not incurious library
+at Workingham, in Suffolk,' where there was a very fine ruled copy of
+Hayes's Bible, published at Cambridge, 1674, in two volumes folio; on
+the fly-leaf it contains the following memorandum: 'N.B.--This Bible
+belonged to K. Charles IId. and [was] given by him to Duke Lauderdale
+and sold by auction w{th} y{e} rest of his Books.' In a comparatively
+modern hand, below, is written in pencil:
+
+ 'Hark ye, my friends, that on this Bible look,
+ Marvel not at the fairness of the Book;
+ No soil of fingers, nor such ugly things,
+ Expect to find, Sirs, for it _was the King's_.'
+
+[Illustration: _Sir Robert Cotton._]
+
+The most distinguished Metropolitan book-collector of the period was Sir
+Robert Cotton, who began as early as 1588, and who had assistance from
+such antiquaries as William Camden and Sir Henry Spelman. This library,
+after being closed on account of the treasonable character of the
+documents contained in it, passed into the possession of Cotton's son,
+Sir Thomas, whose house was almost adjoining Westminster Hall. Anthony a
+Wood gives a curious account of a visit he paid it, when he found its
+owner practising on the lute. The key of the library was in the
+possession of one Pearson, who lodged with a bookseller in Little
+Britain. Wood was 'forced to walk thither, and much ado there was to
+find him.' This library was removed to Essex Street, and again back to
+Westminster to Ashburnham House in Little Dean's Yard, where it suffered
+greatly from a fire in 1731, and what remains of it is now in the
+British Museum. Sir Thomas Bodley was another collector, but few of his
+accumulations appear to have come from London. The extraordinary
+collection of pamphlets got together by Tomlinson, and now stored in the
+British Museum, is too well known to need more than a passing reference.
+It is not so generally known that Narcissus Luttrell was a very
+voracious collector of broadsides, tracts, and so forth. To nearly every
+one of the items he affixed the price he paid for it. In 1820, at the
+Bindley sale, this extraordinary collection, ranging in date from 1640
+to 1688, and comprising twelve volumes, realized the then large amount
+of L781.
+
+[Illustration: _Sir Julius Caesar's Travelling Library._]
+
+Sir Julius Caesar, Master of the Rolls under James I., was a
+book-collector of the right sort, and his box of charming little
+editions of the classics, with which he used to solace himself on a
+journey, is now in the safe keeping of the British Museum. Sir Julius
+was born in 1557, and died in April, 1636; he possessed a fine
+collection of highly interesting manuscripts, which had the narrowest
+possible escape from being destroyed at the latter part of the last
+century. The collection was rescued in time by Samuel Paterson, the
+auctioneer, and it is now in the British Museum.
+
+Robert Burton (the author of the 'Anatomy of Melancholy') was, like
+Luttrell, also a great collector of tracts, and his library, now in the
+Bodleian, is peculiarly rich in historical, political, and poetical
+pamphlets, and in miscellaneous accounts of murders, monsters, and
+accidents. He seems to have purchased and preserved a copy of everything
+that came out. 'There is no nation,' says Johnson, 'in which it is so
+necessary as in our own to assemble the small tracts and fugitive
+pieces.' 'The writers of these' frequently have opportunities 'of
+inquiring from living witnesses, and of copying their representations
+from the life, and preserve a multitude of particular incidents which
+are forgotten in a short time, or omitted in formal relations, and yet
+afford light in some of the darkest scenes of state.' 'From pamphlets,'
+says the same writer, 'are to be learned the progress of every debate,
+and of every opinion.' And he compares the impression produced on the
+mind of him who shall consult these tracts, and of another that refers
+merely to formal historians, to the _difference of him who hears of a
+victory, and him who sees the battle_. Archbishop Laud collected from
+far and wide. John Selden, like Laud, had a distinct weakness for
+learned books, and consequently could have found little to satisfy his
+cravings in London. Selden, when disturbed, put his spectacles into the
+book he was busy with by way of marking the place; and after his death
+numbers of volumes were found with these curious book-markers. John
+Felton, who murdered Buckingham, was also a book-collector in a small
+way. In Lilly's catalogue for 1863 there was a copy of Peacham's
+'Compleat Gentleman,' 1622, with the following on the fly-leaf: 'John
+Felton, vicessimo secundo die Junii, 1622.'
+
+A few glances, at this point, at the more material phases of
+book-collecting may not be without interest. The following is one of the
+earliest bookseller's statements of accounts with which we are
+acquainted. It was rendered to 'the Right Honourable the Lord Conway,'
+on May 31, 1638, by Henry Seile, whose shop was at the sign of the
+Tiger's Head, Fleet Street:
+
+ 1 Nash's Ha' wee you to Saffron Walden 00 02 06
+ 1 Greene's Arcadia } {
+ 1 Farewell to Folly } {
+ 1 Tullies' Love } These nine Bookes {
+ 1 Lady Fitzwater's Nightingale } were delivered to { 00 10 0
+ 1 Mamilia } your Lordship at {
+ 1 Never too Late } Xs. {
+ 1 Groatesworth of Wit } {
+ 1 Mourning Garment } {
+ 1 Peers pennylesse supplication } {
+
+In a letter addressed to Evelyn by Dr. Cosin (afterwards Bishop of
+Durham) during his exile, and dated July 18, 1651, we get a delightful
+glimpse of two book-lovers doing 'a deal.' Mr. Evelyn was apparently a
+man who could drive a bargain with Hebraic shrewdness. 'Truly, sir,'
+expostulated mildly the excited ecclesiastic, 'I thought I had prevented
+any further motion of abatement by the large offer that I made to
+you. . . . If you consider their number, I desire you would be pleased
+to consider likewise, that they are a choice number, and a company of
+the best selected books among them all. . . . There is in your note
+Pliny's "Natural History" in English, priced at 36s., which is worth L3;
+Camden's "Errors," priced at 5s. 6d., for which I have seen L1 given;
+Paulus Jovius at L1, which sells now in Paris at 4 pistoles; and Pol.
+Virgil at 10s., which sells here for L10; William of Malmesbury at 15s.,
+for which they demand here L30, and Asser Menev, etc., at 14s., which
+they will not part with here nor elsewhere abroad for L20.'
+
+It is highly probable that the book-market was never so bad in London
+as during this period; for, in addition to the above illustration, and
+at about the same time, Isaac Vossius came over to this country with a
+quantity of literary property, some of which had belonged to his learned
+father, in the hopes of selling it; but he 'carried them back into
+Holland,' where 'a quicker mercate' was expected.
+
+
+III.
+
+[Illustration: _Archbishop Usher._]
+
+_Sic transit gloria mundi_ might well be the motto of a History of
+Book-Collectors, for in by far the majority of cases great private
+libraries have been formed in one generation by genuine bookworms, only
+to be scattered in the next by needy legatees or in consequence of
+impoverished estates. There can be no doubt that several famous
+libraries have derived their origin from the mere vanity of emulating a
+fashionable pursuit. Into this matter, however, it is not necessary for
+us to enter, except to hazard the suggestion that if the money had not
+been spent in that direction it would doubtless have been squandered in
+some less worthy and enduring manner. One of the most interesting and
+valuable contributions to the history of private collections of the
+seventeenth century is embedded in the long and entertaining letter
+which John Evelyn addressed to Mr. Pepys in August, 1689. This letter is
+so accessible that it may seem superfluous to quote any part of it; but
+a few of the leading points are necessary to the proper sequence of our
+story. 'The Bishop of Ely has a very well-stored library, but the very
+best is what Dr. Stillingfleet has at Twickenham, ten miles out of
+town. . . . Our famous lawyer, Sir Edward Coke, purchased a very choice
+library of Greek and other MSS., which were sold him by Dr. Meric
+Casaubon, son of the learned Isaac; and these, together with his
+delicious villa, Durdens, came into the possession of the present Earl
+of Berkeley from his uncle, Sir Robert Cook. . . . I have heard that Sir
+Henry Savill was master of many precious MSS., and he is frequently
+celebrated for it by the learned Valesius, almost in every page of that
+learned man's Annotations on Eusebius, and the Ecclesiastical
+Historians published by him. The late Mr. Hales, of Eton, had likewise a
+very good library; and so had Dr. Cosin, late Bishop of Duresme [and
+afterwards of Durham], a considerable part of which I had agreed with
+him for myself during his exile abroad, as I can show under his own
+hand; but his late daughter, since my Lady Garret, thought I had not
+offered enough, and made difficulty in delivering them to me till near
+the time of his Majesty's restoration, and after that the Dean, her
+father, becoming Bishop of that opulent See, bestowed them on the
+library there. But the Lord Primate Usher was inferior to none I have
+named among the clergy for rare MSS., a great part of which, being
+brought out of Ireland, and left his son-in-law, Sir Timothy Tyrill, was
+disposed of to give bread to that incomparable Prelate during the late
+fanatic war. Such as remained yet at Dublin were preserved, and by a
+public purse restored and placed in the college library of that
+city. . . . I forbear to name the late Earl of Bristol's and his
+kinsman's, Sir Kenelm Digby's, libraries, of more pompe than intrinsic
+value, as chiefly consisting of modern poets, romances, chymical, and
+astrological books. . . . As for those of Sir Kenelm, the catalogue was
+printed and most of them sold in Paris, as many better have lately been
+in London. The Duke of Lauderdale's[27:A] is yet entire, choicely
+bound, and to be sold by a friend of mine, to whom they are pawned; but
+it comes far short of his relation's, the Lord Maitland's, which was
+certainly the noblest, most substantial and accomplished library that
+ever passed under the speare, and heartily it grieved me to behold its
+limbs, like those of the chaste Hippolytus, separated and torn from that
+so well chosen and compacted a body. The Earl of Anglesey's, and several
+others since, by I know not what invidious fate, passed the same
+fortune, to whatever influence and constellation now reigning malevolent
+to books and libraries, which can portend no good to the future age.'
+
+[Illustration: _Wotton House in 1840._]
+
+It is interesting to note that of the several libraries enumerated by
+Evelyn three have become, partly or wholly, public property. That of Dr.
+John Moore, Bishop of Ely, was purchased after his death by George I.
+for L6,000, and presented to the University of Cambridge, where it now
+is.[27:B] Evelyn himself was, as will have been gathered, an ardent
+book-collector. He began forming a library very early in life, whilst
+that of his brother came to him by bequest. At the time of his death he
+had a very extensive collection of books at Wotton, which has been
+considerably augmented by his successors. In the early part of the
+present century William Upcott, of the London Institution, drew up a
+complete catalogue. Upcott's appearance on the scene synchronized with
+the disappearance of a number of volumes from the Evelyn Library; it has
+been suggested that Lady Evelyn presented them to him 'or something of
+that sort,' although the circumstance has never been officially
+explained. Certain it is that a large number of books formerly in the
+possession of the diarist have at times appeared in the auction-room.
+The most important which occurred during the last few years are two
+beautifully-written MSS., the work of Richard Hoare, one having the
+title 'Instructions Oeconomiques,' 1648, with a dedication 'To the
+present mistress of my youth, the hopeful companion of my riper years,
+and the future nurse of my old age, Mrs. May Evelyn, my deare wife,'
+etc. The second was a book of Private Devotions, 1650. Evelyn was also
+unfortunate in his lifetime, inasmuch as the Duke of Lauderdale 'came to
+my house, under pretence of a visit,' but in reality to borrow 'for a
+few days' certain valuable MSS., which this aristocratic thief never
+returned. So, too, he lent Burnet a quantity of MS. material for his
+'History of the Reformation,' which, like other borrowed books, never
+came back. A large number of first editions of the works of J. Evelyn,
+together with some books from his library, illustrated with his
+autograph notes, occurred in the sale of the library of the late Arthur
+Davis, of Deptford and East Farleigh, July, 1857, many of which were
+doubtless purloined at some time or other.
+
+[Illustration: _Magdalen College, Oxford._]
+
+Of all the seventeenth-century book-collectors, perhaps the most
+interesting is that other diarist, Samuel Pepys. Samuel was not a man of
+great learning, but his wit, his knowledge of the world, and his
+humanity were unbounded. He welcomed almost anything in the shape of a
+book, from a roguish French novel to a treatise on medals, from a loose
+Restoration play to a maritime pamphlet, and from lives of the saints to
+books on astrology or philosophy. Not a great man, perhaps, but one of
+the most delightful and entertaining that one could wish. The
+Secretary's 'Diary' is full of allusions to men and events of bookish
+interest, and gives frequent illustrations of his amiable passion for
+book-collecting. Fortunately, we have not to grope in the dark to get an
+accurate portrait of the genial Samuel as a book-collector, for his
+entire library is preserved, almost in the same state as he left it, at
+Magdalen College, Oxford, 'as curious a medley of the grave and gay' as
+any person of catholic tastes could wish for. The library consists of
+almost 3,000 volumes, preserved in eleven mahogany bookcases. The books
+are all arranged in double rows, the small ones in front being
+sufficiently low to permit of the titles of the back row of larger ones
+being easily read. The library is a remarkably accurate reflection of
+the tastes of the founder. In addition to what is termed ordinary useful
+books, there are many rarities, including no less than nine Caxtons, and
+several from the press of Wynkyn de Worde and Pynson. The celebrated
+collection of ballads, commenced by Selden and continued by Pepys, is
+second only in importance to the famous Roxburghe collection now in the
+British Museum. The manuscripts of various kinds form a very valuable
+part of this celebrated collection.
+
+[Illustration: _Sir Hans Sloane's Monument._]
+
+John Bagford, the biblioclast (1675-1716), also finishes us, like
+Evelyn, with a list of book-collectors who were contemporaneous with
+him. Besides Bishop Moore, already mentioned, there were Sir Hans
+Sloane, Lords Carbery (Duke of Kent), Pembroke, Somers, Sunderland, and
+Halifax. Among the commoners who emulated their 'betters' were Messrs.
+Huckle, Chichely, Bridges, Walter Clavell, Rawlinson, Slaughter, Topham,
+Wanley, Captain Hatton, 'Right Hon. Secretary Harley,' and Dr. Salmon,
+whose collection is said to have consisted of 1,700 folios. Edwards, in
+his most valuable work on libraries, mentions yet a third list, which is
+anonymous, and is apparently almost contemporaneous with Bagford's. The
+list is introduced with the remark that 'the laudable emulation which is
+daily increasing amongst the nobility of England, vying with each other
+in the curiosities and other rich furniture of their respective
+libraries, gives cheerful hope of having the long-hidden monuments of
+ancient times raised out of their present dust and rubbish,' and then
+makes special mention of the libraries of the Duke of Kent, Lords Derby,
+Denbigh, Longueville, Willoughby de Broke, Sunderland, Somers, and
+Halifax.
+
+When good Mr. Evelyn described Sir Kenelm Digby's library as 'of more
+pomp than intrinsic value,' and as 'chiefly consisting of modern poets,
+romances, chemical and astrological books,' he did not contemplate the
+future possibility of such despised trifles becoming fashionable and in
+greater request than the accumulations of the collectors to whom the
+classics were daily food. As Edwards has pointed out, the portion which
+Digby gave to the Bodleian was in reality the fruit of the researches of
+his tutor, Thomas Allen. The portion which was of his own collecting,
+and consequently the only portion which accurately mirrored his own
+tastes, he took with him to France when driven into exile. When he died
+there, it apparently passed into the possession of Digby, Earl of
+Bristol, on whose account it was sold in London in 1680, fifteen years
+after its owner's death. The catalogue enumerated 3,878 items, of which
+69 were manuscripts, the total of the sale being L904 4s.
+
+Among the most famous of the seventeenth-century collectors were the two
+brothers Francis, Baron Guilford, Lord Keeper (1637-1685), and Dr. John
+North, master of Trinity College (1645-1683). Of these two there are
+some very entertaining facts in Roger North's 'Lives of the Norths'
+(1742-44). Dr. John North, we are told, 'very early in his career began
+to look after books and to lay the foundation of a competent library
+. . . buying at one lift a whole set of Greek classics in folio, in best
+editions. This sunk his stock [of money] for the time; but afterwards
+for many years of his life all that he could (as they say) rap or run
+went the same way. But the progress was small, for such a library as
+he desired, compared with what the pittance of his stock would
+purchase, allowing many years to the gathering, was of desperate
+expectation. . . . He courted, as a fond lover, all best editions,
+fairest characters, best-bound and preserved. . . . He delighted in the
+small editions of the classics by Seb. Gryphius, and divers of his
+acquaintance, meeting with any of them, bought and brought them to him,
+which he accepted as choice presents, although, perhaps, he had one or
+two of them before. . . . His soul was never so staked down as in an old
+bookseller's shop. . . . He was for the most part his own factor, and
+seldom or never bought by commission, which made him lose time in
+turning over vast numbers of books, and he was very hardly pleased at
+last. I have borne him company in shops for many hours together, and,
+minding him of the time, he hath made a dozen proffers before he would
+quit. By this care and industry, at length he made himself master of a
+very considerable library, wherein the choicest collection was Greek.'
+At his death the collection came to his brother, the Lord Keeper.
+
+As with Dr. John North, book-hunting was the consuming passion of the
+life of a very different man--Richard Smyth or Smith (of whom there is a
+very fine and rare engraving by W. Sherwin), one of the Secondaries or
+Under-Sheriffs from 1644 to 1655. Having sufficient wealth, he resigned
+his municipal appointment, which was worth L700 a year, in order to
+devote himself entirely to book-hunting. Anthony a Wood describes him as
+'infinitely curious and inquisitive after books,' and states that 'he
+was constantly known every day to walk his rounds amongst the
+booksellers' shops (especially in Little Britain).' Richard Chiswell,
+the bookseller who drew up a catalogue of Smith's books, which
+subsequently came into his possession _en bloc_, tells us that his skill
+and experience enabled him 'to make choice of such books that were not
+obvious to every man's eye. . . . He lived in times which ministered
+peculiar opportunities of meeting with books that were not every day
+brought into public light, and few eminent libraries were bought where
+he had not the liberty to pick and choose. Hence arose, as that vast
+number of his books, so the choiceness and rarity of the greatest part
+of them, and that of all kinds, and in all sorts of learning.' This
+collection was sold by auction in May, 1682, the catalogue of it
+occupying 404 closely-printed pages in large quarto. There were fourteen
+Caxtons, 'the aggregate produce' of which was L3 14s. 7d.; the 'Godfrey
+of Bulloigne' selling for 18s., 'being K. Edwarde the IVth's owne
+booke,' and the 'Booke of Good Manners,' for 2s.; the highest price in
+the entire sale being given for Holinshed's 'Chronicle,' 'with the
+addition of many sheets that were castrated, being . . . not allowed to
+be printed,' L7. Smith left an interesting and valuable obituary list of
+certain of his bibliopolic friends (which is reprinted in _Willis'
+Current Notes_, February, 1853), one of whom, according to him, was
+'buried at St. Bartholomew's, without wine or wafers, only gloves and
+rosemary.'
+
+[Illustration: _Little Britain in 1550._]
+
+Dr. Francis Bernard, chief physician to James II., was an indefatigable
+book-hunter; being 'a person who collected his books, not for
+ostentation or ornament, he seemed no more solicitous about their dress
+than his own, and, therefore, you'll find that a gilt back or a large
+margin was very seldom an inducement for him to buy. 'Twas sufficient
+for him that he had the book.' His library was sold in 1698, and
+realized the then enormous sum of L2,000. John Bridges, of Lincoln's
+Inn, the historian of Northamptonshire, was a collector who read as well
+as bought books; his collection was sold at auction in 1726, when 4,313
+lots realized L4,001. Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, was a collector
+with comprehensive tastes and almost unlimited means. His collection is
+now in the British Museum, and is computed to have numbered about 26,000
+volumes, on the binding of only a portion of which he is said to have
+expended L18,000, besides a mass of 350,000 pamphlets. Thomas Baker
+(1625-1690) bequeathed a portion of his library to St. John's College,
+Cambridge, notwithstanding the fact that he was ejected therefrom. He
+was an unceasing collector, but his finances were scanty, and, worst of
+all, he had to contend with collectors of greater wealth, or
+'purse-ability' as Bodley calls it. Writing to Humfrey Wanley, he says:
+'I begin to complain of the men of quality who lay out so much for
+books, and give such prices that there is nothing to be had for poor
+scholars, whereof I have found the effects. When I bid a fair price for
+an old book, I am answered, the "quality" will give twice as much, and
+so I have done. I have had much ado to pick up a few old books at
+tolerable prices, and despair of any more.' About 2,000 of his books
+went to St. John's College, and the others were sold by auction, many
+bearing the inscription 'Thomas Baker, socius ejectus,' etc. The library
+of another collector who, like Baker, had more of the kicks than of the
+ha'pence of this life, Thomas Hearne (1678-1735), may be mentioned
+briefly in this paragraph, for both were men of great learning. Hearne's
+collection was sold in February, 1736, by Osborne the bookseller, 'the
+lowest price being marked in each book.' On the title-page of the
+catalogue, and beneath a poor portrait of Hearne, is the well-known
+couplet:
+
+ 'Quoth Time to Thomas Hearne,
+ "Whatever I forget, you learn."'
+
+Humphrey Dyson is another book-collector of this period, and is
+described by Hearne as 'a very curious man in collecting books.' The
+Wesleys were book-lovers and readers, but have perhaps but little claim
+to rank as collectors _pur sang_. However, it is interesting to point
+out that Lilly's catalogue for 1863 included a copy of Purcell's
+'Orpheus Britannicus,' 1706, with an inscription on the fly-leaf: 'C.
+Wesley, junior. The valuable gift of his much-honor'd Father.'
+
+The Restoration poets, like those of the Elizabethan period, had a
+sufficiently hard fight to keep themselves in food; books were luxuries
+which they could only venture to enjoy at long and uncertain intervals.
+Dryden and Congreve, however, appear to have been addicted to the
+pleasant pastime.
+
+An exceedingly interesting copy of Spenser's 'Works,' folio, 1679, was
+once in the possession of Mr. F. S. Ellis. On the fly-leaf occurred this
+note: 'The corrections made in this book are of Mr. Dryden's own
+handwriting. J. Tonson.' The volume occurred in an auction, where its
+value was not detected. The 'corrections,' Mr. Ellis states, extend
+through the whole of the volume, and bear witness to the care and
+diligence with which Dryden had studied Spenser's poems. Several of the
+notes are in explanation of the text, but for the most part are careful
+and curious corrections of the text and press. The pedigree of this
+volume is well established by its having in the cover the bookplate of
+Thomas Barrett, of Lee, celebrated by Dibdin as a 'bibliomaniacal and
+tasteful gentleman.' Though Barrett died in 1757, his library was not
+dispersed till a few years since. Izaak Walton was a collector, and took
+the wise precaution of writing his autograph in each volume, as the very
+interesting score of examples now at Salisbury prove. His friend,
+Charles Cotton, of cheerful memory, was much more of a book-collector,
+although from the 'Angler' it would seem that his whole library was
+contained in his hall window. Like Walton, Cotton wrote his autograph in
+most of his books, which occur in the auction-room at irregular
+intervals. The extent or variety of the Cotton correction may be
+gathered from the following 'epigram' which Sir Aston Cokaine wrote
+(1658) 'To my Cousin, Mr. Charles Cotton the Younger':
+
+ 'D'Avila, Bentivoglio, Guicciardine,
+ And Machiavil, the subtle Florentine,
+ In their originals I have read through,
+ Thanks to your library, and unto you,
+ The prime historians of later times; at least
+ In the Italian tongue allow'd the best.
+ When you have more such books, I pray vouchsafe
+ Me their perusal, I'll return them safe.
+ Yet for the courtesy, the recompense
+ That I can make you will be only thanks.
+ But you are noble-soul'd, and had much rather
+ Bestow a benefit than receive a favour.'
+
+[Illustration: _Charles, Third Earl of Sunderland._]
+
+One of the most remarkable collections of books ever made by a private
+individual was that known as the Sunderland Library. It was formed, not
+only in the short space of twelve years, but at a time when many books,
+now of almost priceless value, and scarcely to be had at any price, were
+comparatively common, and certainly not costly. Neither money nor pains
+was spared, 'and the bibliographical ardour of the founder soon began to
+be talked of in the bookshops of the chief cities of Europe.' The
+founder, Charles, third Earl of Sunderland, lived at Althorp, his town
+house being in Piccadilly, on the site of which the Albany now stands.
+At the latter place this library was lodged for several years. In
+Macky's 'Journey through England,' 1724, Sunderland House is there
+described as being separated from the street of Piccadilly 'by a wall
+with large grown trees before the gate. . . . The greatest beauty of
+this palace is the library, running from the house into the garden; and
+I must say is the finest in Europe, both for the disposition of the
+apartments, and of the books. The rooms, divided into five apartments,
+are fully 150 feet long, with two stories of windows, and a gallery
+runs round the whole in the second story for the taking down books. No
+nobleman in any nation hath taken greater care to make his collection
+complete, nor does he spare any cost for the most valuable and rare
+books. Besides, no bookseller in Europe hath so many editions of the
+same book as he, for he hath all, especially of the classicks.' The
+founder of this famous library died on April 19, 1722. Evelyn has left a
+few very interesting facts concerning this collection. Under the date
+March 10, 1695, we read: 'I din'd at the Earl of Sunderland's with Lord
+Spencer. My Lord shew'd me his library, now again improv'd by many books
+bought at the sale of Sir Charles Scarborough, an eminent physician,
+which was the very best collection, especially of mathematical books,
+that was I believe in Europe, once design'd for the King's library at
+St. James's, but the Queen dying, who was the greate patroness of the
+designe, it was let fall, and the books were miserably dissipated.' Four
+years later, April, 1699, we have another entry, to the effect that Lord
+Spencer purchased 'an incomparable library,' until now the property of
+'a very fine scholar, whom from a child I have known,' whose name does
+not transpire [? Hadrian Beverland], but in whose library were many
+'rare books . . . that were printed at the first invention of that
+wonderful art.' In reference to Macky's incidental allusion to the Earl
+of Sunderland's indifference to cost in forming his library, Wanley
+confirms this. Writing in December, 1721, the diarist observes that the
+books in Mr. Freebairn's library 'in general went low, or rather at vile
+rates, through a combination of the booksellers against the sale. Yet
+some books went for unaccountably high prices, which were bought by Mr.
+Vaillant, the bookseller, who had an unlimited commission from the Earl
+of Sunderland.' Among the items was an edition of Virgil, printed by
+Zarothus _circa_ 1475: 'It was noted that when Mr. Vaillant had bought
+the printed Virgil at L46, he huzza'd out aloud, and threw up his hat,
+for joy that he had bought it so cheap.' When this famous book-collector
+died, Wanley observes that 'by reason of his decease some benefit may
+accrue to this library [Lord Oxford's], even in case his relations will
+part with none of his books. I mean, _by his raising the price of books
+no higher now_; so that, in probability, this commodity may fall in the
+market; and any gentleman be permitted to buy an uncommon old book for
+less than forty or fifty pounds.' The third son of this famous
+book-collector, Charles, fifth Earl of Sunderland, and second Duke of
+Marlborough, greatly enlarged the collection formed by his father; and
+it was removed to Blenheim probably in 1734. This famous library
+remained practically intact until it came under the hammer at Puttick
+and Simpson's, occupying fifty-one days in the dispersal at intervals
+from December 1, 1881, to March 22, 1883, the total being L55,581 6s. It
+is stated that the library originally cost about L30,000.
+
+Dr. David Williams, who from 1688 to the end of his life was minister
+of a Presbyterian congregation which met at Hand Alley, Bishopsgate
+Street, was a contemporary book-collector and book-hunter. His special
+line was theology, and his library, which absorbed that of Dr. Bates,
+once Rector of St. Dunstan's-in-the-East, is still preserved intact, and
+is now, to a certain degree, a free library. Archbishop Tenison was
+another great book-hunter of this period, and his library was preserved
+more or less intact until 1861, when it was dispersed at Sotheby's,
+under an order of the Charity Commissioners.
+
+The brothers Thomas and Richard Rawlinson were, probably, the most
+omnivorous collectors of the earlier part of the last century.
+Everything in the shape of a book was welcomed. The former (1681-1725),
+whose 'C. & P.' (collated and perfect) appears on the frontispiece,
+title-page, or fly-leaf of books, when he lived in Gray's Inn, had so
+filled his set of four rooms with books that he was obliged to sleep in
+the passage. He is said to be the original study for the 158th _Tatler_,
+in which 'Tom Folio' and other _soi-disant_ scholars are trounced. 'He
+has a greater esteem for Aldus and Elzevir than for Virgil and Horace.'
+It is very doubtful whether Addison (who wrote this particular _Tatler_)
+really had Thomas Rawlinson in mind, whom he describes as 'a learned
+idiot.' Swift has declared that some know books as they do lords; learn
+their titles exactly, and then brag of their acquaintance. But neither
+description is applicable to Rawlinson, who, for all that, may have
+known much more about Aldus or the Elzevirs than about Virgil or Horace.
+With a pretty taste for epithets, in which our forefathers sometimes
+indulged, Hearne has defended his friend from Addison's sarcasms by
+declaring that the mistake could only have been made by a 'shallow
+buffoon.' That Rawlinson was a bibliomaniac there can be no question,
+for if he had a score copies of one book, he would purchase another for
+the mere gratification of possessing it. When he removed to the large
+mansion in Aldersgate Street, which had been the palace of the Bishops
+of London, and which he shared with his brother, 'the books still
+continued to be better lodged than their owner.' He died, at the
+comparatively early age of forty-four, as he had lived, among dust and
+cobwebs, 'in his bundles, piles and bulwarks of paper.' The catalogue of
+his huge mass of books was divided into nine parts; the sale of the MSS.
+alone occupied sixteen days. Richard Rawlinson (died 1755) survived his
+brother thirty years, and continued to collect books with all his
+brother's enthusiasm, but without his sheer book-greed. His MSS. are at
+Oxford, and the extent and richness of his accumulations may be gathered
+from the fact that the collector laid nearly thirty libraries under
+contribution. His printed books were sold in 1756 by Samuel Baker (now
+Sotheby's), the sale occupying forty-nine days, and the total amounting
+to L1,155 1s.; a second sale included 20,000 pamphlets, and a third sale
+consisted of prints.
+
+[Illustration: _London House, Aldersgate Street, 1808._]
+
+Among the wisest and most distinguished book-collectors of the first
+half of the last century is Dr. Richard Mead (1673-1754), a physician by
+profession, but a bibliophile by instinct, and whom Dr. Johnson
+described as having 'lived more in the broad sunshine of life than
+almost any other man.' As Dr. Mead's fine library was 'picked up at
+Rome,' it scarcely comes within our purview; but it may be mentioned
+that so long as this fine collection remained intact in London, it was
+_ipso facto_ a free library; it was especially rich in the classics,
+sciences and history. The first part was sold by Samuel Baker in 1754,
+and the second in the following year, the 6,592 lots occupying
+fifty-seven days, the total of the books being L5,496 15s. Dr. Mead's
+mantle descended to his great friend and pupil, Dr. Anthony Askew
+(1722-1774), who had an exceedingly fine library; his career as a
+collector began in Paris in 1749, and nearly all his choicest treasures
+appear to have been gathered on the Continent, and chiefly it seems by
+Joseph Smith, the English Consul at Venice. Askew's first library was
+purchased by George III. in 1762, and now forms an integral part of the
+British Museum. His subsequent accumulations were dispersed in two
+sections, the books in 1775, and the MSS. ten years later. We shall have
+occasion to refer again to the Askew sale. Dr. Richard Farmer appears to
+have imbibed his taste for book-collecting from Askew, and became an
+indefatigable haunter of the London and country bookstalls, his special
+line being Early English literature, then scarcely at all appreciated;
+it is stated that the collection, which cost him less than L500,
+realized, when sold by auction by King in 1798, upwards of L2,000. Dr.
+Farmer is better remembered by posterity as a Shakespearian critic or
+commentator. He was a Canon Residentiary of St. Paul's, and appears to
+have had what Dibdin describes as 'his foragers, his jackalls, and his
+_avant-couriers_,' who picked up for him every item of interest in his
+particular lines. As becomes the true bibliophile, he was peculiarly
+indifferent to his dress, but he was a scholar of great abilities. A
+glance at a priced copy of his sale catalogue is enough to turn any
+book-lover green with envy. For example, his copy of Richard Barnfield's
+'Encomion of Lady Pecunia, or the Praise of Money' (1598), sold for
+19s., Malone being the purchaser. That copy is now in the Bodleian. In
+1882, the Ouvry copy of the same book realized 100 guineas! A copy of
+Milton's 'Paradise Lost' (1667), with the first title-page, sold for
+11s.; a volume of twelve poems, chiefly printed by Wynkyn de Worde and
+Pynson, realized 25 guineas. Each item would probably realize the
+amount paid for the whole, should they again occur for sale, which is
+most unlikely. Both his friends, George Steevens and Isaac Reed, were
+equally zealous collectors, and each had a strong weakness for the same
+groove of collecting. The library of Steevens was sold, also by King, in
+1800, and the 1,943 items realized L2,740 15s.; whilst that of Reed,
+sold seven years later, contained 8,957 articles, and realized L4,387.
+
+Both Steevens and Isaac Reed call for a much more extended notice than
+it is possible to give them here. Many of Steevens' books realized
+twenty times the amount which he paid for them. Steevens, who was born
+in 1736, resided in a retired house 'just on the rise of Hampstead
+Heath,' so Dibdin tells us, the house being formerly known as the Upper
+Flask Tavern, to which 'Richardson sends Clarissa in one of her escapes
+from Lovelace.' Here, as Dibdin further tells us, Steevens lived,
+embosomed in books, shrubs, and trees. 'His habits were indeed peculiar;
+not much to be envied or imitated, as they sometimes betrayed the
+flights of a madman, and sometimes the asperities of the cynic. His
+attachments were warm, but fickle, both in choice and duration.' Several
+of his letters are printed in Dibdin's 'Bibliomania' (edit. 1842), in
+which will also be found a long series of extracts from the sale
+catalogue of his library. There were nearly fifty copies of the first or
+early quartos of the Shakespearian plays, which were knocked down at
+prices varying from 5s. to, in a few instances, over L20. The first,
+second, third and fourth folios realized L22, L18 18s., L8 8s., and L2
+12s. 6d., respectively! Isaac Reed was in many ways a remarkable man. He
+was the son of a baker in the parish of St. Dunstan's-in-the-West. Born
+in 1742, he commenced professional life as a solicitor, which he soon
+abandoned for the more congenial pursuit of literature. His knowledge of
+English literature was unbounded, and the dispersal of his remarkable
+library was one of the wonders of the year 1807. He was for over forty
+years a diligent collector, and few days passed in that period which did
+not witness an addition to his library. He died at his chambers in
+Staple Inn. 'I have been almost daily at a book-auction,' writes
+Malone--'the library of the late Mr. Reed, the last Shakespearian,
+except myself, where my purse has been drained as usual. But what I have
+purchased are chiefly books of my own trade. There is hardly a library
+of this kind now left, except my own and Mr. Bindley's, neither of us
+having the least desire to succeed the other in his peculiar species of
+literary wealth.'
+
+[Illustration: _St. Bernard's Seal._]
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[27:A] In Hearne's 'Diary,' published by the Oxford Historical Society,
+there is a very quaint note about the Duke of Lauderdale, who is
+described as 'a Curious Collector of Books, and when in London would
+very often go to y{e} Booksellers shops and pick up w{t} curious Books
+he could meet with; but y{t} in his Elder years he lost much of his
+Learning by minding too much Politicks.'
+
+[27:B] At the Cambridge University Library there are some very
+interesting diaries of this famous book-lover, styled 'Father of Black
+Letter Collectors,' chiefly relating to the purchases of books. All the
+more important facts have been published in the pages of the
+_Bibliographer_.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW.
+
+
+I.
+
+IN few phases of human action are the foibles and preferences of
+individuals more completely imbricated than in that of book-collecting.
+Widely different as were the book-hunters' fancies at the beginning and
+at the end of the eighteenth century, yet it would not be possible to
+draw a hard and fast line. For the greater part of that time the
+classics of every description and of every degree of unimportance held
+their own. Reluctant, therefore, to abandon the chief stimulant of their
+earlier book-hunting careers, many collectors still took a keen interest
+in their _primi pensieri_. But their real passion found a vent in other
+and less beaten directions. In addition to this, during the eighteenth
+century a large number of small working libraries were formed by men who
+_used_ books. Henry Fielding, Goldsmith, Dr. Johnson, David Hume,
+Smollett, Gibbon, Pope, and many others, are essentially figures in the
+history of book-hunting in London, but they had neither the means nor,
+so far as we are aware, the inclination to indulge in book-collecting as
+a mere fashionable hobby. Mr. Austin Dobson has lately published an
+interesting account of Fielding's library, in which he proves not only
+that Fielding had been a fervent student of the classics in his youth
+and that he remained a voracious reader through life, but that he made
+good use of a large collection of Greek and Latin authors, which was
+sold at his death.
+
+[Illustration: _Mr. Austin Dobson._
+
+From a photograph by E. C. Porter, Ealing.]
+
+The eighteenth century may be regarded as the Augustan age so far as
+book-hunting in London is concerned. A large percentage of the most
+famous collections were either formed, or the collectors themselves were
+either born or died, in that period. The Beckford and Hamilton, the
+Heber, the Sunderland, the Althorp, and the King's Library, all had
+their origins prior to 1800.
+
+Richard Heber (1773-1833), with all his vast knowledge, learning, and
+accomplishments, was a bibliomaniac in the more unpleasant sense of the
+word. No confirmed drunkard, no incurable opium-eater, ever had less
+self-control than Heber had. To him, to see a book was to possess it.
+Cicero has said that the heart into which the love of gold has entered
+is shut to every other feeling. Heber was very wealthy, so that with him
+the love of books blinded him to almost everything else. He began to
+collect when at Oxford, chiefly classics for the purpose of study. He is
+said to have caught the disease from Bindley, the veteran collector, who
+began book-hunting early in the last century. Having one day
+accidentally met with a copy of Henry Peacham's 'Valley of Varietie,'
+1638, which professed to give 'rare passages out of antiquity,' etc., he
+showed it to Bindley, who described it as 'rather a curious book.' Why
+such an incident should have set Heber on his terrible career history
+telleth not. Under the name of 'Atticus,' Dibdin, who knew Heber well,
+has described him in this fashion: 'Atticus unites all the activity of
+De Witt and Lomenie, with the retentiveness of Magliabechi, and the
+learning of Le Long. . . . Yet Atticus doth sometimes sadly err. He has
+now and then an ungovernable passion to possess more copies of a book
+than there were ever parties to a deed or stamina to a plant;
+and therefore, I cannot call him a "duplicate" or a triplicate
+collector. . . . But he atones for this by being liberal in the loan of
+his volumes. The learned and curious, whether rich or poor, have always
+free access to his library.' Heber's own explanation of this plurality
+of purchase was cast somewhat in this fashion: 'Why, you see, sir, no
+man can comfortably do without _three_ copies of a book. One he must
+have for his show copy, and he will probably keep it at his country
+house. Another he will require for his own use and reference; and unless
+he is inclined to part with this, which is very inconvenient, or risk
+the injury of his best copy, he must needs have a third at the service
+of his friends.' The late Mr. Edward Solly was also a pluralist in the
+matter of books, and had even six or seven copies of a large number of
+works. He justified himself on the plea that he liked to have one to
+read, one to make notes in, another with notes by a previous owner, one
+in a choice binding, a 'tall' copy, a short ditto, and so forth. So far,
+however, as Heber is concerned, no one could be more generous than he in
+lending books. This might be proved from a dozen different sources,
+including the lengthy introduction 'To Richard Heber, Esq.,' to the
+sixth canto of Scott's 'Marmion':
+
+ 'But why such instances to you,
+ Who, in an instant, can renew
+ Your treasured hoards of various lore,
+ And furnish twenty thousand more?
+ Hoards, not like theirs whose volumes rest
+ Like treasures in the Franch'mont chest,
+ While gripple owners still refuse
+ To others what they cannot use:
+ Give them the priest's whole century,
+ They shall not spell you letters three;
+ Their pleasure in the books the same
+ The magpie takes in pilfer'd gem.
+ Thy volumes, open as thy heart,
+ Delight, amusement, science, art,
+ To every ear and eye impart;
+ Yet who of all who thus employ them,
+ Can, like their owner's self, enjoy them?'
+
+In addition to this reference, Scott, in one of his letters, speaks of
+'Heber the magnificent, whose library and cellar are so superior to all
+others in the world.' Frequent mention is made of Heber in the notes to
+the Waverley novels. At one period of his life Heber was a Member of
+Parliament, and throughout his career it seems that he found recreation
+from the sport of collecting in the sport of the fields. He has been
+known to take a journey of four or five hundred miles to obtain a rare
+volume, 'fearful to trust to a mere commission.' He bought by all
+methods, in all places, and at all times, a single purchase on one
+occasion being an entire library of 30,000 volumes. Curiously enough, he
+disliked large-paper copies, on account of the space they filled. When
+he died, he had eight houses full of books--two in London, one in
+Oxford, and others at Paris, Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent, besides
+smaller collections in Germany. When sold, the number of lots was
+52,000, and of volumes about 147,000, and the total amount realized
+L57,000, or about two-thirds of the original expenditure. The sale,
+which commenced in 1834, lasted over several years, and the catalogue
+alone comprises six thick octavo volumes. He is described as a tall,
+strong, well-made man.
+
+Writing to Sir Egerton Brydges, the Rev. A. Dyce observes concerning
+Heber's death: 'Poor man! He expired at Pimlico,[47:A] in the midst of
+his rare property, without a friend to close his eyes, and from all I
+have heard I am led to believe that he died broken-hearted. He had been
+ailing some time, but took no care of himself, and seemed, indeed, to
+court death. Yet his ruling passion was strong to the last. The morning
+he died he wrote out some memoranda for Thorpe about books which he
+wished to be purchased for him' (Fitzgerald, 'The Book-Fancier,' p.
+230).
+
+In noticing Scott's edition of Dryden, and in alluding to the help which
+Scott obtained from Heber and Bindley, the _Edinburgh Review_ speaks of
+the two as 'gentlemen in whom the love of collecting, which is an
+amusement to others, assumes the dignity of a virtue, because it gives
+ampler scope to the exercise of friendship, and of a generous sympathy
+with the common cause of literature.'
+
+[Illustration: _William Beckford, Book-collector._]
+
+William Beckford (1761-1844) and the tenth Duke of Hamilton (1767-1852),
+for several reasons, may be bracketed together as book-collectors. Each
+was a remarkable man in several respects. William Beckford, the author
+of 'Vathek' and the owner of Fonthill, was a universal collector. No
+less enthusiastic in amassing pictures and objects of art than books,
+he never scrupled to sell anything and everything except his books,
+which he dearly loved. A man who could draw eulogy from Byron could not
+have been an ordinary person. Fonthill and its treasures were announced
+for sale in September, 1822, the auctioneer being James Christie, the
+catalogue being in quarto size, and comprising ninety-five pages. The
+auction, however, did not take place, but the collection was sold _en
+masse_ to a Mr. John Farquhar for L330,000, Beckford reserving, however,
+some of his choicest books, pictures, and curiosities. In the following
+year the whole collection was dispersed by Phillips, the auctioneer, the
+sale occupying thirty-seven days. With the money he received from
+Farquhar, Beckford purchased annuities and land near Bath. He united two
+houses in the Royal Crescent by a flying gallery extending over the
+road, and his dwelling became one vast library. He added to his
+collection up to his last days, and obtained many books at Charles
+Nodier's sale. Beckford was one of the greatest book-enthusiasts that
+ever lived. His passion was more particularly for Aldines, and other
+early books bearing the insignia of celebrities, such as Frances I.,
+Henri et Diane, and De Thou, and especially of choice old morocco
+bindings by Desseuil, Padeloup, and Derome. He was especially strong in
+old French and Italian books, generically classified as _facetiae_.
+Beckford would read for days and weeks at a stretch, with no more
+recreation than an occasional ride. That he read his books there is
+ample testimony, for at his sale one lot comprised seven folio volumes
+of transcripts from the autograph notes written by him on the fly-leaves
+of the various works in his library. For example, to the copy of Peter
+Beckford's 'Familiar Letters from Italy,' 1805, he concludes five pages
+of notes with, 'This book has at least some merit. The language is
+simple; an ill-natured person might add, and the thoughts not less so.'
+In Brasbridge's 'Fruits of Experience,' 1824, he writes: 'They who like
+hog-wash--and there are amateurs for anything--will not turn away
+disappointed or disgusted with this book, but relish the stale, trashy
+anecdotes it contains, and gobble them up with avidity.' After
+Beckford's death, Henry G. Bohn offered L30,000 for the whole library;
+but Beckford's second daughter, who married the Duke of Hamilton,
+refused to sanction the sale. It, however, came under the hammer at
+Sotheby's, 1881-1884, in four parts of twelve days each, the net result
+being L73,551 18s.
+
+The tenth Duke of Hamilton was one of the most distinguished
+bibliophiles of his time, and commenced purchasing whilst yet Marquis of
+Douglas. A large portion of his library was collected in Italy and
+various parts of the Continent, whilst the collection of Greek and Latin
+manuscripts which he obtained when on a diplomatic mission to Russia
+formed an unrivalled series of monuments of early art. In 1810 he
+married Susanna Beckford, and at her father's death the whole of his
+splendid library came into his possession. The two collections, however,
+were kept quite distinct. The Hamilton collection of printed books was
+sold at Sotheby's in May, 1884, the eight days realizing L12,892 12s.
+6d. The most important feature of the library, however, was the
+magnificent collection of MSS. which the Prussian Government secured by
+private treaty--through the intermediary, it is understood, of the
+Empress Frederick--for L70,000. In May, 1889, those which the
+authorities decided not to retain for the Royal Museum at Berlin were
+transferred to Messrs. Sotheby's, and ninety-one lots realized the total
+of L15,189 15s. 6d. The gems of the collection were a magnificent volume
+of the Golden Gospels in Latin of the eighth century, formerly a gift to
+Henry VIII., which sold for L1,500--a London bookseller once offered
+L5,000 for this book--and a magnificent MS. of Boccaccio, 'Les Illustres
+Malheureux,' on vellum, 321 leaves, decorated with eighty-four exquisite
+miniatures, which sold for L1,700. It may be mentioned that a large
+number of the Beckford and Hamilton books were purchased through the
+late H. G. Bohn.
+
+[Illustration: _George John, Earl Spencer._]
+
+The Althorp Library, now in the possession of Mrs. Rylands, of
+Manchester, was formed by George John, Earl Spencer (1758-1834),
+between 1790 and 1820. Until its recent removal from Althorp it was the
+finest private library in existence. In 1790 Lord Spencer acquired the
+very fine and select library of Count Rewiczki, the Emperor Joseph's
+Ambassador in London, for about L2,500, and for the next thirty years
+the Earl was continually hunting after books in the sale-rooms and
+booksellers' shops. The story of the Althorp Library has been so
+repeatedly told, from the time of its first librarian, the devil-hunting
+Thomas Frognall Dibdin--whose flatulent and sycophantic records are not
+to be taken as mirroring the infinitely superior intellect and taste of
+his employer--down to the present day, that any further description is
+almost superfluous. Besides this, the library is one which will soon be
+open to all. We may, however, mention a point which is of great
+interest in the study of books as an investment. It may reasonably be
+doubted whether the Althorp Library cost its founder much over L100,000;
+it is generally understood that the price paid for it in 1892 was not
+far short of L250,000.
+
+[Illustration: _John, Duke of Roxburghe, Book-collector._]
+
+Contemporaneously with the formation of the Althorp Collection, the Duke
+of Roxburghe built a library, which was one of the finest and most
+perfect ever got together. The Duke turned book-hunter through a love
+affair, it is said. He was to have been married to the eldest daughter
+of the Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; but when this lady's sister was
+selected as a wife for George III., the proposed marriage was deemed
+impolitic, and consequently the Duke remained single. The Duke himself
+is said to have traced his passion for books to the famous dinner given
+by his father, the second Duke, at which Lords Oxford and Sunderland
+were present, and at which the celebrated copy of the Valdarfer
+Boccaccio was produced. The history of this incident is told in our
+chapter on Book-sales, and need not be here more specifically referred
+to. The Duke was a mighty hunter, not only of books, but of deer and
+wild swans. So far as books are concerned, his great specialities were
+Old English literature, Italian poetry, and romances of the Round Table;
+and as the first and last of these have increased in value as years have
+gone by, it will be seen that the Duke was wise in his generation.
+Indeed, we have it on the best authority that the aggregate outlay on
+the Roxburghe Library did not exceed L4,000, whilst in the course of
+little more than twenty years it produced over L23,397, the sale taking
+place in June, 1812. The Duke of Roxburghe and Lord Spencer were not
+averse to a little understanding of the nature of a 'knock-out,' for in
+one of the Althorp Caxtons Lord Spencer has written: 'The Duke and I had
+agreed not to oppose one another at the [George Mason] sale, but after
+the book [a Caxton] was bought, to toss up who should win it, when I
+lost it. I bought it at the Roxburghe sale on the 17 of June, 1812, for
+L215 5s.'
+
+[Illustration: _A corner in the Althorp Library._]
+
+Yet another distinguished book-collector of the same period calls for
+notice. George III. formed a splendid library out of his own private
+purse and at a cost of L130,000. This library is now a part of the
+British Museum. A library such as that of George III. gives very little
+idea of a man's real tastes for books. The King availed himself of the
+accumulated wisdom, not only of Barnard (who was his librarian for
+nearly half a century), but of three or four other experts, among whom
+was Dr. Johnson. The King's everyday tastes, however, may be gathered
+from the subjoined list of books, which he wished to have on his visit
+to Weymouth in 1795. He desired what he called 'a closet library' for a
+watering-place; he wrote to his bookseller for the following works: the
+Bible; the 'Whole Duty of Man'; the 'Annual Register,' 25 volumes;
+Rapin's 'History of England,' 21 volumes, 1757; Millot's 'Elemens de
+l'Histoire de France,' 1770; Voltaire's 'Siecles' of Louis XIV. and
+Louis XV.; Blackstone's 'Commentaries,' 4 volumes; R. Burn's 'Justice of
+Peace and Parish Officer,' 4 volumes; an abridgment of Dr. Johnson's
+Dictionary; Boyer's 'Dictionnaire Francois et Anglais'; Johnson's
+'Poets,' 68 volumes; Dodsley's 'Poems,' 11 volumes; Nichols' 'Poems,' 8
+volumes; Steevens' 'Shakespeare'; 'Oeuvres' of Destouches, 5 volumes;
+and the 'Works' of Sir William Temple, 4 volumes; of Addison, 4 volumes,
+and Swift, 24 volumes. These books can scarcely be regarded as light
+literature, and, if anything, calculated to add to the deadly dulness of
+a seaside retreat at the end of the last century. However, the selection
+is George III.'s, and must be respected as such.
+
+The number of men who were prowling about London during the middle and
+latter part of the last century after books is only less great than the
+variety of tastes which they evinced. We have, for example, two such
+turbulent spirits as John Horne Tooke and John Wilkes, M.P. Parson
+Horne's (he subsequently assumed the name of his patron, William Tooke)
+collection did not, as Dibdin has observed, contain a single edition of
+the Bible; but it included seven examples of Wynkyn de Worde's press and
+many other rare books. Eight hundred and thirteen lots realized the then
+high amount of L1,250 when sold at King and Lochee's in 1813. John
+Wilkes' books were sold at Sotheby's in 1802. If less notorious, many
+equally enthusiastic book-collectors were hunting the highways and
+byways of London. Here, for example, is a little anecdote relative to
+one of these:
+
+When the splendid folio edition of Caesar's 'Commentaries,' by Clarke,
+published for the express purpose of being presented to the great Duke
+of Marlborough, came under the hammer at the sale (in 1781) of Topham
+Beauclerk's library for L44, it was accompanied by an anecdote relating
+to the method in which it had been acquired. Upon the death of an
+officer to whom the book belonged, his mother, being informed that it
+was of some value, wished to dispose of it, and, being told that Mr.
+Topham Beauclerk (who is said to have but once departed from his
+inflexible rule of never lending a book) was a proper person to offer it
+to, she waited on him for that purpose. He asked what she required for
+it, and, being answered L4 4s., took it without hesitation, though
+unacquainted with the real value of the book. Being desirous, however,
+of information with respect to the nature of the purchase he had made,
+he went to an eminent bookseller's, and inquired what he would give for
+such a book. The bookseller replied L17 17s. Mr. Beauclerk went
+immediately to the person who sold him the book, and, telling her that
+she had been mistaken in its value, not only gave her the additional 13
+guineas, but also generously bestowed a further gratuity on her. Few
+bargain-hunters would have felt called upon to act as Beauclerk[55:A]
+did. Here is another anecdote of a contemporary book-hunter:
+
+Nichols states that Mr. David Papillon (who died in 1762), a gentleman
+of fortune and literary taste, as well as a good antiquary, contracted
+with Osborne to furnish him with L100 worth of books, at 3d. apiece. The
+only conditions were, that they should be perfect, and that there
+should be no duplicate. Osborne was highly pleased with his bargain,
+and the first great purchase he made, he sent Mr. Papillon a large
+quantity; but in the next purchase he found he could send but few, and
+the next still fewer. Not willing, however, to give up, he sent books
+worth 5s. apiece, and at last was forced to go and beg to be let off the
+contract. Eight thousand books would have been wanted!
+
+An interesting collector, at once the type of a country gentleman and of
+a true bibliophile, was Sir John Englis Dolben (1750-1837), of Finedon
+Hall, Northamptonshire. He was educated at Westminster School,
+proceeding thence to Christ Church in 1768. Previously to his final
+retirement into the country, he lingered with much affection about the
+haunts of his youthful studies. He carried so many volumes about with
+him in his numerous and capacious pockets that he appeared like a
+walking library, and his memory, particularly in classical quotations,
+was equally richly stored. This is one side of the picture. This is the
+other side, in which we get a view of the man-about-town collector in
+the person of Alexander Dalrymple (1737-1808), the hydrographer to the
+Admiralty and to the East India Company: 'His yellow antiquarian chariot
+seemed to be immovably fixed in the street, just opposite the
+entrance-door of the long passage leading to the sale-room of Messrs.
+King and Lochee, in King Street, Covent Garden; and towards the bottom
+of the table, in the sale-room, Mr. Dalrymple used to sit, a cane in his
+hand, his hat always upon his head, a thin, slightly-twisted queue, and
+silver hairs that hardly shaded his temple. . . . His biddings were
+usually silent, accompanied by the elevation and fall of his cane, or by
+an abrupt nod of the head.'
+
+[Illustration: _Michael Wodhull, Book-collector._]
+
+The Osterley Park Library, sold by order of the seventh Earl of Jersey
+at Sotheby's in 1885, was commenced in the last century, the original
+founder being Bryan Fairfax, who died in 1747. His books came into the
+hands of Alderman Child, who was not only a book-collector, but
+inherited Lord Mavor Child's books. The fifth Earl of Jersey married
+Mr. Child's grand-daughter in 1804. Two mighty hunters of the old
+school may be here briefly mentioned--John Towneley and Michael Wodhull,
+the poet, both of whose collections were dispersed in several portions,
+partly at the beginning of the present century, and partly within quite
+recent times. The founder of the 'Bibliotheca Towneleiana' was for a
+long period of years an ardent collector, his favourite studies being
+English history, topography, and portraits. The great gem of his
+collection was the splendid 'Vita Christi,' gorgeously ornamented with
+full-page paintings, and with miniatures superbly executed in colours,
+heightened with gold, by Giulio Clovio, in the finest style of Italian
+art. This MS. was executed for Alexander, Cardinal Farnese, and
+presented to Pope Paul III. It was purchased abroad by a Mr. Champernoun
+for an inconsiderable sum, and cost Mr. Towneley 400 guineas. At its
+sale in 1883 it realized L2,050. Two portions of the Towneley Library
+were dispersed by Evans in 1814-15 (seventeen days), and realized over
+L8,597, and other portions were sold in 1816 and 1817. Towneley himself
+died in May, 1813, aged eighty-two. The remainder of his extensive
+collection was sold at Sotheby's in 1883 (ten days). Wodhull, who died
+November 10, 1816, aged seventy-six, had two sales during his lifetime,
+first in 1801 (chiefly duplicates), and secondly in 1803 (chiefly Greek
+and Roman classics). He, however, reserved for himself a library of
+about 4,000, which, passing into the possession of Mr. F. E. Severne,
+M.P., was sold at Sotheby's in January, 1886, and realized a total of
+L11,973 4s. 6d. He is the Orlando of Dibdin's 'Bibliomania.' The Greek
+and Roman classics formed the chief attraction of this _post-mortem_
+sale, which is generally regarded as one of the most important of its
+kind held during recent years. Most of the prizes were picked up in
+France after 1803, and it was during one of his book-hunting expeditions
+in Paris that Wodhull was detained by Napoleon.
+
+Two other 'fashionable' or titled collectors may be here grouped
+together. The fine library formed by William, Marquis of Lansdowne was
+dispersed by Leigh and Sotheby in thirty-one days, beginning with
+January 6, 1806, the 6,530 lots realizing L6,701 2s. 6d. The highest
+amount paid for a single lot was for a very rare collection of tracts,
+documents, and pamphlets, in over 280 volumes, illustrating the history
+of the French Revolution, together with forty-nine volumes relative to
+the transactions in the Low Countries between the years 1787 and 1792,
+and their separation from the House of Austria. Wynkyn de Worde's
+'Rycharde Cure de Lyon,' 1528, sold for L47 5s.; and a curious
+collection of 'Masks' and 'Triumphs,' of the early seventeenth century,
+mostly by Ben Jonson, realized L40. As a book-collector Sir Mark
+Masterman Sykes is a much better remembered figure in the annals of
+book-hunting than that of the Marquis of Lansdowne. The Sykes library
+contained a number of the _editiones principes_ of the classics, some on
+vellum, and also a number of Aldines in the most perfect condition.
+There were also many highly curious and very rare pieces of early
+English poetry. The collection was sold at Evans's in 1824, and the gems
+of the collection were a copy of the Mazarin Bible, and the Latin
+Psalter, 1459, to which full reference is made in a subsequent chapter.
+
+
+II.
+
+The history of literature, it is said, teaches us to consider its
+decline only as the development of a great principle of succession by
+which the treasures of the mind are circulated and equalized; as shoots
+by which the stream of improvement is forcibly directed into new
+channels, to fertilize new soils and awaken new capabilities. The
+history of book-collecting teaches us a similar lesson. The love which
+so often amounted to a positive passion for the exquisite productions of
+the Age of Illuminated Manuscripts, all but died with the introduction
+of the printing-press, which in reality was but a continuation of the
+old art in a new form. And so on, down through the successive decades
+and generations of the past four centuries, the decline--but not the
+death, for such a term cannot be applied to any phase of
+book-collecting--of one particular aspect of the hobby has synchronized
+with the birth of several others, sometimes more worthy, and at others
+less. An exhaustive inquiry into the various and manifold changes
+through which the human mind passed alone might account for these
+various developments, which it is not the intention of the present
+writer on this occasion to analyze.
+
+The rise and progress of what Sir Egerton Brydges calls 'the
+black-letter mania' gave the death-blow to the long-cherished school of
+poetry of which Pope may be taken as the most distinguished exponent.
+'Men of loftier taste and bolder fancy early remonstrated against this
+chilling confinement of the noblest, the most aspiring, and most
+expansive of all the Arts. . . . It was not till the commotion of Europe
+broke the chain of indolence and insipid effeminacy that the stronger
+passions of readers required again to be stimulated and exercised and
+soothed, and that the minor charms of correctness were sacrificed to the
+ardent efforts of uncontrolled and unfearing genius. The authors of this
+class began to look back for their materials to an age of hazardous
+freedom, and copious and untutored eloquence: an age in which the world
+of words and free and native ideas was not contracted and blighted by
+technical critics and cold and fastidious scholars.' To abandon the
+abstract for the more matter-of-fact details of sober history, the mania
+to which Brydges alludes may be said to date itself from the spring of
+1773. The occasion was the sale in London of the library of James West,
+President of the Royal Society. George Nicol, the bookseller, was an
+extensive purchaser at this sale for the King, for whom, indeed, he
+acted in a similar capacity up to the last. Nicol told Dibdin 'with his
+usual pleasantry and point, that he got abused in the public papers, by
+Almon and others, for having purchased nearly the whole of the Caxtonian
+volumes in this collection for his Majesty's library. It was said abroad
+that a Scotchman had lavished away the King's money in buying old
+black-letter books.' The absurdity of this report was soon proved at
+subsequent sales. Dibdin adds, as a circumstance highly honourable to
+the King, that 'his Majesty, in his directions to Mr. Nicol, forbade any
+competition with those purchasers who wanted books of science and
+_belles lettres_ for their own progressive or literary pursuits; thus
+using the power of his purse in a manner at once merciful and wise.'
+
+[Illustration: _George Nicol, the King's Bookseller._]
+
+The impetus which book-collecting, and more particularly the section to
+which we have just referred, received by the dispersal of the West
+Library gathered in force as time went on, reaching its climax with the
+Roxburghe sale thirty-nine years afterwards. The enthusiasm culminated
+in a club--the Roxburghe, which still flourishes. The warfare (at
+Roxburghe House, St. James's Square), as Mr. Silvanus Urban has
+recorded, was equalled only by the courage and gallantry displayed on
+the plains of Salamanca about the same period. 'As a pillar, or other
+similar memorial, could not be conveniently erected to mark the spot
+where so many bibliographical champions fought and conquered, another
+method was adopted to record their fame, and perpetuate this brilliant
+epoch in literary annals. Accordingly, a phalanx of the most hardy
+veterans has been enrolled under the banner of the far-famed Valdarfer's
+Boccaccio of 1471. . . . The first anniversary meeting of this noble
+band was celebrated at the St. Alban's Tavern [St. Alban's Street, now
+Waterloo Place] on Thursday, June 17, 1813, being the memorable day on
+which the before-mentioned Boccaccio was sold for L2,260. The chair was
+taken by Earl Spencer (perpetual president of the club), supported by
+Lords Morpeth and Gower, and the following gentlemen,[61:A] viz., Sir E.
+Brydges, Messrs. W. Bentham, W. Bolland, J. Dent, T. F. Dibdin
+(vice-president), Francis Freeling, Henry Freeling, Joseph Hazlewood,
+Richard Heber, Thomas C. Heber, G. Isted, R. Lang, J. H. Markland, J. D.
+Phelps, T. Ponton, junior, J. Towneley, E. V. Utterson, and R.
+Wilbraham. Upon the cloth being removed, the following appropriate
+toasts were delivered from the chair:
+
+ 1. The cause of Bibliomania all over the world.
+
+ 2. The immortal memory of Christopher Valdarfer,
+ the printer of the Boccaccio of 1471.
+
+ 3. The immortal memory of William Caxton, first
+ English printer.
+
+ 4. The immortal memory of Wynkyn de Worde.
+
+ 5. The immortal memory of Richard Pynson.
+
+ 6. The immortal memory of Julian Notary.
+
+ 7. The immortal memory of William Faques.
+
+ 8. The immortal memory of the Aldine family.
+
+ 9. The immortal memory of the Stephenses.
+
+ 10. The immortal memory of John, Duke of Roxburghe.
+
+'After these the health of the noble president was proposed, and
+received by the company standing, with three times three. Then followed
+the health of the worthy vice-president (proposed by Mr. Heber),
+which, it is scarcely necessary to observe, was drunk with similar
+honours. . . . The president was succeeded in the chair by Lord Gower,
+who, at midnight, yielded to Mr. Dent; and that gentleman gave way to
+the Prince of Bibliomaniacs, Mr. Heber. Though the night, or rather the
+morning, wore apace, it was not likely that a seat so occupied would be
+speedily deserted; accordingly, the "regal purple stream" ceased not to
+flow till "Morning oped her golden gates," or, in plain terms, till past
+four o'clock.' Such is a brief account of the Roxburghe Club, which is
+limited to thirty-one members, one black ball being fatal to the
+candidate who offers himself for a vacancy, and each member in his
+annual turn has to print a book or pamphlet, and to present to his
+fellow-members a copy. Before making any further reference to the
+_personnel_ of the Roxburghe Club, we quote, from a literary journal of
+1823, the following trenchant paragraph, _a propos_ of a similar club in
+Scotland:
+
+'BIBLIOMANIA.--This most ridiculous of all the affectations of the day
+has lately exhibited another instance of its diffusion, in the
+establishment of a _Roxburghe[62:A] Club_ in Edinburgh. Its object, we
+are told, "is the republication of scarce and valuable tracts,
+especially poetry."--"Republication!" In what manner? Commonsense forbid
+that the system of the London Roxburghe Club be adopted. Of this there
+are some four-and-twenty members or so, who dine together a certain
+number of times in the year, and each member in his turn republishes
+some old tract at his own expense. There are just so many copies printed
+as there are members of the club, and one copy is presented to each. It
+is evident that no sort of good can be effected by this system, and,
+indeed, there has not yet resulted any benefit to the literature of the
+country from the Roxburghe Club. They have not published a single book
+of any conceivable merit. The truth is that the members, for the most
+part, are a set of persons of no true taste, of no proper notion of
+learning and its uses--very considerable persons in point of wealth, but
+very _so-so_ in point of intellect.'
+
+[Illustration: _Thomas Frognall Dibdin, Bibliographer._]
+
+The primary aim and object of the Roxburghe Club were clearly enough
+indicated in the first list of members, for the association of men with
+kindred tastes is at all times a highly commendable one. The Roxburghe
+Club might have sustained its _raison d'etre_, if it had drawn the line
+at such men as Thomas Frognall Dibdin and Joseph Hazlewood. The
+foregoing extract from the _Museum_ of 1823 exactly indicates the
+position which the club at that time held in public estimation. It had
+degenerated into a mere drinking and gormandizing association, alike a
+disgrace to its more respectable members and an insult to the nobleman
+whose name it was dragging through the mire. Those who have an
+opportunity of consulting the _Athenaeum_ for 1834 will find, in the
+first four issues of January, one of the most scathing exposures to
+which any institution has ever been subjected. Hazlewood had died, and
+his books came into the sale-room. Never had the adage of 'Dead men tell
+no tales' been more completely falsified. Hazlewood, who does not seem
+to have been unpleasantly particular in telling the truth when living,
+told it with a vengeance after his death; for among his papers there was
+a bundle entitled 'Roxburghe Revels,' which Thorpe purchased for L40,
+the editor of the _Athenaeum_ being the under-bidder. A few days
+afterwards, and for the weighty consideration of a L10 note profit, the
+lot passed into the hands of Mr. Dilke, and the articles to which we
+have referred followed.[64:A] If anything could have made the deceased
+Joseph turn in his grave, it would have been the attention which he
+received at the unsparing hands of Mr. Dilke. The excellent Mr. Dibdin
+survived the exposure several years. The castigation proved beneficial
+to the club; and if its revelries were no less boisterous than
+heretofore, it at all events circulated among its members books worthy
+of the name of Roxburghe, and edited in a scholarly manner. The club
+still flourishes, with the Marquis of Salisbury as its president, and
+the list of its members will be found in our chapter on 'Modern
+Collectors.'
+
+[Illustration: _Rev. C. Mordaunt Cracherode, M.A., Book-collector._]
+
+One of the mighty book-hunters of the last century was the Rev. Clayton
+Mordaunt Cracherode (whose father went out as a commander of marines in
+Anson's ship, and whose share in the prize-money made him a wealthy
+man), who died on April 6, 1799, in his seventieth year. His splendid
+library now forms a part of the British Museum. It contains the most
+choice copies in classical and Biblical literature, and many of these
+are on vellum. His collection of editions of the fifteenth century Mr.
+Cracherode used modestly to call a 'specimen' one; 'they form perhaps
+the most perfect _collana_ or necklace ever strung by one man.' Several
+of the books formerly belonged to Grolier. His library was valued at
+L10,000 at or about the time of his death; it would probably now realize
+considerably over ten times that amount if submitted to auction. The
+value of his prints was placed at L5,000. Cracherode was an excellent
+scholar, and an amiable; his passion for collecting was strong even in
+death, for whilst he was at the last extremity his agent was making
+purchases for him. He was one of the most constant habitues of Tom
+Payne's, and at his final visit he put an Edinburgh Terence in one
+pocket and a large-paper Cebes in the other. His house was in Queen
+Square, Westminster, overlooking St. James's Park.
+
+Reverting once more to the change which had been effected in the fancies
+of book-collectors, James Bindley, whose library was sold after his
+decease in 1819, and James Perry, who died in 1821, may be regarded as
+typical collectors of the transition period. Both are essentially London
+book-hunters--the former was an official in the Stamp Office, and the
+latter was, _inter alia_, the editor of the _Morning Chronicle_.
+Bindley, to whom John Nichols dedicated his 'Literary Anecdotes,' was a
+book-hunter who made very practical use of his scholarly tastes and
+ample means. He haunted the bookstalls and shops with the pertinacity of
+a tax-gatherer, and if his original expenditure were placed by the side
+of the total which his collection of books brought after his death, no
+more convincing arguments in favour of book-hunting could possibly be
+needed. Bindley is the 'Leontes' of Dibdin's 'Bibliographical
+Decameron,' and his collection of poetical rarities of the sixteenth and
+seventeenth centuries was one of the most remarkable which had ever been
+got together. Not many of the items had cost him more than a few
+shillings each, and they realized almost as many pounds as he had paid
+shillings. Perry was a journalist first and a book-collector afterwards,
+but in many respects there was a great similarity in the tastes of the
+two rival bibliophiles. Perry's was the more extensive collection--it
+was sold in four parts, 1822-23--and perhaps on the whole much more
+generally interesting. Evans, the auctioneer, described it as 'an
+extraordinary assemblage of curious books, Early English poetry, old
+tracts and miscellaneous literature.' The _cheval de bataille_ of the
+fourth part consisted of 'a most Curious, Interesting and
+Extraordinarily Extensive Assemblage of Political and Historical
+Pamphlets of the Last and Present Century.' This collection was
+comprised in thirty-five bundles. Perry made a speciality of facetiae,
+pamphlets on the French Revolution, and Defoe's works, but the two
+cornerstones of his library were a copy of the Mazarin Bible and a First
+Folio Shakespeare.
+
+Among the many book-collectors whose careers link the past century with
+the present, few are more worthy of notice than Francis Douce, who died
+in the spring of 1834, aged seventy-seven. He was for a short time
+Keeper of the MSS. in the British Museum. His fortune was much increased
+by being left one of the residuary legatees of Nollekens, the
+sculptor--to the extent, in fact, of L50,000. Dibdin, who was for many
+years a near neighbour and intimate friend at Kensington, describes
+Douce's library as 'eminently rich and curious . . . not a book but what
+had its fly-leaf written upon. In short, no man ever lived so much with,
+and so entirely for, his books as did he.' Douce is the Prospero of the
+'Bibliomania.' His books he bequeathed to the Bodleian, and his MSS. to
+the British Museum, the stipulation in the latter case being that they
+are not to be opened until 1900! In manners and appearance Douce was
+singular and strange, rough to strangers, but gentle and kind to those
+who knew him intimately. He was of the old school as regards dress,
+wearing as he did a little flaxen wig, an old-fashioned square-cut coat,
+with what M. Jacob calls 'quarto pockets.' Several of his letters are
+printed in Dibdin's 'Literary Recollections.'
+
+Two other distinguished book-collectors, contemporary with Douce, and,
+like him, benefactors to the Bodleian, may be mentioned here--Richard
+Gough (1739-1809), the antiquary; and Edmond Malone (1741-1812), the
+Shakespearian scholar. Gough's gift consisted of the topographical
+portion of his library; the remainder, comprising 4,373 lots, realizing
+the total of L3,552, came under the hammer at Leigh and Sotheby's in
+1810, realizing what were then considered very fancy prices (a selection
+of which are given in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, lxxx., part ii.). The
+Malone collection, which became the property of the Bodleian through the
+influence of Lord Sunderlin in 1815, comprised what the collector
+himself describes as 'the most curious, valuable, and extensive
+collection ever assembled of ancient English plays and poetry.' It would
+probably be impossible now to form another such collection. Malone told
+Caldwell, who repeats the remarkable fact, that he had procured every
+dramatic piece mentioned by Langbaine, excepting four or five--the
+advantage, observes that gentleman, of living in London. The number of
+volumes amounts to about 3,200. As his biographer, Sir James Prior, has
+pointed out, his collection in the Bodleian remains distinct, and is
+creditable 'alike to the industry, taste, and patience by which it was
+brought together.' And further: 'None of his predecessors have attempted
+what he accomplished. Few of his successors have, on most points, added
+materially to our knowledge.' Yet a third benefactor to the Bodleian may
+be conveniently mentioned here. Thomas Caldecott, who was born in 1744,
+and died in 1833, was a Fellow of New College, Oxford, and afterwards a
+Bencher of the Middle Temple. He resided chiefly at Dartford, and formed
+a choice library of black-letter books, and the productions of the
+Elizabethan period. He attacked with considerable asperity and ability
+Shakespearian commentators, such as Steevens and Malone; and his rivals
+did not spare his edition of two of Shakespeare's plays when they came
+out. He presented the gems of his library, the Shakespeare quartos, to
+the Bodleian; but the remainder of his books, including many excessively
+rare and several unique pieces, came up for sale at Sotheby's in 1833,
+and realized a total of L1,210 6s. 6d.
+
+The splendid library of John Dent, of Hertford Street, sold by Evans in
+1827, producing the sum of L15,040, had a curious history. The nucleus
+of it was formed towards the close of the last century by Haughton
+James, who, in a moment of conviviality, and without a due consideration
+of its true value, transferred it to Robert Heathcote,[68:A] who made
+several additions, and from whose possession it passed about 1807 into
+that of John Dent. The sale of the Dent library is described by Dibdin
+as exhibiting the 'first grand melancholy symptoms of the decay of the
+Bibliomania.' The chief attraction was the Sweynheym and Pannartz Livy,
+1469, on vellum, which fell (in more senses than one) under the hammer
+for L262, Dent having paid L903 for it at Sir Mark Sykes' sale. Both the
+purchasers, Payne and Foss, and Dibdin, made strenuous efforts to
+persuade the Earl of Spencer to purchase it, but unsuccessfully; it
+subsequently became the property of Grenville, and passed with his
+collection into the British Museum. Dent is the Pontevallo of the
+'Bibliomania,' and Baroccio of the 'Bibliographical Decameron,' and does
+not seem to have been an altogether amiable specimen of the fraternity.
+Canning used to say that he once found Dent deep in the study of an open
+book which was upside down!
+
+A much more genial bibliomaniac, Sir William Bolland, calls for notice;
+he was one of the original members of the Roxburghe Club, which, in
+fact, was first suggested at a dinner-party at his house, June 4, 1812.
+He died May 14, 1840, aged sixty-eight, and his library, which comprised
+2,940 lots, and realized L3,019, was sold by Evans, and included many
+choice books. One of the greatest bargains which this distinguished
+collector secured during his career became his property through the
+medium of Benjamin Wheatley, who purchased a bundle of poetical tracts
+from the Chapter Library at Lincoln for 80 guineas. When the inevitable
+sale came, one of these trifles, 'The Rape of Lucrece,' alone realized
+100 guineas.
+
+George Chalmers (1742-1825), who is described as 'the most learned and
+the most celebrated of all the antiquaries and historians of Scotland,'
+was also one of the giant book-collectors of the present century, and
+differed from the majority of collectors in being a prolific and
+versatile author. At his death his nephew became the possessor of his
+extensive library, but on the death of the nephew the books were placed
+in the hands of Evans, who sold them in two parts, September, 1841, and
+February, 1842, and realized over L4,100. The second part was very rich
+in Shakespeariana, and included the 'Sonnets,' 1609, L105; 'Midsummer
+Night's Dream,' 1600 (second edition), L105; and many other important
+items. In the first part of the sale, Marlowe's 'Tragedie of Richard,
+Duke of York,' 1595 (believed to be unique), sold for L131; and the only
+perfect copy then known of Patrick Hannay's 'Nightingale,' 1622, from
+the libraries of Bindley, Perry, Sykes and Rice, L13 5s. The third part
+of Chalmers' library, which consisted for the most part of works
+relative to Scotland, particularly in illustration of the History of
+Printing in that Country, was also sold by Evans in 1842. Among other
+book-collectors of this period we may mention particularly the Rev.
+Henry Joseph Thomas Drury, whose library was rich in classics, all for
+the most part finely bound; it came under the hammer at Evans's in 1827
+(4,729 lots); Dr. Isaac Gosset, who died in 1812, in his sixty-eighth
+year, and whose library, comprising 5,740 lots, realized L3,141 7s. 6d.
+at Leigh and Sotheby's in 1813; the Rev. Jonathan Boucher (1738-1804),
+Vicar of Epsom, who, like George Chalmers, for many years resided in
+America, was, also like him, an inveterate book-collector to whom
+everything in the shape of a book was welcome: his sale occupied Leigh
+and Sotheby thirty-nine days, in 1806, the total being over L4,510.
+
+
+III.
+
+The history of the second and third quarters of the present century
+makes mention of very few collectors of the first rank. Among the more
+important of those whose libraries came under the hammer within that
+period, we may specially refer to the following: William Upcott, who
+started early in life as an assistant to R. H. Evans, but who in 1806
+became sub-librarian of the London Institution. He was one of the first
+to take up autograph-collecting, of which, indeed, he has been termed
+the pioneer. He certainly collected with great advantage and knowledge,
+and his vast accumulations were sold at Sotheby's in four batches
+during 1846, he having died in September, 1845; John Hugh Smyth Piggott,
+whose library, in three portions, was sold at the same place, 1847-54;
+W. Y. Ottley, the prolific writer of books on art, 1849; W. Holgate, of
+the Post Office, whose library included a number of Shakespeariana,
+June, 1846; Hanrott, 1857; Sir Thomas Bernard, 1855; Isaac D'Israeli,
+the author of 'Curiosities of Literature,' in 1849, and his unsparing
+critic, Bolton Corney, in 1871; S. W. Singer, in four parts, 1860; J.
+Orchard Halliwell (afterwards Halliwell-Phillipps), in 1856, 1857, and
+1859; and the Rev. Dr. Hawtrey, part of whose books were sold, far below
+their worth, in 1853, and the rest nine years later. Many of the
+foregoing were literary men, who aimed rather at getting together a
+useful library than one of rarities. The sale of all such libraries
+makes a very sorry show beside that of the more ostentatious
+collections. For instance, the books which Macaulay used with such
+brilliant effect, and including among them an extraordinary number of
+tracts, many excessively rare, only realized L426 15s. 6d., when sold in
+1863 in 1,011 lots. Douglas Jerrold's little library, sold in August,
+1859, in 307 lots, only fetched L173 3s. In very strong contrast to
+these is the remarkable little library, formed between 1820 and 1830 by
+Henry Perkins, of Hanworth Park, Feltham, a member of the brewing firm.
+This collection comprised only 865 lots, but when sold at Sotheby's in
+June, 1873, the total was found to be close on L26,000! There was a
+copy each of the 42-line and 40-line Gutenberg Bible--the former is now
+in the Huth Library, and the latter in the Ashburnham Library; several
+other very early printed Bibles, including Coverdale's, Matthews', and
+Cranmer's, two works printed by Caxton, with many other important books
+were sold.
+
+[Illustration: _J. O. Halliwell-Phillipps._]
+
+The late George Daniel (who was born about 1790) may be regarded as the
+connecting link between the collectors of the early part of the present
+century and those of to-day. When, for example, Perry and Bindley left
+off, Daniel commenced. There was no great rush after Shakespeare quartos
+in the earlier part of the present century, and book-collecting for a
+time ceased to be the pet hobby of wealthy members of the peerage. When
+George Daniel, a critic and bibliographer of exceptional abilities,
+began to collect, he soon made Shakespeare, as well as the earlier
+English poets, objects of solicitude. He resided for many years in the
+historic old red-brick tower at Canonbury.[72:A] The sale of Daniel's
+extraordinary collection was held at Sotheby's in July, 1864, when a
+First Folio, one of the finest in the world--now in the possession of
+Baroness Burdett-Coutts--sold for L716 2s., and when twenty of the
+Shakespeare quartos realized a total of about L3,000.
+
+[Illustration: _Canonbury Tower, George Daniel's Residence._]
+
+George Daniel is now remembered by but few book-collectors. Mr. W. Carew
+Hazlitt knew him very well, and describes him as a retired accountant,
+whose idiosyncrasy consisted of _rares morceaux_, _bonnes bouches_,
+uniques--copies of books with a _provenance_, or in jackets made for
+them by Roger Payne--nay, in the original parchment or paper wrapper, or
+in a bit of real mutton which certain men call sheep. He was a person
+of literary tastes, and had written books in his day. But his chief
+celebrity was as an acquirer of those of others, provided always that
+they were old enough or rare enough. An item never passed into his
+possession without at once _ipso facto_ gaining new attributes, almost
+invariably worded in a holograph memorandum on the fly-leaf. Daniel was
+in the market at a fortunate and peculiar juncture, just when prices
+were depressed, about the time of the great Heber sale. His marvellous
+gleanings came to the hammer precisely when the quarto Shakespeare, the
+black-letter romance, the unique book of Elizabethan verse, had grown
+worth ten times their weight in sovereigns. Sir William Tite, J. O.
+Halliwell, and Henry Huth were to the front. It was in 1864. What a
+wonderful sight it was! No living man had ever witnessed the like.
+Copies of Shakespeare, printed from the prompters' MSS. and published at
+fourpence, fetched L300 or L400. I remember old Joseph Lilly, when he
+had secured the famous Ballads, which came from the Tollemaches of
+Helmingham Hall, holding up the folio volume in which they were
+contained in triumph as someone whom he knew entered the room. Poor
+Daniel! he had no mean estimate of his treasures--what he had was always
+better than what you had. Books, prints, autographs--it was all the
+same. I met him one morning in Long Acre. I had bought a very fine copy
+of Taylor, the Water Poet. "Oh, yes, sir," he said, "I saw it; but not
+quite so fine as mine." He went up to Highgate to look through the
+engravings of Charles Matthews the elder. They were all duplicates--of
+course inferior ones. "Damn him, sir!" cried Matthews afterwards to a
+friend; "I should like him to have had a duplicate of my wooden leg."
+
+John Payne Collier, who was born a year before Daniel, but who lived
+until 1883, was a collector with very similar tastes. He had been a
+reporter on the _Morning Chronicle_, and in all probability imbibed some
+of his book-collecting zeal from Perry. His book-buying and literary
+career commenced, according to his own account, in 1804 or 1805, when
+his father took him into the shop of Thomas Rodd, senior, on which
+occasion he purchased his 'first Old English book of any value,' namely,
+Wilson's 'Art of Logic,' printed by Grafton, 1551; from this he
+ascertained that 'Ralf Roister Doister' was an older play than 'Gammer
+Gurton's Needle,' and also that it was by Nicholas Udal, Master of Eton
+School. When in Holland, in the winter of 1813-14, Collier purchased
+among other books an imperfect copy of Tyndale's 'Gospel of St.
+Matthew,' to which, as he says in his 'Diary,' 'the date of 1526 [1525]
+has been assigned, and which seems to be the very earliest translation
+into English of any portion of the New Testament. Many years
+afterwards--I think in the spring of 1832--I happened to show it to
+Rodd, the learned bookseller. I was at that time ignorant on the
+subject, and Rodd offered me books to the value of two or three pounds
+for it. I gladly accepted them.' This fragment, for which Collier paid a
+florin, was sold to Mr. Grenville by Rodd for L50, and is now in the
+British Museum. Writing in the _Athenaeum_, January 31, 1852, he gives an
+account of the origin of events which led to one of the fiercest
+literary quarrels of modern times: 'A short time before the death of the
+late Mr. Rodd, of Newport Street [_i.e._ early in 1849], I happened to
+be in his shop when a considerable parcel of books arrived from the
+country. He told me that they had been bought for him at an auction--I
+think in Bedfordshire. . . . He unpacked them in my presence . . . and
+there were two which attracted my attention, one being a fine copy of
+Florio's "Italian Dictionary," of the edition of 1611, and the other a
+much-thumbed, abused, and imperfect copy of the Second Folio of
+Shakespeare, 1632. The first I did not possess, and the last I was
+willing to buy, inasmuch as I apprehended it would add some missing
+leaves to a copy of the same impression which I had had for some time on
+my shelves. As was his usual course, Mr. Rodd required a very reasonable
+price for both; for the first I remember I gave 12s. and for the last
+only L1 10s. . . . On the outside of one of the covers was inscribed,
+"Tho. Perkins, his booke."' Collier was vexed at finding that the volume
+contained no leaves which would help him in completing the volume he
+already had. He had employed another person to do the collating, and it
+was not until some considerable time after, and on examining thoroughly
+the volume himself, that he discovered it to contain a large series of
+emendations, which Collier included in his 'Notes and Emendations to the
+Text of Shakespeare's Plays,' 1853, which set the whole town by the
+ears. Collier's library was dispersed at Sotheby's in 1884; it was an
+unusually interesting sale, and included many very rare and curious
+books.
+
+[Illustration: _Samuel Taylor Coleridge._
+
+From the Portrait by G. Dawe, R.A., 1812.]
+
+Southey, Coleridge, Charles Lamb, Wordsworth, and William Hazlitt were
+book-collectors of a type which deserves a niche to itself. Writing to
+Coleridge in 1797, Lamb says: 'I have had thoughts of turning Quaker,
+and have been reading, or am, rather, just beginning to read, a most
+capital book, good thoughts in good language, William Penn's "No Cross,
+no Crown." I like it immensely.' Lamb's ideas of book-marking are to be
+found in his correspondence with Coleridge, in which he states that a
+book reads the better when the topography of its plots and notes is
+thoroughly mastered, and when we 'can trace the dirt in it, to having
+read it at tea with buttered muffins, or over a pipe.' Lamb's library
+consisted for the most part of tattered volumes in a dreadful state of
+repair. Lamb, like Young, the poet, dog-eared his books to such an
+extent that many of them would hardly close at all. From the
+correspondence of Bernard Barton we get a glimpse at Lamb's cottage in
+Colebrook Row, Islington--a white house with six good rooms. 'You enter
+without passage into a cheerful dining-room, all studded over and rough
+with old books.' Barton also writes: 'What chiefly attracted me was a
+large old book-case full of books. I could but think how many long walks
+must have been taken to bring them home, for there were but few that
+did not bear the mark of having been bought at many a bookstall--brown,
+dark-looking books, distinguished by those white tickets which told how
+much their owner had given for each.'
+
+[Illustration: _Lamb's Cottage at Colebrook Row, Islington._]
+
+In an edition of Donne [? 1669] which belonged to Lamb, Coleridge
+scrawled: 'I shall die soon, my dear Charles Lamb, and then you will not
+be vexed that I have be-scribbled your book. S. T. C., 2nd May, 1811.'
+Lamb was too good-natured to be a book-collector. On one occasion
+William Hazlitt[77:A] sent Martin Burney to Lamb to borrow Wordsworth's
+'Excursion,' and Lamb being out, Burney took it, a high-handed
+proceeding which involved the borrower in a blowing-up. Coleridge at
+another time helped himself to Luther's 'Table-Talk,' and this also
+called forth a great outcry. A copy of Chapman's Homer, which passed
+through the hands of Wordsworth and S. T. Coleridge, eventually turned
+up in one of Lilly's catalogues. This identical copy is noticed in an
+account of Rydal Mount which appeared in the first volume of _Once a
+Week_. Coleridge, of course, has made a number of notes in it, and in
+one of these he describes the translation as 'an exquisite poem, spite
+of its frequent and perverse quaintness and harshnesses, which are,
+however, amply repaid by almost unexampled sweetness and beauty of
+language.'
+
+[Illustration: _William Hazlitt._]
+
+The difference between a bibliophile and a bibliomaniac has been
+described as between one who adorns his mind, and the other his
+book-cases. Of the bibliomaniac as here characterized, we can suggest no
+better type than Thomas Hill, the original of Poole's 'Paul Pry,' and of
+Hull in Hook's novel, 'Gilbert Gurney.' Devoid as Hill was of
+intellectual endowments, he managed to obtain and secure the friendship
+of many eminent men--of Thomas Campbell, the poet, Matthews and Liston,
+the comedians, Hook, Dubois, John and Leigh Hunt, James and Horace
+Smith, John Taylor, editor of the _Sun_, Horace Twiss, Baron Field, Sir
+George Rose, Barnes, subsequently editor of the _Times_, Cyrus Redding,
+and many others. That he was kind-hearted and hospitable nearly everyone
+has testified, and his literary parties at his Sydenham Tusculum were
+quite important events, in spite of the ponderosity of his well-worn
+stories. During the more acute stages of bibliomania in this country at
+the latter part of the last century and the beginning of this, 'when the
+Archaica, Heliconia, and Roxburghe Clubs were outbidding each other for
+old black-letter works . . . when books, in short, which had only become
+scarce because they were always worthless, were purchased upon the same
+principle as that costly and valueless coin, a Queen Anne's farthing,'
+Hill had been a constant collector of rare and other books which were in
+demand. That he knew nothing of the insides of his books is very
+certain; but he knew how much each copy would bring at an auction, and
+how much it had brought at all previous sales. When the bibliomania had
+reached its height, Messrs. Longman and Co. determined upon embarking in
+such a lucrative branch of the trade; they applied to Hill for advice
+and assistance, offering to begin by the purchase of his entire
+collection, a proposition which he embraced with alacrity. He drew up a
+_catalogue raisonne_ of his books, affixing his price for each volume.
+The collection was despatched in three or four trunks to Paternoster
+Row, and he received in payment the acceptances of the firm for as many
+thousand pounds. From some cause or other, the purchasers soon repented
+of their bargain, but the only terms which Horace Smith could obtain for
+the Longmans was an extension in the term of payment. Hill declared that
+the collection was worth double the price he had been paid for it. For
+many years Hill assisted Perry, of the _Morning Chronicle_, in making
+selections of rare books for his fine library at Tavistock House,
+particularly in the department of facetiae. After leaving Sydenham, Hill
+took chambers in James Street, Adelphi, where he resided until his
+death. The walls of his rooms were completely hidden by books, and his
+couch was 'enclosed in a lofty circumvallation of volumes piled up from
+the carpet.' He was never married, had no relations, and even his age
+was a source of mystery to his friends. James Smith once said to him:
+'The fact is, Hill, the register of your birth was destroyed in the
+Great Fire of London, and you take advantage of the accident to conceal
+your real age.' Hook went further by suggesting that he might originally
+have been one of the little hills recorded as skipping in the Psalms.
+Hill died in 1840, his age being placed at eighty-three years. Horace
+Smith said 'he could not believe that Hill was dead, and he could not
+insult a man he had known so long; Hill would reappear.'
+
+[Illustration: _Thomas Hill, after Maclise._]
+
+Samuel Rogers, the banker poet, was also a book-collector, but not in
+the sense of one who aims at number. His house at 22, St. James's Place,
+overlooking Green Park, was for over half a century--he had removed
+here from the Temple about 1803--one of the most celebrated
+meeting-places of literature and art in London. Byron, in his 'Diary,'
+says, 'If you enter his house--his drawing-room, his library--you of
+yourself say, This is not the dwelling of a common mind. There is not a
+gem, a coin, a book, thrown aside on his chimney-piece, his sofa, his
+table, that does not bespeak an almost fastidious elegance in the
+possessor.' A writer in the _Athenaeum_ of December 29, 1855, a few days
+after the poet's death, describes the library as 'lined with bookcases
+surmounted by Greek vases, each one remarkable for its exquisite beauty
+of form. Upon the gilt lattice-work of the bookcases are lightly hung in
+frames some of the finest original sketches by Raphael, Michelangelo,
+and Andrea del Sarto; and finished paintings by Angelico da Fiesole, and
+Fouquet of Tours.' Among the treasures of the library were the MSS. of
+Gray, in their perfect calligraphy, and the famous agreement between
+Milton and the publisher Simmonds, for the copyright of 'Paradise Lost.'
+
+[Illustration: _Samuel Rogers's House in St. James's Place._]
+
+[Illustration: Sam{l} Rogers]
+
+Tom Moore the poet, and his friend and fellow-countryman, Thomas
+Crofton Croker, were both book-collectors. The library of the former
+was, in 1855, presented by his widow to the Royal Irish Academy, 'as a
+memorial of her husband's taste and erudition.' Croker's books, which
+were dispersed after his death, contain an exceedingly curious
+book-plate, either indicating the possessor's residence, 'Rosamond's
+Bower, Fulham,' or '3, Gloucester Road, Old Brompton,' the various
+learned societies to which he belonged, with the additional information
+that he was founder and president (1828-1848) of the Society of
+Novimagus. Charles Dickens, Thackeray, W. Harrison Ainsworth (the
+collection of the last was sold at Sotheby's in 1882, and realized L469
+19s. 6d.), and Charles Lever were not book-collectors in the usual sense
+of the word.
+
+[Illustration: _Alexander Dyce, Book-collector._]
+
+Among the more notable literary men who were also book-collectors of
+this period, whose libraries are still preserved intact, are Alexander
+Dyce and John Forster. Their collections, now at South Kensington, are
+perhaps more particularly notable for the extraordinary number of books
+which were once the property of famous men. Mr. Dyce, who was born in
+Edinburgh, June, 1798, and died in 1869, bequeathed to the Museum 14,000
+books, whilst the library of his friend and executor, John Forster
+(1812-1876), contained upwards of 18,000 books, in addition to a number
+of autographs, pictures, etc. The more interesting books of a 'personal'
+nature in these two libraries are the following: Drayton's 'Battaile of
+Agincourt,' 1627, a presentation copy to Sir Henry Willoughby, with
+inscription in Drayton's autograph; a French cookery-book, with Gray's
+autograph on the title; Ben Jonson's copy (with his autograph) of the
+first collected edition of Marston's plays, 1633; a copy of Steele's
+'Christian Hero,' with some verses in his autograph addressed to Dr.
+Ellis, Head-master of the Charterhouse when Steele was at school.
+Sheridan's plays include a presentation copy of 'The Rivals,' with an
+inscription to David Garrick. The foregoing are all in the Dyce
+Collection.
+
+[Illustration: Ben: Jonson]
+
+[Illustration:
+
+ To
+ My Lord Tutour D{r}. Ellis
+
+ With Secret impulse thus do Streams return
+ To that Capacious Ocean whence they're born:
+ Oh Would but Fortune come w{th}. bounty fraught
+ Proportion'd to y{e} mind w{ch}. thou hast taught!
+
+ Till then let these unpolish'd leaves impart
+ The Humble Offering of a Gratefull Heart
+
+ Rich{d}. Steele]
+
+[Illustration: David Garrick Esq{r}.
+
+From The Author.]
+
+That of John Forster includes a copy of Addison's 'Travels in Italy,'
+with an autograph inscription by the author: 'To Dr. Jonathan Swift, the
+most Agreeable Companion, the Truest Friend, and the Greatest Genius of
+his age, this Book is presented by his most Humble Servant the Author.'
+Among the many books on America, there is one with John Locke's
+autograph. The copy of the fourth edition of Byron's 'English Bards and
+Scotch Reviewers,' 1811, is that which was given by the author to Leigh
+Hunt, and contains the poet's autograph and many corrections; a
+presentation copy of Flatman's 'Poems and Songs,' 1682, to Izaak Walton,
+who has inscribed his autograph in it; Gay's copy of Horace; some
+proof-sheets of Johnson's 'Lives of the Poets;' a copy of Keats's
+'Lamia,' 1820, with an autograph inscription and a sonnet 'On the
+Grasshopper and the Cricket,' also in the poet's handwriting; Gray's
+copy of Locke's 'Essay concerning Human Understanding,' a copy of the
+'Dunciad,' 1729, with the inscription 'Jonath: Swift, 1729, amicissimi
+autoris donum'; and Isaac Newton's copy of Wheare's 'Method and Order of
+Reading Histories,' 1685.
+
+[Illustration: John Locke]
+
+[Illustration:
+
+ Izaak Walton July 3{o}
+ 1682 given me, by
+ the author.]
+
+[Illustration: E Libris I. Newton.]
+
+Apropos of books of distinguished ownership, the collecting of them
+sometimes takes an eccentric turn; for example, the third Lord Holland
+brought together all the various copies (now at Holland House) upon
+which he could lay hands of Fox's 'History of the Reign of James II.,'
+which belonged to distinguished people, and amongst these former owners
+were Sir James Mackintosh, Sir Philip Francis, C. E. Jerningham, Rogers,
+and General Fitzpatrick; and as many of the copies contained MS. notes,
+the interest of the collection will be readily understood.
+
+A brief review of the principal book-collectors whose libraries--formed
+for the most part by men who lived in London--have been dispersed during
+the past dozen years will not be without interest; those which have been
+already referred to are, of course, omitted here. James Comerford,
+F.S.A., by profession a notary public, who inherited from his father a
+love of books, and also a considerable collection, had an exceedingly
+fine library, which consisted for the most part of topographical works,
+many of them on large paper with proof-plates. He was in his
+seventy-sixth year when he died, and his books, which were sold at
+Sotheby's in November, 1882 (thirteen days), realized a total of L8,327
+13s. Frederic Ouvry, who died in June, 1881, was partner in the firm of
+Farrer, Ouvry, and Co., of Lincoln's Inn; he was elected a Fellow of the
+Society of Antiquaries in 1848, and for twenty years was the society's
+treasurer, and succeeded Earl Stanhope as president. He was a man of
+considerable means, and formed one of the most interesting and most
+choice of modern libraries. Many of his books fetched far higher sums
+than he had paid for them; for example, Drummond of Hawthornden's 'Forth
+Fasting,' 1617, cost him in 1858 L8 15s.--at his sale it fetched L60;
+and Lodge's 'Rosalynd,' 1598, advanced from L5 10s. to L63. Mr. Ouvry
+was an intimate friend of both Mr. Gladstone and Charles Dickens; a copy
+of the former's 'Gleanings of Past Years' was a presentation one from
+the author, and had the following inscription, 'Frederic Ouvry, Esq.,
+from W. E. G., in memory of the work we have done together for fourteen
+years in full harmony of thought and act.' There were 177 autograph
+letters from Dickens, which sold for L150. The four folio Shakespeares
+sold for L420, L46, L116, L28; a copy of the first edition of Spenser's
+'Faerie Queene,' 1590-96, L33; a copy of Daniel's 'Delia,' 1592, with
+corrections, supposed to be by the author, L88. The total of the six
+days' sale was L6,169 2s.
+
+A very remarkable library came under the hammer at Sotheby's on March
+21-25, 1884, when the unique collection of the late Francis Bedford, the
+eminent binder, was sold. The beauty of the bindings was naturally the
+most striking feature of the library, but there were many books which
+were rare or historically interesting apart from their coverings. For
+example, there was the identical Prayer-Book that was found in the
+pocket of Charles I. immediately after his execution; a copy of the
+Breeches Bible printed in Scotland, 1579; one of the Pearl Bible, 1653;
+a very fine copy of the 'Chronicon Nurembergense,' 1493. Bedford's own
+_chef d'oeuvre_, a magnificent copy of Rogers' 'Italy' and 'Poems,' in
+olive morocco, super extra, realized L116, whilst the total of the five
+days' sale was L4,867 6s. 6d.
+
+Among the more notable collections sold during 1885-7, that of the late
+Leonard Laurie Hartley, at Puttick's, may be mentioned, containing as it
+did some important books. Mr. Hartley has been described as a voracious
+collector, and would buy almost anything the dealers offered him, and
+almost at any price; hence he speedily became known as a good client,
+and doubtless paid 'through the nose' for very many articles. The
+extraordinarily extensive collection of books and manuscripts formed by
+the late Sir Thomas Phillipps (who died in 1867), of Middle Hill,
+Worcestershire, and Thirlestaine House, Cheltenham, commenced selling at
+Sotheby's in 1886, and the supply is not yet by any means exhausted. Up
+to March, 1895, seven portions had been dispersed, the total being
+L15,766. Perhaps the most interesting item in this vast collection was
+the original autograph manuscript of Sir Walter Scott's 'Life of Swift,'
+which realized L230 in June, 1893.
+
+During 1886 and 1887 the collections of two of the most genuine
+book-hunters that ever lived came under the hammer. Professor Edward
+Solly's extensive library of about 40,000 volumes, and comprising many
+rare books on Defoe, Pope, Swift, Dryden, Samuel Butler, Johnson, Gray,
+Cobbett, Paine, and also books of topography, biography, history,
+travel, antiquities, bibliography, etc., only realized the total of
+L1,544 13s. 6d. (November, 1886). The equally interesting library of the
+late W. J. Thoms, founder of _Notes and Queries_, and Deputy-Librarian
+of the House of Lords, realized two months after Mr. Solly's sale L1,094
+9s. Mr. Thoms' library was considerably smaller than that of his friend
+Mr. Solly, but they ran on very similar lines, Mr. Thoms' being
+particularly strong in quaint and out-of-the-way books relating to Pope,
+Junius, George IV., Queen Caroline, Princess Olive of Cumberland,
+Reynard the Fox, and Longevity. The first part of the library of another
+indefatigable book-hunter, Cornelius Walford, came under the hammer at
+the same place (Sotheby's) in February, 1887. Some interesting books
+were included in the four days' sale of the library of Sir William
+Hardy, F.S.A., late Deputy-Keeper of the Public Records (December,
+1886), but the books were chiefly first editions of modern authors.
+
+[Illustration: _W. J. Thoms, Book-collector._
+
+Founder of _Notes and Queries_.]
+
+But the two great collections of books, equally celebrated in their way,
+with, however, little in common, which give to the year 1887 a most
+special importance, were those of the Earl of Crawford, and the first
+portion of the late James T. Gibson Craig's (of Edinburgh), both of
+which were dispersed in June, each occupying Messrs. Sotheby ten days in
+the dispersal. The Crawford sale of 2,146 lots realized a total of
+L19,073 9s. 6d., or an average of over L8 17s. per lot, whilst the
+Gibson Craig sale of 2,927 lots produced only L6,803 8s., or an average
+of a little over L2 6s. The former included, however, a perfect copy of
+the Mazarin or Gutenberg Bible, which realized L2,650, and a copy of
+Fust and Schoeffer's Bible, 1462, which sold for L1,025. Coverdale's
+Bible realized L226, and Tyndale's Bible L255, whilst Tyndale's New
+Testament, printed at Antwerp by Emperour, brought L230. The celebrated
+block-book, the Apocalypse of St. John, generally regarded as the second
+attempt in xylographic printing, realized L500. Sir Philip Sidney's
+'Arcadia,' 1590, first edition, sold for L93. (It may be here mentioned
+that the second portion of the Crawford library was sold in June, 1889,
+when 1,105 lots realized L7,324 4s. 6d.--three Caxtons produced a total
+of L588; Cicero, 'Old Age,' 1481, etc., L320; Higden's 'Policronicon,'
+1482, L33; and 'Christine of Pisa,' 1489, L235.) The Gibson Craig
+collection was essentially a modern one, and included a number of finely
+illustrated books. One of the chief rarities was a copy of the first
+edition of 'Robinson Crusoe,' which fetched L50. There were also a
+number of autograph letters and MSS. of Sir Walter Scott, the most
+important of which was the MS. of the 'Chronicles of the Canongate,'
+L141. The second and third portions of the Gibson Craig library were
+sold in March and November, 1888, the total of the three sales being
+L15,509 4s. 6d. The library of the Earl of Aylesford was sold at
+Christie's, March 6-16, 1888; and in June and November of the same year,
+the extensive collection of the late R. S. Turner, of the Albany,
+occupied Messrs. Sotheby twenty-eight days, 7,568 lots realizing a total
+of over L16,000. A previous sale of 774 items of his books occurred in
+France in 1878, and realized 319,100 francs. Turner's books included
+many exceedingly choice volumes bound by the most eminent craftsmen,
+such as Clovis Eve, Deseuil, Bozet, Derome, Padeloup, Cape,
+Trautz-Bauzonnet, Roger Payne, Bedford, and Riviere. Turner was born in
+1819, and died in June, 1887. Perhaps the great book sensation of 1888
+occurred in the sale at Christie's when a portion of the library of the
+late Lord Chancellor Hardwicke ('The Wimpole Library') was sold, and
+when a dozen tracts relating to America, bound together in a quarto
+volume, realized the unheard-of sum of L555. In the same sale also there
+were three Caxtons: the 'Game and Play of Chesse,' 1475-76, first
+edition, but not quite perfect, L260; and 'The Myrrour of the Worlde;'
+and Tullius 'De Amicitia,' both imperfect, in one volume, L60.
+
+We can only briefly allude here to some of the more important
+collections which have been sold in London during the past six years. In
+the majority of instances they were the possession of deceased
+individuals, who for the most part lived out of London. In February,
+1889, the Hopetoun House Library, the property of the Right Hon. the
+Earl of Hopetoun, was sold at Sotheby's, 1,263 lots realizing L6,117
+6s., the most important items in the sale being a copy of the
+Gutenberg-Fust Latin Bible, 1450-55, L2,000, and the _editio princeps_
+Virgil, 1469, L590. The library of Mr. John Mansfield Mackenzie, of
+Edinburgh, sold at the same place in the following March (2,368 lots =
+L7,072), was one of the most important collections dispersed in recent
+years; it was especially rich in first editions of modern writers, in
+_curious_ books, and in literature relating to the drama; it included an
+exceedingly extensive series of Cruikshankiana, many of which realized
+prices which have not since been maintained. The most important lots in
+the sale of a selection from the library of the Duke of Buccleuch, at
+Sotheby's, March 25-27, 1889, were five Caxtons, viz.: 'Dictes and
+Sayengis of the Philosophirs,' 1477, first edition, L650; 'The
+Chronicles of England,' first edition, 1480, L470; the same, second
+edition, 1482, L45; Higden's 'Descripcion of Britayne,' 1480, L195; and
+the 'Royal Book, or Book for a King' (? 1487), L365.
+
+[Illustration: _Hollingbury Copse, the Residence of the late Mr.
+Halliwell-Phillipps._]
+
+Many interesting items occurred in the sale (July, 1889) of the library
+of the late J. O. Halliwell-Phillipps (one of the most distinguished of
+London book-hunters), which occurred a few months after the venerable
+owner's death. The amount realized for 1,291 lots was L2,298 10s. 6d.;
+and among them were several Shakespeare quartos, in all instances
+slightly imperfect. By far the most important feature of the
+Shakespearian rarities, drawings and engravings, preserved at
+Hollingbury Copse, near Brighton--'that quaint wigwam on the Sussex
+Downs which had the honour of sheltering more record and artistic
+evidences connected with the personal history of the great dramatist
+than are to be found in any other of the world's libraries'--still
+remains intact, according to the late owner's direction. It was offered
+to the Corporation of Birmingham for L7,000, but without avail. The
+collection comprises early engraved portraits of Shakespeare, authentic
+personal relics, documentary evidences respecting his estates and
+individuals connected with his biography, and artistic illustrations of
+localities connected with his personal history. The most important of
+the several hundred items is perhaps the unique early proof of the
+famous Droeshout portrait, for which Halliwell-Phillipps gave L100, and
+for which an American collector offered him L1,000. A calendar of this
+extraordinary assembly was very carefully edited by Mr. E. E. Baker,
+F.S.A., in 1891, and the collection is still intact. Writing in June,
+1887, Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps himself tells us that for nearly half a
+century he had been an ardent Shakespearian collector, 'being most
+likely the only survivor of the little band who attended the sale of the
+library of George Chalmers somewhere about the year 1840. But for a long
+time, attempting too much in several directions with insufficient
+means, and harassed, moreover, by a succession of lawsuits, including
+two in the Court of Torture--I mean Chancery--I was unable to retain my
+accumulations; and thus it came to pass that bookcase full after
+bookcase full were disposed of, some by private contract, many under the
+vibrations of the auctioneer's hammer. This state of affairs continued
+till February, 1872, but since that period, by a strict limitation of my
+competitive resources to one subject--the Life of Shakespeare--I have
+managed to jog along without parting with a single article of any
+description.'
+
+A much more important collection of Shakespeariana than that which
+appeared in the Halliwell-Phillipps sale came under the hammer at the
+same place a few days afterwards, when the late Frederick Perkins's
+library was dispersed (2,086 lots realized L8,222 7s.). The sale, in
+fact, was the most important in this respect since that of George Daniel
+in 1864, to which, however, the Perkins Collection was considerably
+inferior. Mr. Perkins had spent many years of search and a large sum of
+money in collecting early editions of Shakespeare, but during the past
+thirty years not only has their value gone up in an appalling degree,
+but they are for the most part positively unprocurable. Under these
+depressing conditions, Mr. Perkins managed nevertheless to obtain
+eighteen first or very early quarto editions of Shakespeare's plays; and
+poor as is this show when compared with that of George Daniel, it is
+doubtful whether a sale so extensive from the particular point of view
+under consideration as that of Mr. Perkins can be expected until well
+into the next century. The highest price was paid for 'The Second Part
+of Henrie the Fourth,' 1600, L225; 'Romeo and Juliet,' 1599, fetched
+L164; the 'Merchant of Venice,' 1600 (printed by J. Roberts), L121;
+'Henry V.,' 1608, third edition, L99. The First Folio fetched L415.
+
+The dispersals of book-collections in 1890 included a few of
+considerable note. The exceedingly extensive one, for example, of the
+late Sir Edward Sullivan, Bart., Lord Chancellor of Ireland, was highly
+interesting as illustrating a phase of book-collecting which is now all
+but obsolete. It was rich in the classics, which three-quarters of a
+century ago would have created the greatest excitement. It occupied
+twenty-one days (May-June), when 6,919 lots realized a total of L10,982
+3s.--a highly satisfactory result, when the general depreciation in the
+market value of the classics is considered. The extensive library of Mr.
+Thomas Gaisford (2,218 lots, L9,182 15s. 6d.), which was sold in April,
+1890, included not only some fine editions of the classics, but a
+remarkable series of Blake's works, first editions of Keats, Byron,
+Shelley, Swinburne, the four folio editions of Shakespeare, and a few
+quartos, notably the 'Merry Wives of Windsor,' 1602, L385; 'Love's
+Labour Lost,' 1598, L140; and 'Much Adoe about Nothing,' 1600, L130, all
+first editions. Some very interesting and rare Shakespeare items
+occurred also in the sale of the library of the late Frederick William
+Cosens, 1890, _e.g._, 'Merchant of Venice,' 1600, L270; and the 'Poems,'
+1640, L61. The dramatic library of the late Frank Marshall (Sotheby's,
+June, 1890, L2,187 14s. 6d.), and the angling books of the late Francis
+Francis (Puttick's, July, 1890), were interesting collections in the way
+of special books.
+
+The most noteworthy collections dispersed in 1891 included the Walton
+Hall library of the late Edward Hailstone, who was D.L. of the West
+Riding, Yorkshire (sold in February and April, 5,622 lots, L8,991 5s.
+6d.), among which were many books of an exceedingly curious character;
+and the 'Lakelands' library of the late W. H. Crawford, of Lakelands,
+co. Cork (3,428 lots, L21,255 19s. 6d.), remarkable on account of its
+copy of the Valdarfer Boccaccio, 1471, L230; a copy (? unique) of
+Caviceo, 'Dialogue treselegant intitule le Peregrin,' 1527, on vellum,
+with the arms of France, L355; the Landino edition of Dante, 1481, with
+the engravings by Bacio Baldini from the designs by Botticelli, L360;
+Shakespeare's 'Lucrece,' 1594, L250, and 'Merchant of Venice,' 1600,
+L111; and the 'Legenda Aurea,' printed by Caxton, 1483, L465. The
+topographical and general library of the late Lord Brabourne was sold in
+May, 1891, also at Sotheby's; whilst the remainder of this library was
+sold at Puttick's in June, 1893. The collections scattered in 1892
+included few of note, but we may mention those of the late Joshua H.
+Hutchinson, G. B. Anderson, and R. F. Cooke (a partner in the firm of
+John Murray, the eminent publisher) as including many first editions of
+modern authors; whilst those of John Wingfield Larking and Edwin Henry
+Lawrence, F.S.A., included a number of rare books, as may be gathered
+from the fact that the library of the former comprised 946 lots, which
+realized L3,925 13s., and that of the latter, 860 lots, L7,409 3s. The
+most interesting collection sold in 1893 was the selected portions from
+the books, MSS., and letters collected by William Hazlitt, his son, and
+his grandson; of the first importance in another direction was the sale
+of the Bateman heirlooms (books and MSS.).
+
+The late Rev. W. E. Buckley, M.A., formerly Fellow and Tutor of
+Brasenose College, Oxford, and late Rector of Middleton-Cheney, Banbury,
+and vice-president of the Roxburghe Club, was a veritable Heber in a
+small way. Besides the enormous quantity of books sold in two portions
+(twenty-two days in all) in February, 1893, and April, 1894, several
+vanloads were disposed of locally, as not being worth the cost of
+carriage to London. His library must have comprised nearly 100,000
+volumes, of which only a small proportion had any commercial importance.
+He managed, however, in his long career, to pick up a few bargains,
+notably the Columbus 'Letter' ('Epistola Christofori Colom.,' four
+leaves, 1493, with which was bound up Vespucci, 'Mundus novus Albericus
+Vesputius,' etc., 1503, also four leaves), which cost him less than L5,
+and which realized L315; he also possessed a first edition of
+Goldsmith's 'Vicar of Wakefield,' 1766, L39 10s.; Keats's 'Poems,' first
+edition, 1817, in the original boards, L23 10s.; Fielding's 'Tom Jones,'
+1749, first edition, uncut, in the original boards, L69. The two
+portions of the Buckley library sold at Sotheby's realized L9,420 9s.
+6d. The smallest, as well as the choicest, library sold in 1894 (June
+11) comprised the most select books from the collection of Mr. Birket
+Foster, the distinguished artist. The first, second, third, and fourth
+folio Shakespeares sold for L255, L56, L130, and L25 respectively; the
+quarto editions of the great dramatist included 'A Midsummer Night's
+Dream,' 1600, large copy, L122; 'Merchant of Venice,' 1600, L146; 'King
+Lear,' 1608, L100. Mr. Foster also possessed John Milton's copy of
+'Lycophronis Alexandra,' which realized L90; an incomplete copy of
+Caxton's 'Myrrour of the World,' 1491, L77. The valuable and interesting
+dramatic and miscellaneous library of the late Frederick Burgess, of the
+Moore and Burgess minstrels, was sold at Sotheby's, in May-June, 1894,
+and included many choice editions of modern authors.
+
+The late Prince Louis-Lucien Bonaparte was a giant among
+book-collectors, but his books were almost exclusively philological. Mr.
+Victor Collins, who has compiled an 'Attempt' at a catalogue, in which
+there are no less than 13,699 entries, states that 'as a young man the
+Prince was fond of chemistry, and on one occasion he was desirous of
+reading a chemical work that happened to exist only in Swedish. He
+learned Swedish for the purpose, and this gave him a taste for
+languages, very many of which he studied. His object in forming the
+library was to discover, rather perhaps to show, the relationship of all
+languages to each other. Nor was it only distinct languages he included
+in his plan, but their dialects, their corruptions, even slang, thieves'
+slang--slang of all kinds. In carrying out his idea the Prince had of
+course the advantages of exceptional abilities, and, until the fall of
+the Empire, of unlimited money. Some of the bindings are very beautiful.
+As to the printing, the Prince for long had a fully-fitted
+printing-office on the basement floor of his house in Norfolk Terrace,
+Bayswater. The Prince being a Senator of France, a cousin of Louis
+Napoleon, and a well-known philologist, people brought him all sorts of
+interesting books. Therefore it is not surprising to find that the
+library includes rare works not present, for instance, in the British
+Museum. There are three early German Bibles which Mr. Gladstone,
+visiting the Prince once, thought should be presented to the British
+Museum. To the best of Mr. Gladstone's knowledge, one of the three did
+not exist anywhere else, and either of the three would be worth about
+L500. They are remarkable specimens of early German printing, and are
+profusely illustrated.' Mr. Collins calculates that there are at least
+25,000 volumes in the collection, and that fully thirty alphabets are
+spread through them. This extraordinary collection, like the
+Shakespearian one formed by Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps, is still awaiting a
+purchaser (see the _Times_, July 25, 1895).
+
+The collection, also a special one, of a recently-deceased
+book-collector may be mentioned here, and for the following particulars
+we are indebted to Mr. Elliot Stock: 'Edmund Waterton, the son of
+Charles Waterton, the naturalist, lived at first at Walton Hall, his
+father's residence. He sold this, and bought a house at Deeping,
+Waterton, where his ancestors formerly lived. He had a large old
+library, a great part of which he inherited from his father. His great
+pleasure was in his "Imitatio Christi" collection. He succeeded in
+gathering together some 1,500 different editions, printed and MS. He had
+given commissions to booksellers all over Europe to send him any edition
+they might meet with, and one of the pleasures of his life was to see
+the foreign packets come by post. I sent him a seventeenth-century
+edition which I came across accidentally for his acceptance on "spec."
+It turned out it was one he had been looking for for a long time, and
+his letter describing his glee when it was brought up to his bedroom in
+the morning with his breakfast was very comic. He kept an oblong volume
+like a washing-book, with all the editions he knew of, some thousands in
+all, and his delight in ticking one more off the lengthy _desiderata_
+was like that of a schoolboy marking off the "days to the holidays."
+Edmund Waterton had a number of rare books besides those in his
+"Imitation" collection; notably a very tall First Folio Shakespeare,
+with contemporary comments made by some ancestor, who had also made good
+some of the missing pages in MS. He was a lineal descendant of Sir
+Thomas More, on his mother's side, and possessed Sir T. More's clock,
+which still went when I stayed with him. It was apparently the same
+clock that hangs on the wall at the back of Holbein's celebrated
+picture of Sir Thomas More and his family. Waterton had one of the
+longest and clearest pedigrees in the country, tracing back to Saxon
+times without break; his family were Catholics, and seem to have lost
+most of their property in the troublous times of the Reformation. Anyone
+who was interested in the "Imitation," whether as a collector or not,
+always met with kindness, and almost affection, from him. The first time
+I met him--which arose from my making the facsimile of the Brussels
+MS.--he showed his confidence and goodwill by lending me, for several
+days, his oblong record of editions to look over.'
+
+Mr. Waterton's collection of the 'Imitation' came under the hammer at
+Sotheby's in January, 1895, in two lots. The first comprised six
+manuscripts and 762 printed editions, ancient and modern, in various
+languages, of this celebrated devotional work, arranged in languages in
+chronological order. It realized L101. The second lot comprised a
+collection of 437 printed editions, a few of which were not included in
+the former, and sold for the equally absurd amount of L43. The British
+Museum had the first pick of this collection, and the authorities were
+enabled to fill up a large number of gaps in their already extensive
+series of editions. The six MSS. and over 250 printed editions passed
+into the possession of Dr. Copinger, of Manchester, through Messrs.
+Sotheran, of the Strand, who, indeed, purchased the two 'lots' when
+offered at Sotheby's.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[47:A] 'In a small gloomy house within the gates of Elliot's
+Brewery, between Brewer Street, Pimlico, and York Street,
+Westminster.'--Wheatley's edition of Cunningham's 'London.'
+
+[55:A] The library of Beauclerk (who is better remembered as an intimate
+friend of Dr. Johnson than as a book-collector) comprised 30,000
+volumes, was sold by Paterson in 1781, and occupied fifty days. It was a
+good collection of classics, poetry, the drama, books of prints,
+voyages, travels, and history.
+
+[61:A] Among the absentees were his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, who
+was prevented attending the anniversary by indisposition, the Marquis of
+Blandford, and Sir M. M. Sykes, Bart.
+
+[62:A] The name really employed was Bannatyne.
+
+[64:A] Thorpe suspected this, and secured the volume, thinking to do his
+friends of the Roxburghe Club a good turn. Writing to Dibdin, Thorpe
+said: 'I bought it for L40 against the editor of the _Athenaeum_, who, if
+he got it, would have shown the club up finely larded.' But Dibdin did
+not jump at paying so heavy a price for silence, and Thorpe wisely
+consoled himself with Mr. Dilke's L50.
+
+[68:A] Heathcote dispersed two portions of his books at Sotheby's, first
+in April, 1802, and secondly in May, 1808. Some of the books which Dent
+obtained for him, with additions, were sold at the same place in April,
+1808.
+
+[72:A] This famous old place possesses a literary history which would
+fill a fairly long chapter. Among those who have lived here we may
+mention Ephraim Chambers, whose 'Cyclopaedia' is the parent of a numerous
+offspring; John Newbery lived here for some time, and it was during his
+tenancy that Goldsmith found a refuge here from his creditors, and wrote
+'The Deserted Village' and 'The Vicar of Wakefield'; William Woodfall
+had lodgings in this historic tower; and Washington Irving, early in the
+present century, threw around it a halo of romance and interest which it
+had not previously possessed.
+
+[77:A] Hazlitt was a good deal of a book-borrower. In his 'Conversations
+with Northcote' he speaks of having been obliged to pay five shillings
+for the loan of 'Woodstock' at a regular bookseller's shop, as he could
+not procure it at the circulating libraries.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+BOOK-AUCTIONS AND SALES.
+
+
+I.
+
+IT is perhaps to be regretted that the late Adam Smith did not make an
+inquiry into the subject of Books and their Prices. The result, if not
+as exhaustive as the 'Wealth of Nations,' would have been quite as
+important a contribution to the science of social economy. In a general
+way, books are subject, like other merchandise, to the laws of supply
+and demand. But, as with other luxuries, the demand fluctuates according
+to fashion rather than from any real, tangible want. The want, for
+example, of the edition of Chaucer printed by Caxton, or of the
+Boccaccio by Valdarfer, is an arbitrary rather than a literary one, for
+the text of neither is without faults, or at all definitive. To take
+quite another class of books as an illustration: the demand for first
+editions of Dickens, Thackeray, Ruskin, and others, is perhaps greater
+than the supply; but we do not read these first editions any more than
+the Caxton Chaucer or the Valdarfer Boccaccio; we can get all the good
+we want out of the fiftieth edition. We do not, however, feel called
+upon to anticipate the labours and inquiries of the future Adam Smith;
+it must suffice us to indicate some of the more interesting prices and
+fashions in book-fancies which have prevailed during the last two
+centuries or so in London.
+
+The sale of books by auction dates, in this country at all events, from
+the year 1676, when William Cooper, a bookseller of considerable
+learning, who lived at the sign of the Pelican, in Little Britain,
+introduced a custom which had for many years been practised on the
+Continent. The full title of this interesting catalogue is in Latin--a
+language long employed by subsequent book-auctioneers--and runs as
+follows:
+
+ CATALOGUS | VARIORUM ET INSIGNIUM | LIBRORUM | INSTRUCTISSIMAE
+ BIBLIOTHECA | CLARISSIMI DOCTISSIMIQ VIRI--LAZARI SEAMAN, S.
+ T. D. | QUORUM AUCTIO HABEBITUR LONDINI | IN AEDIBUS DEFUNCTI
+ IN AREA ET VICULO | WARWICENSI. OCTOBRIS ULTIMO | CURA
+ GULIELMI COOPER BIBLIOPOLAE | LONDINI.
+
+ { GRUIS IN CAEMETARIO }
+ { ED. BREWSTER } { PAULINO }
+ APUD { & } AD INSIGNE { PELICANI IN } 1676.
+ { GUIL. COOPER. } { VICO VULGARITER }
+ { DICTO }
+ { LITTLE BRITAIN. }
+
+As will be seen from the foregoing, Cooper had no regular auction-rooms,
+for in this instance Dr. Seaman's books were sold at his own house in
+Warwick Court. Mr. John Lawler, in _Booklore_, December, 1885, points
+out an error first made by Gough (in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, and
+extensively copied since), who states that the sale occurred at Cooper's
+house in Warwick Lane. In his preface 'To the Reader,' Cooper makes an
+interesting announcement, by way of apology. 'It hath not been,' he
+says, 'usual here in England to make sale of books by way of Auction, or
+who will give most for them; but it having been practised in other
+Countreys to the advantage of Buyers and Sellers, it was therefore
+conceived (for the encouragement of learning) to publish the sales of
+these books in this manner of way; and it is hoped that this will not be
+Unacceptable to Schollars; and therefore we thought it convenient to
+give an advertisement concerning the manner of Proceeding therein.' The
+second sale, comprising the library of Mr. Thomas Kidner, was held by
+Cooper three months after, _i.e._, February 6, 1676-77. On February 18,
+1677-78, the third sale by auction was held, and this, as Mr. Lawler has
+pointed out, is the first 'hammer'[100:A] auction, and was held at a
+coffee-house--'in vico vulgo dicto, Bread St. in AEdibus Ferdinandi
+stable coffipolae ad insigne capitis Turcae,' the auctioneer in this case
+being Zacharius Bourne, whilst the library was that of the Rev. W.
+Greenhill, author of a 'Commentary on Ezekiel,' and Rector of Stepney,
+Middlesex. The fourth sale was that of Dr. Thomas Manton's library, in
+March, 1678. From 1676 to 1682, no less than thirty sales were held, and
+these included, in addition to the four already mentioned, the libraries
+of Brooke, Lord Warwick, Sir Kenelm Digby (see p. 120), Dr. S. Charnock,
+Dr. Thomas Watson, John Dunton, the crack-brained bookseller, Dr.
+Castell, the author of the 'Heptaglotton,' Dr. Thomas Gataker, and
+others. The business of selling by auction was so successful that
+several other auctioneers adopted it, including such well-known
+booksellers as Richard Chiswell and Moses Pitt. At a very early period a
+suspicion got about that the books were 'run up' by those who had a
+special interest in them, and accordingly the vendors of Dr. Benjamin
+Worsley's sale, in May, 1678, emphatically denied this imputation, which
+they described as 'a groundless and malicious suggestion of some of our
+own trade envious of our undertaking.' In addition to this statement,
+they refused to accept any 'commissions' to buy at this sale.
+
+[Illustration: _John Dunton, Book-auctioneer in 1698._]
+
+The dispersal of books by auction developed in many ways. It soon
+became, for example, one means of getting rid of the bookseller's heavy
+stock, of effecting what is now termed a 'rig.' Its popularity was
+extended to the provinces, for from 1684 and onwards Edward
+Millington[101:A] visited the provinces, selecting fair times for
+preference, taking with him large quantities of books, which he sold at
+auction, and this doubtless was another method of distributing works
+which were more or less still-born. John Dunton (who, the Pretender
+said, was the first man he would hang when he became King) took a cargo
+of books to Ireland in 1698, and most of these he sold by auction in
+Dublin. This visit was not welcomed by the Irish booksellers, and one of
+its numerous results was 'The Dublin Scuffle,' which is still worth
+reading. Dunton's receipts amounted to L1,500. It was said that Dunton
+had 'done more service to learning by his three auctions than any single
+man that had come into Ireland for the previous three hundred years.'
+
+[Illustration: _Samuel Baker, the Founder of Sotheby's._]
+
+It may be pointed out that the early auction catalogues are of the
+'thinnest' possible nature. The books were usually arranged according to
+subjects, but each lot, irrespective of its importance, was confined to
+a single line. The sales were at first usually held from eight o'clock
+in the morning until twelve, and again from two o'clock till six, a
+day's sale therefore occupying eight hours. Mr. Lawler calculates that
+the average number of lots sold would be about sixty-six. The early hour
+at which the sales began was soon dropped, and eventually the time of
+starting became noon, and from that to one or even two o'clock. It is
+quite certain that, up to ten shillings, penny and twopenny bids were
+accepted. The sales were chiefly held at the more noteworthy
+coffee-houses. Dr. King, in his translation (?) of Sorbiere's 'Journey
+to London,' 1698, says: 'I was at an auction of books at Tom's
+Coffee-house, near Ludgate, where were about fifty people. Books were
+sold with a great deal of trifling and delay, as with us, but very
+cheap. Those excellent authors, Mounsieur Maimbourg, Mounsieur
+Varillas, Monsieur le Grand, tho' they were all guilt on the back and
+would have made a very considerable figure in a gentleman's study, yet,
+after much tediousness, were sold for such trifling sums that I am
+asham'd to name 'em.'
+
+[Illustration: _Samuel Leigh Sotheby._]
+
+[Illustration: _Mr. E. G. Hodge, of Sotheby's._]
+
+It is curious to note the evolution of the book-auctioneer from the
+bookseller. Besides the names already quoted, John Whiston, Thomas
+Wilcox, Thomas and Edward Ballard, Sam Bathoe, Sam Paterson, Sam Baker,
+and George Leigh, were all booksellers as well as book-auctioneers. Of
+these the firm established by Samuel Baker in 1744 continues to flourish
+in Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge. The earlier auctioneers with whom books
+were a special feature, but who did not sell books except under the
+hammer, include Cock (under the Great Piazza, Covent Garden), Langford
+(who succeeded to Cock's business), Gerard, James Christie, Greenwood,
+Compton, and Ansell.
+
+[Illustration: _A Field-day at Sotheby's._
+
+(Reduced, by kind permission, from a full-page engraving in the
+_Graphic_.)]
+
+[Illustration: _Key to the Characters in the 'Field-day at Sotheby's.'_
+
+ 1. Mr. G. S. Snowden
+ 2. Mr. E. Daniell
+ 3. Mr. Railton
+ 4. Mr. J. Rimell
+ 5. Mr. E. G. Hodge
+ 6. Mr. J. Toovey
+ 7. Mr. B. Quaritch
+ 8. Mr. G. J. Ellis
+ 9. Mr. J. Roche
+ 10. Mr. Reeves
+ 11. Lord Brabourne
+ 12. Mr. W. Ward
+ 13. Mr. Leighton
+ 14. Mr. E. W. Stibbs
+ 15. Mr. H. Sotheran
+ 16. Mr. Westell
+ 17. Mr. Walford
+ 18. Henry
+ 19. Mr. Dobell
+ 20. Mr. Robson
+ 21. Mr. Dykes Campbell
+ 22. Palmer's boy
+ 23. Dr. Neligan
+ 24. Mr. C. Hindley
+ 25. Earl of Warwick
+ 26. Mr. Molini
+ 27. Mr. H. Stevens
+ 28. Mr. F. Locker-Lampson
+ 29. Mr. E. Walford]
+
+The firm of Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge is, by nearly half a century,
+the _doyen_ of London auctioneers. One hundred and fifty years is a long
+life for one firm, but Sotheby's can claim an unbroken record of that
+length of time. The founder of the house was Samuel Baker, who started
+as a bookseller and book-auctioneer in York Street, Covent Garden, in
+1744. At the latter part of his career, Baker, who retired in 1777 and
+died in the following year, took into partnership George Leigh, and, at
+a later date, his nephew, John Sotheby, whose son Samuel also joined the
+firm. Writing in 1812, Richard Gough observes in reference to Leigh:
+'This genuine disciple of the _elder Sam_ [Baker] is still at the head
+of his profession, assisted by a _younger Sam_ [Sotheby]; and of the
+Auctioneers of Books may not improperly be styled _facile princeps_. His
+pleasant disposition, his skill, and his integrity are as well known as
+his famous _snuff-box_, described by Mr. Dibdin as having a not less
+imposing air than the remarkable periwig of Sir Fopling of old, which,
+according to the piquant note of Dr. Warburton, usually made its
+entrance upon the stage in a sedan chair, brought in by two chairmen,
+with infinite satisfaction to the audience. When a high price book is
+balancing between L15 and L20, it is a fearful sign of its reaching an
+additional sum if Mr. Leigh should lay down his hammer and delve into
+this said crumple-horn-shaped snuff-box.' The style of the firm was for
+many years Leigh, Sotheby and Son. In 1803-4 a removal to 145, Strand,
+opposite Catherine Street, was made. John Sotheby died in 1807, and the
+name of Leigh disappeared from the catalogues in 1816. Samuel Sotheby
+removed to the present premises, No. 3 (now 13), Wellington Street,
+Strand, in 1818, not more than a few yards from either of the two former
+localities. The last of the race, Samuel Leigh Sotheby, joined his
+father in partnership in 1830, and is well and widely known as a
+scholar and author of considerable note. In 1843 John Wilkinson became a
+partner, and S. L. Sotheby died in 1861. The next alteration in the
+style of the firm was effected in 1864, when the present head and sole
+member, Mr. Edward Grose Hodge, was admitted into partnership. The first
+sale was the collection of books belonging to Thomas Pellet, M.D.
+Curiously enough, Baker's name does not occur anywhere in connection
+with this sale on the catalogue thereof. The auction took place in the
+Great Room over Exeter 'Change, and lasted fifteen days, or rather
+nights, for the sale began at five o'clock in the evening on Monday,
+January 7, 1744. The octavos, quartos, and folios, of which a selection
+appeared in each evening's sale, were numbered separately, a process
+which must have been very confusing, and one which was soon dropped. The
+first day's sale of 123 lots realized L47 7s. 1d., whilst the fifteen
+nights produced a total of L859 11s. 1d. One of the highest prices was
+paid for Mrs. Blackwell's 'Herbal,' 1740, 'finely coloured and best
+paper, in blue Turkey,' L14. The catalogue of this sale contained the
+interesting announcement: 'That the publick may be assured this is the
+genuine collection of Dr. Pellet, without addition or diminution, the
+original catalogue may be seen by any gentleman at the place of sale.'
+In 1754-55 Dr. Mead's books occupied fifty days, and produced L5,518
+10s. 11d.; and in 1756 forty days devoted to the library of Martin
+Folkes yielded no more than L3,091 odd. In February, 1755, Baker sold
+Fielding's library of 653 lots (L364 7s. 1d.). Gradually more important
+properties came to hand--the effects of Samuel Tyssen, 1802,
+thirty-eight days, L9,102 16s. 7d.; Prince Talleyrand (_Bibliotheca
+Splendidissima_), 1816, eighteen days, only L8,399; James Bindley, 1819,
+twenty-eight days, L7,692 6s. 6d.; the Dimsdales, 1824, seventeen days,
+L7,802 19s. Of course, very interesting days have been experienced where
+the financial result was not very striking, as when, in 1799, the firm
+disposed of the library of the Right Hon. Joseph Addison, 'Author and
+Secretary of State,' for L533 4s. 4d.; and in 1833 of that of 'the
+Emperor Napoleon Buonaparte' (_sic_), removed from St. Helena, for L450
+9s. (his tortoiseshell walking-stick bringing L38 17s.); and, once more,
+when the drawings of T. Rowlandson, the caricaturist, were sold in 1818
+for L700. The libraries of the Marquis of Lansdowne, 1806; the Duke of
+Queensberry, 1805; Marquis of Townsend, 1812; Count McCarthy, 1789;
+H.R.H. the Duke of York, 1827; James Boswell, 1825; G. B. Inglis, 1826;
+Edmond Malone, 1818; Joseph Ritson, 1803; John Wilkes, 1802; and a large
+number of others, came under the hammer at Sotheby's from 1744 to 1828.
+But the portions--the first, second, third, ninth, and tenth--of the
+stupendous Heber Library, dispersed here in 1834, owing to the
+prevailing depression, and what Dibdin called the _bibliophobia_, nearly
+ruined the auctioneers. They rallied from the blow, however, and have
+never suffered any relapse to bad times, whatever account they may be
+pleased to give of the very piping ones which they have known pretty
+well ever since 1845, when Mr. Benjamin Heywood Bright's important
+library was entrusted to their care. The secret of this steady and
+sustained progress is to be found in the general confidence secured by
+strict commercial integrity. The house receives business, but never
+solicits it. During the last half century nearly every important library
+has been sold at Sotheby's, including the Hamilton Palace and Beckford,
+the Thorold, the Osterley Park, the Seilliere, and the Crawford
+libraries.
+
+[Illustration: _R. H. Evans, Book-auctioneer, 1812._]
+
+But from 1812 to 1845 the most important libraries were almost
+invariably sold by R. H. Evans, who began with the famous Roxburghe
+Collection--this sale, it may be mentioned, was held at the Duke's
+house, now occupied by the Windham Club, 13, St. James's Square--in
+1812, and finished with the sixth part of the library of the Duke of
+Sussex in 1845. We can only refer to a few of the more important of
+Evans's sales, in addition to the two foregoing: In 1813 he sold the
+fine collection of early-printed books collected by Stanesby Alchorne,
+Master of the Mint, Earl Spencer having previously bought Alchorne's
+Caxtons; in 1815 the Duke of Grafton's library; in 1818-19 two parts of
+James Bindley's collection; in 1819-20 the White Knights Library of the
+Marquis of Blandford; in 1832-33 John Broadley's collection of books,
+which included the celebrated 'Bedford Missal,' bought by Sir John Tobin
+for L1,100, and now in the British Museum; in 1833 Edmund Burke's books;
+Lord Byron's in 1827; T. F. Dibdin's, 1817; the Earl of Guilford's, in
+three parts, 1830-35; the fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and eleventh
+parts of the Heber Collection, 1834-36; the books of Thomas Hill ('Paul
+Pry'), 1841; Daniel and Samuel Lysons, 1820, 1828, 1834; G. and W.
+Nicol, booksellers, 1825; Colonel Stanley, 1813; Sir M. M. Sykes, three
+parts, 1824; and J. Towneley, 1814-45, 1828. A complete list of Evans's
+sales is contributed by Mr. Norgate to _The Library_, iii. 324-330. Of
+the auctioneer himself a few details will not be out of place. Robert
+Harding Evans was the son of Thomas Evans, a bookseller of the Strand,
+and served his apprenticeship with Tom Payne at the News Gate. Leaving
+here, he succeeded to the business of James Edwards, Pall Mall, and was
+induced by George Nicol to undertake the sale by auction of the Duke of
+Roxburghe's library. The experiment was such a success that he became
+almost exclusively known as an auctioneer, and his business as a
+bookseller speedily declined. He was an admirable auctioneer, having an
+excellent memory and a vast fund of information; but he neglected the
+most important of all matters in commercial life, his ledgers. He had to
+give up selling books by auction, but restarted as a bookseller in Bond
+Street, with his two sons as partners; but his day was over, and here
+failure again followed him. He died in Edwards Street, Hampstead Road,
+April 25, 1857, aged eighty.
+
+A few other firms of book-auctioneers, although, with one exception,
+they have ceased to exist, call for mention. Sam Paterson, than whom no
+more popular an auctioneer ever wielded a hammer, was, as we have
+already seen, first a bookseller. Sam--we employ the little familiarity
+by which he was universally known--was born in 1728 in the parish of St.
+Paul, Covent Garden, and lived on till 1802, his death being the result
+of an accident. He was not only a bookseller, but an author and a
+traveller, and it was during a tour in Holland and Flanders that he
+brought home a large collection of books, which he sold at auction. In
+1757, Sam prevented the valuable collection of MSS. once belonging to
+Sir Julius Caesar from being destroyed; they had actually been sold to a
+cheesemonger as waste-paper for L10. He rescued the whole collection,
+and drew up a masterly catalogue of it, and when sold by auction the
+result was L356. For some years he was librarian to the Earl of
+Shelburne, afterwards first Marquis of Lansdowne. Sam's great talents at
+'cataloguizing' were unrivalled: he compiled those of James West, P.R.S.
+(whose library he sold at Langford's), 1773, the sale lasting
+twenty-four days, and including a fine series of books printed by
+Caxton, Wynkyn de Worde, and on Old English literature and history,
+voyages and travels (see p. 179); the Rev. Thomas Crofts, forty-three
+days, in 1783; Topham Beauclerk, April 8, 1781, and following forty-nine
+days (the collection was dispersed by Sam himself 'opposite Beaufort
+Buildings, Strand'); of the Fagel Collection, now in Trinity College,
+Dublin, 1802, and others. Nichols states that the catalogues of the
+libraries of Maffei Pinelli, sold in London in fifty-four days, 1789-90;
+of Samuel Tyssen, 1801, thirteen days; and of John Strange, fifty-six
+days, 1801, were compiled by the versatile Sam. The Pinelli catalogue
+most certainly was not his work, for although he commenced it, he threw
+it up at a very early stage. The Tyssen and Strange libraries were sold
+at Sotheby's, for whom Sam 'catalogued' for some time. The book-hunter
+in London will occasionally meet with a copy of the 'Bibliotheca
+Universalis Selecta' on the stalls for a few pence, and he is strongly
+recommended to buy this very admirable volume. It is a model catalogue
+in its way; the contents of this sale (which took place at Sam's Great
+Room in King Street, Covent Garden, on Monday, May 8, 1786, and the
+thirty-five following days) are carefully classified, whilst the index
+extends to nearly seventy pages. The volume is well interspersed with
+Sam's annotations, and the published price of it is 5s. 6d. The second
+condition of sale is extremely interesting; it says, 'No bidder shall
+advance less than THREEPENCE under ten shillings; above ten shillings,
+SIXPENCE; above one pound, ONE SHILLING.'
+
+The chief rival of Leigh and Paterson was Thomas King, who from 1780 to
+1796 had a shop in Lower Moorfields, but who towards the end of 1796
+moved to King Street, Covent Garden, and set up as an auctioneer. At
+first it was King and Son, but the son, early in the present century,
+started for himself in Tavistock Street, when the elder King's
+son-in-law, Lochee, became a partner. The firm existed into the second
+decade of the present century, and sold many important libraries,
+notably Isaac Reed's, in 1807, which lasted thirty-nine days, and
+included a very extraordinary collection of works relating to the
+English drama and poetry; Dr. Richard Farmer's, in 1798, lasting
+thirty-six days; John Maddison's, of the Foreign Department in the Post
+Office, 1802, twenty-two days; George Steevens's, May 13, 1800, eleven
+days; and John Horne Tooke's, May 26, 1813, four days. It is scarcely
+necessary to point out that either of the foregoing remarkable libraries
+would give 'tone' to the annals of any book-auction house. The
+collection of the Rev. John Brand (see p. 179), of the Society of
+Antiquaries, was sold by Stewart, the founder of Puttick's, of
+Piccadilly, in 1807-8, when 4,064 lots realized a total of L6,151 15s.;
+he also sold the libraries of Lord Thurlow, of W. Bryant, etc. Other
+auctioneers who occasionally sold books during the earlier part of the
+present century were Jeffrey, of Pall Mall, who in 1810 sold Dr.
+Benjamin Heath's library in thirty-two days, the 4,786 lots realizing
+L8,899; Cochrane, of Catherine Street, who in 1816 (twelve days)
+dispersed an exceedingly interesting library originally formed between
+1610 and 1650 by Sir Robert Gordon, of Gordonstoun, one of the Gentlemen
+of the Bedchamber of James I. and Charles I.; Compton, of Conduit
+Street, who in 1783-84 (fifteen days) sold Joseph Gulston's library;
+Robins, of Warwick Street; and T. and J. Egerton, of Scotland Yard.
+
+[Illustration: _John Walker, Book-auctioneer, 1776._]
+
+Mention may be here made of one who for many years occupied an important
+position in the fraternity. John Walker, brother-in-law of the elder
+George Robinson, was the book-auctioneer to the trade, and frequently
+knocked down from L10,000 to L40,000 worth of books in the course of an
+afternoon. In 1776 Walker was in partnership with J. Fielding, and in
+early life combined with the book-trade the office of one of the
+coal-meters of the City of London. He resigned the hammer to William
+Hone about 1812, and died at Camberwell in February, 1817. A sketch of
+his life and a portrait of him appear in the fifth volume of the
+_Wonderful Magazine_.
+
+[Illustration: _Staircase at Puttick and Simpson's._]
+
+After Sotheby's, the most important of the book-auctioneers of to-day
+are Messrs. Puttick and Simpson; Christie, Manson and Woods; and Hodgson
+and Co. The first-named have since December, 1858, occupied the greater
+portion of the house in Leicester Square in which Sir Joshua Reynolds
+lived throughout his brilliant career, and where he died in 1792. The
+auction-room was formerly the artist's studio; the office was his
+dining-room; the upper portion of the house is occupied by Mr. H. Gray,
+the topographical bookseller. The place has been altered since the
+distinguished painter resided there, but in this age of iconoclasm it is
+pleasant to wander in the passages and rooms where all the wit, beauty,
+and intellect of the latter part of the last century congregated--where
+Johnson and Boswell, Burke, Garrick, Goldsmith and Malone met in good
+fellowship. The founder of the firm was a Mr. Stewart (see p. 112), who
+started in Piccadilly in 1794, and who continued here until about 1825,
+when he took into partnership Benjamin Wheatley, who had been at
+Sotheby's, and a son of the printer, Adlard; for a while the firm was
+John and James Fletcher, but early in 1846, the two and only partners
+were Mr. Puttick and the present Mr. William Simpson; the former died in
+1873, and the business is now in the hands of Mr. Simpson and his son.
+The most important sale held at Puttick's was that of the Sunderland
+Library from Blenheim Palace, which, commencing on December 1, 1881,
+occupied from that date up to March 22, 1883, fifty-one days, the 13,858
+lots realizing the gross total of L56,581 6s. On April 21, 1884, and ten
+following days, the exceedingly fine topographical library of the Earl
+of Gosford was sold at Puttick's, the total of the sale being L11,318
+5s. 6d.; the most remarkable item in the sale was a fine large copy of
+the first volume of the Mazarin Bible in the original binding, which was
+knocked down to Mr. Toovey for L500; and next in interest to this was a
+copy of the First Folio Shakespeare, 1623, measuring 12-7/8 inches by
+8-3/8 inches, quite perfect, but with the title and verses mounted, and
+the margins of two leaves slightly mended, and this sold for L470. The
+extensive library of L. L. Hartley (see p. 87) was also disposed of at
+Puttick's, 1885-87, and realized the total of L16,530; and other
+important libraries dispersed there during the last half-century include
+the Donnadieu books and MSS., 1847-58, L3,923; a portion of the Libri
+Collection, 1850-68, L8,929; Dawson Turner's books and MSS., 1859,
+L9,453; Edward Crowinshield's (of Boston, N.E.) books and MSS., 1860,
+L4,826; Sir Edward Dering's books and MSS., 1861, L7,259; the Emperor
+Maximilian's Mexican Library, 1869, L3,985; John Camden Hotten's stock,
+1873, L3,751; Sir Edward Nichols' (Secretary to Charles I., whose state
+papers were sold privately to the British Museum) books, 1877, L977; the
+library of J. Duerdin, consigned from Australia, 1884, L1,140; books
+from William Penn's Library, 1872, L1,350; the library of Senor Don Jose
+Fernando Ramirez, 1880, L6,957; and many others. Literary property forms
+a comparatively small portion of Messrs. Puttick and Simpson's business,
+a very important part of which consists in the sale and private
+dispersal of musical property of every description, as well as pictures,
+prints, porcelain and jewels.
+
+The firm of Hodgson and Co. dates its origin from the twenties of the
+present century, the late Edmund Hodgson (who died in May, 1875, aged
+81) starting in partnership with Robert Saunders at 39, Fleet Street, as
+an auctioneer of literary property, the premises having been originally
+the Mitre Tavern (see p. 222). In the interval the place had been
+christened the 'Poets' Gallery.' When the property passed into the hands
+of Messrs. Hoare, the partnership between Saunders and Hodgson
+terminated, and the latter removed to 192, Fleet Street, at the corner
+of Chancery Lane (on the site now occupied by Partridge and Cooper),
+where Mr. Hodgson remained for many years. The march of improvement
+again overtook him, and the business was once more removed, this time to
+its present site at 115, Chancery Lane, which was specially erected for
+the peculiar requirements of a book-auction house. The late Mr. Hodgson
+for many years officiated in the rostrum of nearly all the chief trade
+dinner sales, and literary property to the value of some L50,000 would
+frequently be disposed of by him during an evening. His son, the present
+head of the firm, officiated in a similar capacity for some years,
+until, in fact, the pleasant custom of trade dinners became almost
+obsolete. The firm has dispersed, in its time, many important libraries
+and stocks of books, among which we may specially mention the valuable
+collection of books of the College of Advocates, Doctors' Commons,
+London, Monday, April 22, 1861, and seven following days (2,456 lots);
+the stocks or superfluous stocks of books of Charles Knight, Owen Jones,
+G. Cox, R. Bentley, 'Standard Novels'; Bradbury and Evans's, April, 1862
+(eight days); Arthur Hall, Virtue and Co., November, 1862; Darton and
+Hodge, 1863, 1866, and 1867; Lionel Booth, May, 1866; Day and Son, 1865,
+1867, and 1868; Sampson Low and Co., in consequence of the death of
+Sampson Low, jun., 1871; Moxon and Co., October, 1871, when a four days'
+sale resulted in over L12,000; Cassell and Co., in consequence of the
+removal to Belle Sauvage Yard, September, 1875, five days' sale (4,400
+lots); and very many others.
+
+[Illustration: _Mr. James Christie, 'The Specious Orator.'_
+
+Engraved by R. Dighton, 1794.]
+
+The firm of Christie, Manson and Woods dates its establishment from
+1762, but its fame is almost exclusively built upon its picture-sales.
+During its existence, however, the firm has sold several more or less
+important libraries, such as those of James Edwards, the bookseller,
+'the library of a gentleman of distinguished taste,' April, 1804; Rev.
+L. Dutens (four days), February, 1813; the Earl of Gainsborough, March,
+1813; the Hon. C. F. Greville, 1809; Sir William Hamilton, C.B., and
+Viscount Nelson, 1809; Sir James Pulteney (eight days), February, 1812;
+the Earl of Aylesford, 1879; Earl of Clarendon, 1877; C.
+Beckett-Denison, 1885; Dr. Samuel Johnson, 1785; J. P. Knight, R.A.,
+1881; Earl of Liverpool, 1829; W. Macready, 1873; Rev. W. Bentinck L.
+Hawkins, in three parts, 1895, and others.
+
+
+II.
+
+The step from book-auctioneers to book-prices is a very easy one to
+take, but the subject is far less easily disposed of. A book is worth
+just as much as its vendor can get for it, and no more. Rarity is not
+synonymous with high commercial value. There may be only four copies of
+a particular book in existence, but if the only three people in the
+world who want it have provided themselves with a copy each, the fourth
+example is not worth twopence. We have seen this kind of thing
+illustrated within the past few years. Very small poets are published in
+very small editions, but nobody buys them, and the books therefore have
+no market value--in fact, they are superfluous. Hundreds of rare books
+are superfluous. The auction-room is the great leveller of all manner of
+unmerited fame, and it may be taken, as a general rule, to be an
+infallible guide.
+
+We have but little information concerning the prices paid for
+second-hand books during the seventeenth century. The retailer's safest
+possible guide, of course, would be the price at which he acquired a
+particular book, or, if more than one, by the very simple process of
+averaging. One of the earliest and fullest illustrations we can cite
+occurs in connection with some of the prices paid for books for the
+Chetham Library of Manchester in 1663, and these are curious as well as
+interesting. Thus, Holland's 'Heroeologia,' 1620, a good copy of which
+now realizes from L20 to L30, was purchased for 14s. Purchas's 'His
+Pilgrimes,' 1625-26, which now sells at auction, if in good condition,
+at about L50, was obtained for L3 15s. Dugdale's 'History of St. Paul's'
+cost 12s., and the same author's 'Antiquities of Worcestershire,' 1656,
+L1 7s. 6d.; the former now sells at prices varying from L5 to L10, and
+the latter, when in good condition, is not expensive at 18 guineas. In
+and about 1740 several book-sales occurred at or near Manchester, when a
+large number of rare items realized painfully small prices. For
+instance, the 'Treatise concernynge the fruytfull saynges of Davyd the
+Kynge and Prophete in the seven Penytencyall Psalms,' 1508, by Fisher,
+Bishop of Rochester; the 'Nova Legenda Sanctorum Angliae,' 1516, both
+printed by Wynkyn de Worde, were purchased together for 5s. 6d.!
+Parsons' 'Conference about the next succession to the Crowne of
+England,' 1594, cost 1s.; and the same Jesuit's 'Treatise of Three
+Conversions of England,' 1603-4, 15s. A few months ago these two
+publications realized close on L10 at auction. Tyndale's 'Practyse of
+Prelates,' 1530, was obtained for 1s. 6d.; and his 'Briefe Declaration
+of the Sacraments,' 1550, for 1s. 7d.; the former is now valued at 9
+guineas, and the latter at 4 guineas. The English edition of Erasmus'
+'Enchiridion Militis Christiani,' 1544, cost 6d., and is now worth
+perhaps as many pounds. The bargain of the period, however, occurred in
+connection with Sir Thomas Smyth's treatise 'De Republica et
+administratione Anglorum,' 1610; Raleigh's 'Prerogative of Parliaments'
+(?) 1628; and Burton's 'Protestation Protested,' which, together,
+realized 4d.! Each of these books is now extremely rare.
+
+Thirteen years after the above-mentioned books changed hands at prices
+which can now only be described as heartbreaking, the first auction-sale
+took place. It is noteworthy--as Mr. Lawler has pointed out--that 'the
+first libraries which were sold by auction were those of Puritan divines
+who had lived and worked under the Commonwealth Government; these
+libraries were consequently composed of books suited to their calling,
+consisting almost entirely of theological and historical books.' Life
+was too awful a thing with them to indulge in a 'roguish' French novel,
+a Shakespearian play, or one of the many dramatic works which seemed for
+a time to kill all religious activity. A few of the items dispersed in
+the first sales will not be without interest. Dr. Seaman's copy of the
+_editio princeps_ Homer in Greek, 1488, sold for 9s.; the Crawford copy
+realized L135--true, the latter was bound by Trautz-Bauzonnet. In the
+former sale a copy of Dr. Eliot's Indian Bible sold for 19s.; if it
+occurred at auction now it might realize anything from L100 to L600. At
+the Restoration everything in the way of books of prayers was discarded,
+and sold for a few pence; they would now readily sell almost for their
+weight in gold. There is a startling uniformity about the prices
+realized for books at the early book-sales, and one feels almost
+inclined to suppose that our forbears were influenced chiefly by the
+size of the volumes. It is interesting to note that the great folio
+editions of the Fathers realized in the end of the seventeenth century
+pretty much the same prices as at the end of the nineteenth, and these,
+it need hardly be said, are very small indeed.
+
+From the sale of the library of Sir Kenelm Digby at the Golden Lion, in
+Paternoster Row, in April, 1680, we get a few highly interesting facts.
+This sale comprised 3,878 lots, and realized the total of L908 4s. Here
+are a few of the items:
+
+ L s. d.
+ AEschylus, Stanley, London, 1664 1 0 0
+ Ascham's 'Toxophilus,' 1545 0 1 4
+ Barclay's 'Ship of Fools,' 1570 0 4 4
+ Bible of the Douay Translation, with the Rhenish Testament,
+ 3 vols., 4to., 1633 1 5 0
+ Chaucer's Works, folio, 1597 0 12 8
+ Dugdale's 'Monasticon Anglicanum,' 3 vols., 1655, etc. 6 6 0
+ Fabyan's 'Chronicle,' London, 1559 0 7 4
+ Hollinshed's 'Chronicle,' London, 1577 0 8 0
+ Homerus cum comment. Eustathii, 4 vols., folio, corio turcico
+ et folio deaur. Romae, 1542 7 0 0
+ Milton's 'Paradise Lost,' London, 1668 0 2 1
+ 'P. Plowman's Vision,' London, 1550 0 1 7
+ Purchas's 'Pilgrims and Pilgrimage,' 5 vols., 1625-66 3 5 6
+ Shakespeare's Works, London, 1632 (second edition) 0 14 0
+
+A comparison of the foregoing prices with those which the books would
+realize to-day will suggest some interesting conclusions; but as the
+means of doing this are in the hands of everyone, it is not necessary to
+discuss them here. In the Bodleian Library there is an exceedingly
+interesting letter from R. Scott, the bookseller, to Samuel Pepys, dated
+June 30, 1688. Scott writes: 'Having at length procured Campion, Hanmer
+and Spencer's Hist. of Ireland, fol. (which I think you formerly
+desired), I here send itt you, with 2 very scarce bookes besides, viz.
+Pricaei Defensio Hist. Britt. 4{o} and old Harding's Chronicle, as alsoe
+the Old Ship of Fooles in verse by Alex. Berkley, priest; which last,
+though nott scarce, yet so very fayre and perfect, that seldome comes
+such another; the Priceus you will find deare, yett I never sold it
+under 10s., and att this tyme can have it of a person of quality; butt
+without flattery, I love to find a rare book for you, and hope shortly
+to procure for you a perfect's Hall's Chronicle.' With the books Scott
+sent his statement of account as follows:
+
+ L s. d.
+ Campion, Hanmer and Spenser, fol. 0 12 0
+ Harding's 'Chronicle,' 4to. 0 6 0
+ 'Pricaei Defens. Hist. Brit.' 0 8 0
+ 'Shipp of Fooles,' fol. 0 8 0
+ --------
+ 1 14 0
+
+Whether Scott obtained these items at the Digby sale or not, we cannot
+say; it is by no means unlikely, and if so, his desire to do Mr. Pepys a
+good turn may be estimated by the fact that he made a profit of 3s. 8d.
+over the last item in the bill, and the profit on the others would
+doubtless be arranged on a similar scale. The second and the fourth
+items, however, would be now worth from 15 to 20 guineas. Both Sir John
+Price's 'Historiae Britannicae,' 1573, and the histories of Ireland by
+Hanmer, Campion and Spenser, 1633, are very rare and very important
+books, and would not be dear now at as many guineas as Scott has charged
+shillings.
+
+Book-auctions were not, however, unmixed blessings, and, as a fact, they
+provoked a good many curses from the poorer collectors. Here is one
+phase which concerns the sale of the library of John Bridges,[121:A] the
+Northamptonshire historian, in 1726. This auction is interesting, not so
+much on account of the books which were knocked down, or of the prices
+which they realized, but as being the genesis of the knock-out system.
+We have, fortunately, a very vivid picture of this sale from the pen of
+Humfrey Wanley, who wished to obtain some of the items for the library
+of Lord Oxford. In his 'Diary,' under date February, 1726, we read:
+'Went to Mr. Bridges' Chamber [No. 6, Lincoln's Inn] to see the three
+fine MSS. again, the doctor, his brother, having locked them up. He
+openly bids for his own books, merely to enhance their price, and the
+auction proves to be, what I thought it would become, very knavish.' And
+again: 'Yesterday, at five, I met Mr. Noel, and tarried long with him;
+we settled then the whole affair touching his bidding for my Lord at the
+roguish sale of Mr. Bridges' books. The Rev. Doctor, one of the
+brothers, hath already displayed himself so remarkably as to be both
+hated and despised; and a combination amongst the booksellers will soon
+be against him and his brother the lawyer. They are men of the keenest
+avarice, and their very looks (according to what I am told) dart out
+harping irons. I have ordered Mr. Noel to drop every article in my
+Lord's Commission when they shall be hoisted up to too high a price.'
+
+We get another interesting view of the subject a year later. Hearne, the
+antiquary, writing to Dr. R. Rawlinson, the well-known book-collector,
+November 27, 1727, observes: 'I wanted much to hear from yourself how
+matters went in your auctions, and was glad at last to have one
+[letter], though I am very sorry to find you have had such bad usage,
+when you act so honourably. But I am too sensible, that booksellers and
+others are in a combination against you. Booksellers have the least
+pretence of any to act so. Your brother (whom I shall always call my
+friend) did them unspeakable kindness. By his generous way of bidding,
+and by his constant buying, he raised the value of books incredibly, and
+there is hardly such another left. The booksellers (who go so much by
+him) owe him a statue, the least they can do. But instead of that, they
+neither speak well of him, nor do you (as I verily believe) common
+justice.' In a letter from Benjamin Heath, the well-known
+book-collector, to 'Mr. John Mann, at the Hand in Hand Fire Office in
+Angel Court, on Snow Hill,' dated March 21, 1738, we get yet another
+glimpse of some phases of book-auctions in the earlier part of the last
+century. Fletcher Gyles, a bookseller of Holborn, published a catalogue
+of a book-auction which he purposed holding at his own place of
+business. 'Mr. Gyles,' writes Heath, 'has offered himself to act for me,
+but as I think 'tis too great a Trial to his Honesty to make him at the
+same time Buyer and Seller . . . I have been able to think of no Friend
+I could throw this trouble [of buying certain books] upon but you.' For
+this service, the collector 'would willingly allow 3 guineas, which, the
+Auction continuing 24 Days, is 3 shillings over and above half a Crown a
+Day.' The 'Auction requires the Attendance of the whole day, beginning
+at Eleven in the Morning, and Ending at two, and at five in the
+Afternoon, and Ending at Eight.'
+
+[Illustration: _Benjamin Heath, Book-collector, 1738._]
+
+A chronological account of the book-sales of London would be an
+important as well as an interesting contribution to the history of
+literature. But our space is limited, and only the chief features of
+such a history can be dealt with in this place. If one were asked to
+name the most famous book in the annals of book-sales, the answer would
+be at once forthcoming and emphatic--the Valdarfer Boccaccio, otherwise
+'Il Decamerone di Messer Giovanni Boccaccio,' printed at Venice by
+Christopher Valdarfer in 1471, and published, it is thought, at about
+10s. In stating that this book is the most famous one, it is almost
+unnecessary to explain that the Roxburghe copy is understood. By what
+means it got into the hands of a London bookseller (about the middle of
+the last century) is not known. It is certain, however, that even at
+that period he knew of its excessive rarity, for he offered it to the
+two great contemporary book-collectors, Lord Oxford and Lord Sunderland,
+for 100 guineas, an amount which at that time must have 'appeared
+enormously extravagant.' Whilst these two collectors were deliberating,
+an ancestor of the Duke of Roxburghe saw and purchased it. Shortly after
+this event the two noble collectors were dining with the Duke, and the
+subject of Boccaccio was purposely broached. Both Lord Oxford and Lord
+Sunderland began to talk of the particular copy which had been offered
+them. The Duke of Roxburghe told them that he thought he could show them
+a copy of this edition, which they doubted, but, to their mortification,
+the Duke produced the identical copy, over which both realized that he
+who hesitates is lost. Beloe, in relating this anecdote, which was told
+him by G. Nicol, the royal bookseller, predicted that if this copy came
+under the hammer it would produce 'not much less than L500.' As a matter
+of fact and of history, at the Roxburghe sale in 1812 it realized the
+then huge sum of L2,260, the buyer being the Marquis of Blandford, who,
+it is said, was prepared to go to L5,000. There were three noble
+candidates for this choice book, the Duke of Devonshire, Earl Spencer,
+and the Marquis of Blandford, whilst an agent of Bonaparte was known to
+be present. The Rev. Mr. Dibdin has given a very highly-coloured and
+vivid account of this famous incident in his 'Bibliographical
+Decameron,' and we need do no more than refer to the fact that 'the
+honour of making the first bid was due to a gentleman from Shropshire,
+who seemed almost surprised at his own temerity in offering 100
+guineas.' It is a curious commentary on even the fame of rare books that
+this copy of the Valdarfer Boccaccio came again into the sale-room in
+1819, when the Blandford library was sold, and when it became the
+property of Earl Spencer for L918. 'I will have it when you are dead,'
+was the savage retort of a defeated book-lover at an auction sale, and
+such perhaps was Earl Spencer's mental determination when his rival
+carried off the bargain--by waiting seven years he saved L1,242, as well
+as possessing himself of one of the greatest of bibliographical
+rarities.
+
+[Illustration: _Specimen of type of the Mazarin Bible._]
+
+Although far before the Valdarfer Boccaccio in every point except that
+of sensationalism, the first printed Bible, the Biblia Latina of
+Gutenberg, 1455, commonly known as the Mazarin, has had an exciting
+history in the way of prices. It is not only the first, but one of the
+most magnificent books which ever issued from the press. It is not at
+all a rare book in the usual sense of the word, for there are in
+existence nineteen copies on paper, and five on vellum, the majority of
+which are in this country. The most celebrated example of this splendid
+book is now in the British Museum. The earliest record of this is its
+possession by M. L. J. Gaignat, at whose sale in 1768 it became the
+property of Count McCarthy for 1,200 francs; and from his sale, in
+Paris, in 1815, it passed into Mr. Grenville's library for 6,260
+francs--in other words, it had advanced in value in forty-six years from
+L48 to close on L250. It subsequently passed into the British Museum.
+Early in the present century, Nicol, the King's bookseller, obtained the
+copy on vellum, formerly in the University of Mentz; at his sale in 1825
+it was bought by H. Perkins, the book-collecting brewer (Barclay,
+Perkins and Co.), for L504, and at the sale of his library it fetched
+L3,400, Mr. Ellis purchasing it for Lord Ashburnham. In 1824 Mr. Perkins
+bought Sir M. M. Sykes' copy of the same book on paper for L199 10s.,
+and this copy in 1873 fetched L2,960. James Perry, of the _Morning
+Chronicle_, had a copy on paper, which, at his sale in 1822, the Duke of
+Sussex purchased for 160 guineas; and this copy, at the Duke's sale in
+1844, brought L190. The record price for the 'Mazarin' Bible was not
+reached until December, 1884, when the Syston Park library of Sir John
+Thorold came under the hammer at Sotheby's, and this particular Bible on
+paper sold for L3,900 to Mr. Quaritch, or L500 more than the practically
+unique one on vellum. In June, 1887, the Earl of Crawford's copy, which
+was not a particularly good one, realized L2,000, Mr. Quaritch having
+purchased it about thirty years previously for rather more than a
+quarter of the amount. In 1889 yet another copy turned up at
+Sotheby's--it came from the Earl of Hopetoun's library--and this sold at
+the same figure. We may also refer here to the second edition of the
+Bible, 1462, but the first printed book with a date. The Edwards copy on
+vellum of this sold in 1815 for L175; in 1823 a very fine example was
+sold for L215; in 1873 the Perkins copy, which had cost its owner L173,
+sold for L780; and eight years later the Sunderland example on vellum
+for L1,600.
+
+[Illustration: _A Corner in the British Museum._]
+
+The palm of the highest price ever paid for a single book must be
+awarded to the 'Psalmorum Codex,' printed, like the last, by Fust and
+Schoeffer in 1459. By the side of this the Gutenberg Bible is a common
+book, and Sir John Thorold's example is the only one which has occurred
+in the market for almost a century. This particular copy realized 3,350
+francs in the McCarthy sale, and 130 guineas in that of Sir M. M. Sykes;
+but at the Thorold sale, in 1884, it fetched L4,950. Of the 'Codex'
+there are only nine copies known, all of which slightly differ from one
+another. We may also include here a mention of a copy of the Balbi
+'Catholicon'--'Summa Quae vocatur Catholicon, sive Grammatica et Linguae
+Latina'--1460, for which Sir John Thorold paid L65 2s., and which at his
+sale fetched L400. The British Museum copy of this book belonged to Dr.
+Mead, at whose sale it was purchased for L25 for the French King; the
+copy subsequently became the property of West, at whose sale it became
+George III.'s for L35 3s. 6d. The Balbi 'Catholicon,' of 1460, is the
+fourth book printed with a date, and is one of the few indubitable
+productions of Gutenberg's press. It is an indispensable volume in a
+collection of books printed in the fifteenth century. Its literary merit
+is very considerable, and the London editor of 'Stephani Thesaurus
+Latinus' has pronounced it the best Dictionary for the Latin Fathers and
+Schoolmen. In addition to the copies just mentioned, a fine example,
+bound in russia-extra by Roger Payne, occurred in the Wodhull sale,
+January 12, 1886, and realized L310. This or a similar copy was priced
+in Quaritch's 'Catalogue of the Monuments of the Early Printers,' at
+L420.
+
+The decline in the value of what may be termed ordinary editions of the
+classics during the present century has unquestionably been very great.
+Even the _editiones principes_ have scarcely maintained their former
+values; whilst their appearance in the book-market does not call forth
+anything like the enthusiasm and excitement which at one time prevailed.
+The Askew sale in 1775 was the first at which really sensational prices
+were reached throughout for the first editions of the Greek and Latin
+classics. Although some of these prices have been exceeded in many cases
+since that period, it is tantamount to a confession that they have gone
+down in value when it is stated that the Askew prices are as nearly as
+possible the same at which identical copies are now to be had. As we
+shall see presently, there are several exceptions to this rule; but
+these exceptions occur, not because they are the _editiones principes_
+of Homer or Virgil, as the case may be, but because they are the works
+of some eminent printer. And herein the change is a very striking one.
+The first edition of every classic has a literary or technical value
+almost equal to a manuscript, from which, of course, it is directly
+printed; but the first editions of the classics are not now collected
+because of their textual value, and not at all unless they are fine
+examples of typographical skill. The curious vicissitudes of these
+editions would alone occupy a fairly large volume; but we propose
+dealing briefly with the subject by comparing the prices at which good
+copies were sold in and about 1775, when Dr. Harwood published his
+useful little 'View of the Various Editions of the Greek and Roman
+Classics,' with those at which they may be now acquired.
+
+[Illustration: _Aldus, from a contemporary Medal._]
+
+Beginning with the _editio princeps_ Homer, 1488, the fine copy of this
+edition in the British Museum was purchased, Dr. Harwood tells us, for
+L17. A 'large, pure, and fine' copy of this exceedingly rare work is now
+priced at L150, whilst the Wodhull copy sold in 1886 for L200.[129:A]
+But whilst this edition has increased enormously in pecuniary value,
+'one of the most splendid editions of Homer ever delivered to the
+world'--namely, that of the Foulis brothers, Glasgow, 1756-58--has only
+doubled its price, or has increased in value from two to four guineas.
+The very beautifully-printed _editio princeps_ of Anacreon, printed in
+Paris by Henri Stephan, 1554, remains stationary, for its value then, as
+now, is one guinea. Of the Aldine first edition of Sophocles, 1502, Lord
+Lisburne purchased 'a beautiful copy' in 1775 for 1-1/2 guineas; the
+present value of a similar example would range from 8 to 20 guineas,
+whilst a slightly imperfect copy sells for about L1. The first edition
+of Euripides, 1503, also printed at the Aldine Press, has advanced from
+L1 16s. to L3 10s. to 6 guineas, according to the eminence of the
+binder. A 'most beautiful' copy of the first Herodotus, Aldus, 1502,
+realized L2 15s. in 1775, but cannot now be had for less than twice that
+amount; whilst an example in a fine Derome binding of red morocco extra
+is priced at 12 guineas. The first Aristophanes, likewise from the press
+of Aldus, 1498, shows a slight advance from L4 to 5 guineas. The
+earliest issue of Isocrates, 1493, is one of the rarest of the
+_incunabula_, as it is one of the most beautiful when in perfect
+condition. The exceedingly fine example in the British Museum was
+bought by the authorities in 1775 for L11; copies may now be had for
+L15.
+
+The first (Aldine) edition of Plato has advanced in value from 5 guineas
+to just twice that sum. The very beautiful copy of this _editio
+princeps_ on vellum, and now in the British Museum, was purchased by the
+Museum authorities at Dr. Askew's sale in 1775 for 53 guineas. The
+commercial value of the very scarce and splendid first edition, in six
+volumes (Aldus, 1495-98), of Aristotle, shows a depreciation--from 17 to
+15 guineas--although it has realized in comparatively recent years as
+much as L51. Dr. Harwood adds to his entry of this book: 'The finest
+copy of this first edition of Aristotle's works, perhaps in Europe, is
+in Dr. Hunter's Museum.' Dr. Hunter gave L4 6s. for a 'most beautiful
+copy of the first edition of Theocritus,' Aldus, 1495--an edition which
+also includes Hesiod, Theognis, Phocylides, etc.,--the value of which is
+now placed at L10. A much more considerable advance is seen in
+connection with the _editio princeps_ of Musaeus, 1494, a choice and
+beautiful book, which is at once the first and rarest production of the
+Aldine Press. George III. gave in 1775 17 guineas for a fine copy, which
+would now realize twice that amount. An almost equally emphatic advance
+may be chronicled in connection with the 'Anthologia Graeca,' Florence,
+1494, printed throughout in capital letters, which, selling for 15
+guineas a century and a quarter ago, is now worth nearly double; whilst
+the Sunderland copy in 1881 brought L51. The first impressions of
+Diodorus Siculus, 1539, and Stephanus Byzantius, Aldus, 1502, are
+stationary at about L2 each, and Lucian, Florence, 1496, now, as in
+1776, sells for L20.
+
+Passing over a whole host of minor names in the list of Greek authors,
+we may venture upon a few facts in connection with the Latin writers.
+Virgil would, of course, come at the head of this list; but the examples
+which came under Dr. Harwood's notice have no commercial value
+indicated. George III. gave L17 6s. 6d. for the very fine copy of the
+first Horace (about 1472) in Dr. Askew's sale--a fairly good example is
+now priced at L50--whilst the first commentated edition of this author,
+Milan, 1474, has advanced from 9-1/2 guineas to 30 guineas; it is
+exceedingly rare, particularly the first of the two volumes. The first
+Aldine Horace (1501) has gone up from L2 5s. to L15, and other editions
+from the same press have about quadrupled in value. Of the first edition
+of Ovid's 'Opera' (1471) only one copy is known, and the second,
+Bologna, 1480, is scarcely less rare, and certainly not less valuable,
+than the first. Dr. Harwood prices a very fine copy at L10 5s., or about
+a third of its present value. The first dated edition of Valerius
+Maximus was printed by Schoeffer at Mentz in 1471, but is apparently not
+a very popular book with collectors, for whereas in 1775 a beautiful
+copy was valued at L26, its present price is only L28. A much more
+popular book, Seneca's 'Tragoediae,' printed about 1475, has advanced
+from 4-1/2 guineas to L18, or, an exceptionally good copy bound by
+Bedford, L25.
+
+Although for several centuries one of the most popular of books, some of
+the earlier editions of Pliny's 'Historia Naturalis' do not keep up
+their price. The second edition, Rome, 1470, which is rarer than the
+first--issued at Venice the year before--may now be had for 12 guineas.
+The British Museum copy of the first edition cost the nation L43 in
+1775. The edition printed by Jenson at Venice in 1472 is, however, much
+sought after, for it is a very beautiful book, with a splendidly
+illuminated border on the first page of the text. The British Museum
+copy cost at Dr. Askew's sale L23, whilst Mr. Quaritch quotes an example
+at L140; but, then, the latter copy is printed on vellum, which makes
+all the difference. Silius Italicus is not by any means an author whose
+work is at present much studied, but the first edition of his 'Opera'
+(1471) is a book worth mentioning, because for beauty and grace it is
+unsurpassed by any of the works ever published by the first Italian
+printers, Sweynheim and Pannartz. The British Museum copy cost in 1775
+L13 2s. 6d., whilst it is now worth about L25. The superb copy in the
+British Museum of the _editio princeps_ Juvenal and Persius (printed at
+Rome about the year 1469) cost the country 13 guineas; a first-class
+example is now valued at L12. On the other hand, the Aldine edition of
+Martial's 'Epigrammata' (1501) has gone up in value from 2 guineas to
+L10, or even L17 10s., according to condition. The first edition of
+Justin (printed at Venice, 1470) has declined, for the British Museum
+copy cost 13 guineas in 1775, whilst a fine copy may now be had for 10
+guineas.
+
+A very different story has to be told with reference to the books and
+pamphlets produced by the early English printers. Until the latter part
+of the last century, these items were the despised of the scholarly and
+aristocratic collector. A few antiquaries found them not without
+interest, but they had only a nominal commercial value. At the sale of
+Dr. Francis Bernard, at his 'late dwelling house in Little Britain,' in
+October, 1698, thirteen Caxtons were sold, as follows:
+
+ L s. d.
+ 'The Boke called Cathon,' 1483 0 3 0
+ 'Chastising of Goddes Chyldern' 0 1 10
+ 'Doctrinal of Sapience,' 1489 }
+ 'Chastising of Goddes Chyldern' } 0 5 0
+ 'Chronicle of England,' _very old_ 0 4 0
+ 'Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers,' 1477 0 5 4
+ 'Game and Playe of the Chesse,' 1474 0 1 6
+ 'Godefroy of Boloyne,' 1481 0 4 0
+ 'Historyes of Troy,' 1500 0 3 0
+ 'Jason and the Golden Fleece' 0 3 6
+ 'Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye,' 1502 0 3 0
+ Another copy 0 3 0
+ 'Tullius of Olde Age' 0 4 2
+ ----------
+ L2 1 4
+
+Eighty years later, when the library of John Ratcliffe[132:A] was sold
+at Christie's (March 27, 1776), a collection of upwards of thirty
+Caxtons came under the hammer, and of these we will only quote seven
+examples:
+
+ L s. d.
+ 'Chronicles of Englande,' fine copy, 1480 5 5 0
+ 'Doctrinal of Sapience,' 1489 8 8 0
+ 'The Boke called Cathon,' 1483 5 5 0
+ 'The Polytique Book, named Tullius de Senectute,' 1481 14 0 0
+ 'The Game and Playe of Chesse' 16 0 0
+ 'The Boke of Jason' 5 10 0
+ 'Legenda Aurea,'[133:A] 1483 9 15 0
+
+At the Watson Taylor and Perry sales in 1823, four examples, nearly all
+fine copies, of Caxton's books realized a total of L239 5s., as follows:
+
+ L s. d.
+ 'The Life of Jason,' 1476-77 95 11 0
+ 'The Boke called Cathon,' 1483 30 19 6
+ 'Troylus and Creside,' 1484 66 0 0
+ Virgil's 'Eneidos,' 1490, very fine and perfect 46 14 6
+
+[Illustration: _The Fifty-seven Althorp Caxtons._]
+
+We do not think that the foregoing sets of figures call for any
+elaborate comment. The present value of each item may be averaged at
+from L250 to L300, but the majority are absolutely unprocurable at any
+price. The highest sum ever paid for a Caxton is L1,950, at which amount
+the only perfect copy known of 'King Arthur,' 1485, was knocked down at
+the sale of the Earl of Jersey's books in 1885. At the same sale the
+'Histoires of Troy,' _circa_ 1474, realized L1,820. In 1812 the Duke of
+Devonshire gave L1,060 12s. for a copy of this book, for which the Duke
+of Roxburghe had paid L50 a few years previously. The Syston Park copy
+of the 'Mirrour of the World,' 1481, sold in 1884 for L335; Higden's
+'Polychronicon, 1482, is valued at L500; Lord Selsey's copy of Gower's
+'Confessio Amantis,' 1483, sold in 1872 for L670; and Lord Jersey's, in
+1885, for L810. The 'Hystorye of Kynge Blanchardyn and Princes
+Eglantyne,' 1485, imperfect, but one of the rarest of this press,
+realized L21 at the Mason sale, 1798-99, the purchaser being John, Duke
+of Roxburghe, at whose sale in June, 1812, Lord Spencer gave L215 5s.
+for it. According to the latter's note in the copy, 'The Duke and I had
+agreed not to oppose one another at the [Mason] sale; but after the book
+was bought, to toss up who should win it; when I lost.' A tract of five
+leaves, by John Russell, 'Propositio ad illustriss. principem Karoleum
+ducem Burgundie,' etc. (printed probably at Bruges, 1475), of which no
+other copy is known, was purchased by a bookseller in the West End of
+London for L2 5s. He sold it to the Duke of Marlborough for 50 guineas,
+and at his sale in 1819 Earl Spencer purchased it for 120 guineas. There
+are about 560 examples of Caxton's books in existence. Of these, about
+one half are in the British Museum, the Althorp or Rylands library (57),
+at Cambridge, in the Bodleian, and in the Duke of Devonshire's library.
+Of this total thirty-one are unique, and seven exist only in a
+fragmentary form. The greater number are safely locked up in public or
+private libraries, and are not likely, under ordinary circumstances, to
+come into the market. A great quantity of romance has been written
+respecting Caxtons. In Scott's 'Antiquary,' 'Snuffy Davy' is stated to
+have bought a perfect copy of the 'Game of Chess,' the first book
+printed in England, for about two groschen, or twopence of our money.
+This he sold to Osborne for L20; it became Dr. Askew's property for 60
+guineas, and at the Askew sale it realized L170, the purchaser being
+George III. '"Could a copy now occur, Lord only knows," ejaculated
+Monkbarns, with a deep sigh and lifted-up hands--"Lord only knows what
+would be its ransom"; and yet it was originally secured, by skill and
+research, for the easy equivalent of twopence sterling.' It has been
+repeatedly stated that there is no foundation whatever for this
+anecdote; but Scott himself expressly states in a note that it is
+literally true, and that David Wilson 'was a real personage.' 'Snuffy
+Davy' has been identified with Clarke, the bookseller of New Bond
+Street, whose 'Repertorium Bibliographicum' is a most valuable book.
+However that may be, it is certain that the King did not give any such
+price at any such sale. The King's copy was purchased at West's sale in
+1773 for L32 0s. 6d. At the Askew sale the King's purchases did not
+exceed L300, and the items were almost exclusively editions of the
+classics. It is certain, however, that Caxton's books have experienced
+many ups and downs. Mr. Blades tells us of an incident in which he was
+personally concerned. He happened on a copy of the 'Canterbury Tales' in
+a dirty pigeon-hole close to the grate in the vestry of the French
+Protestant Church, St. Martin's-le-Grand; it was fearfully mutilated,
+and was being used leaf by leaf--a book originally worth L800.
+
+[Illustration: _From 'Game and Play of Chesse,' by Caxton._]
+
+Caxton's immediate successors met with a fate similar to his own. The
+most remarkable feature of Richard Rawlinson's[136:A] library (sold by
+Samuel Leigh in 1756), which contained nearly 25,000 volumes, consisted
+in the large quantity of Old English black-letter books, and these, of
+course, realized absurdly low figures, as the following list testifies:
+
+ L s. d.
+ 'The Newe Testament in English,' 1500 0 2 9
+ 'The Ymage of both Churches, after the Revelation
+ of St. John,' by Bale, 1550 0 1 6
+ 'The Boke called the Pype or Toune of Perfection,'
+ by Richard Whytforde, 1532 0 1 9
+ 'The Visions of Pierce Plowman,' 1561 0 2 0
+ 'The Creede of Pierce Plowman,' 1553 0 1 6
+ 'The Booke of Moses in English,' 1530 0 3 9
+ 'Bale's Actes of English Votaryes,' 1550 0 1 3
+ 'The Boke of Chivalrie,' by Caxton 0 11 0
+ 'The Boke of St. Albans,' by W. de Worde 1 1 0
+
+[Illustration: _Specimen of the type of 'The Boke of St. Albans.'_]
+
+The very high price paid for the 'Boke of St. Albans' is noteworthy, for
+nearly all the other items are equally rare. In 1844, a copy of this
+'boke' was sold as waste-paper for 9d., and almost immediately passed
+into the possession of Mr. Grenville for L70 or guineas. Dr. Mead's
+copy--one of the only two known--of 'Rhetorica Nova Fratris Laurentii
+Gulielmi de Sacra,' printed at St. Albans, 1480, sold for 2s. At the
+Willett sale, in 1813, it brought L79 16s.
+
+[Illustration: _Specimen page of Tyndale's Testament, 1526._]
+
+The rarity of the English translations of the Bible and New Testament
+arises from just the opposite cause which has operated in making the
+early productions of the English press so scarce. The latter were for
+the most part neglected out of existence, whilst the former were
+literally read out of it. A complete copy of the _editio princeps_
+Coverdale, 1535, is, we believe, unknown. One illustration will
+sufficiently indicate the enhanced value of this book, and the
+illustration may be taken as a general one in respect to this class of
+book: The Perkins copy, which realized L400 in 1873, was purchased at
+the Dent sale in 1827 for L89 5s. The more perfect of the only two
+copies known of Tyndale's New Testament, first edition, 1526, in the
+Baptists' Library at Bristol, is of great interest, and well deserving
+of a mention in this place. It has no title-page. Underneath a portrait,
+pasted to the first leaf, is this inscription:
+
+ 'Hoh Maister John Murray of Sacomb,
+ The works of old Time to collect was his pride,
+ Till oblivion dreaded his care;
+ Regardless of friends intestate he dy'd,
+ So the Rooks and the Crows were his heir.'
+
+[Illustration: _John Murray, of Sacomb, Book-hunter._]
+
+On the opposite leaf is a printed statement to this effect: 'On Tuesday
+evening (13 May, 1760) at Mr. Langford's sale of Mr. Ames's books, a
+copy of the translation of the New Testament by Tindall, and supposed to
+be the only one remaining which escaped the flames, was sold for
+fourteen guineas and a half. This very book was picked up by one of the
+late Lord Oxford's collectors ['John Murray' written in the margin], and
+was esteemed so valuable a purchase by his lordship, that he settled L20
+a year for life upon the person who procured it. His Lordship's library
+being afterwards purchased by Mr. Osborne, of Gray's Inn, he marked it
+at fifteen shillings, for which price Mr. Ames bought it.' (John Murray
+died in 1748.) On the other side of the leaf is another note, in
+manuscript: 'N.B. This choice book was purchased at Mr. Langford's sale,
+13th May, 1760, by me John White [for L15 14s. 6d.], and on the 13th day
+of May, 1776, I sold it to the Rev. Dr. Gifford for 20 guineas.' Dr.
+Gifford was an assistant librarian at the British Museum, and left his
+library to the use of the Baptist Society at Bristol.
+
+Before leaving the subject of Bibles, we may refer to one of the most
+interesting events of the book-sale season of 1836, when, at Evans's on
+April 27, the superb copy of St. Jerome's Bible, executed by Alcuin for
+Charlemagne, came up for sale. Commenced about the year 778, it was not
+completed till 800. When it was finished it was sent to Rome by his
+friend and disciple, Nathaniel, who presented it to Charlemagne on the
+day of his coronation; it was preserved by that monarch until his death.
+Its subsequent history is full of interest, and would form an
+entertaining chapter in the Adventures of Books. After its first owner's
+death, it is supposed to have been given to the monastery of Prum in
+Lorraine by Lothaire, the grandson of Charlemagne, who became a monk of
+that monastery. In 1576, this religious house was dissolved, but the
+monks preserved the manuscript, and carried it to Switzerland to the
+abbey of Grandis Vallis, near Basle, where it reposed till the year
+1793, when, on the occupation of the episcopal territory of Basle by the
+French, all the property of the abbey was confiscated and sold, and the
+manuscript in question came into the possession of M. Bennot, from whom,
+in 1822, it was purchased by M. Speyr Passavant, who brought it into
+general notice, and offered it for sale to the French Government at the
+price of 60,000 francs; this was declined, when the proprietor knocked
+off nearly 20,000 francs from the original demand, but still without
+effecting a sale. M. Passavant subsequently brought it to England, and
+offered it to the Duke of Sussex, who, however, declined it. It was then
+offered to the British Museum for L12,000, then for L8,000, and at last
+for L6,500, which he declared an 'immense sacrifice.' Unsuccessful at
+every turn, he resolved to submit it to auction, and the precious volume
+was entrusted to Evans. It was knocked down for L1,500, but to the
+proprietor himself. After a further lapse of time, Passavant sold the
+volume to the British Museum for L750. This splendid manuscript is a
+large folio in delicate and beautifully formed minuscule characters,
+with the beginnings of chapters in fine uncials, written in two columns
+on the purest vellum. If this magnificent manuscript were now offered
+for sale, it would probably realize at least L3,000.
+
+The rise in the value of the First Folio Shakespeare only dates back for
+about a century. Beloe, writing in 1806, states that he remembers the
+time when a very fine copy could be purchased for five guineas. He
+further observes, 'I could once have purchased a superb one for 9
+guineas'; and (apparently) this 'superb' example realized 13 guineas at
+Dr. Monro's sale in 1792. At the end of the last century it was thought
+to have realized the 'top' price with 36 guineas. Dr. Askew had a fine
+copy of the Second Folio, which realized at his sale, in 1775, L5
+10s.--it had cost 2-1/2 guineas at Dr. Mead's sale--the purchaser being
+George Steevens. In this book Charles I. had written these words: 'DUM
+SPIRO, SPERO, C. R.,' and Sir Thomas Herbert, to whom the King presented
+it the night before his execution, had also written: 'Ex dono
+serenissimi Regis Car. servo suo Humiliss. T. Herbert.' Steevens
+regarded the amount which he paid for it as 'enormous,' but at his sale
+it realized 18 guineas, and was purchased for the King's library, and is
+now, with some other books bought by George III., at Windsor. Steevens
+supposes that the original edition could not have exceeded 250 copies,
+and that L1 was the selling price. Its rarity ten or a dozen years after
+its first appearance may be gauged by the fact that Charles I. was
+obliged to content himself with a copy of the Second Folio; its rarity
+at the present moment will be readily comprehended when it is stated
+that during the past ninety years only five or six irreproachable
+examples have occurred for sale. The copy for which the Duke of
+Roxburghe gave 34 guineas, realized at his sale L100, and passed into
+the library of the Duke of Devonshire. The example in the possession of
+the Baroness Burdett-Coutts is a very fine one; it was formerly George
+Daniel's copy, and realized 682 guineas at his sale in 1864. Height
+makes a great difference in the price of a book of this sort. For
+example, a good sound example measuring 12-1/4 inches by 8 inches is
+worth about L136; another one measuring 13-1/8 by 8-3/8 inches would be
+worth L300, and perhaps more. Dibdin, with his usual prophetic
+inaccuracy, described the amount (L121 6s.) at which Mr. Grenville
+obtained his copy as 'the highest price ever given, or likely to be
+given, for the volume.' As a matter of fact, the time must come when it
+will be no longer possible to obtain a perfect copy of this volume,
+which to English people is a thousand times more important than the
+Gutenberg Bible or the Psalmorum Codex.
+
+The following list is believed to contain all the finest examples known
+at present:
+
+ FIRST FOLIO EDITIONS OF SHAKESPEARE, 1623.
+
+ Inches Inches
+ High. Wide. Present Possessor.
+ Loscombe 12 x 8
+ Sotheby's 12-1/4 x 8
+ Gardner 12-3/8 x 8 Mr. Huth.
+ Stowe 12-3/8 x 8-1/8
+ Poynder 12-1/2 x 8-1/8
+ Ellis 12-5/8 x 8-1/8 Earl of Crawford.
+ Quaritch's Catalogue 12-11/12 x 8
+ Thomas Grenville 12-7/8 x 8-3/8 British Museum.
+ Holland 12-3/8 x 8-1/2
+ Duke of Devonshire 13-1/8 x 8-1/8 Chatsworth.
+ George Daniel 13-1/8 x 8-1/4 Baroness Burdett-Coutts.
+ Beaufoy Library 13 x 8-3/8
+ Locker-Lampson 13 x 8-3/8 Rowfant Library.
+ Gosford (Earl of) 12-7/8 x 8-3/8
+ Lord Vernon 13-1/16 x 8-3/8 America.
+ Hartley 13-1/8 x 8-1/2
+ John Murray 13 x 8-1/2 Albemarle Street.
+ Thorold 13-3/8 x 8-1/2 America.
+ Sir Robert Sydney, }
+ Earl of Leicester, }
+ with his arms on }
+ sides; original old } 13-3/8 x 8-3/4 Mr. C. J. Toovey.
+ calf, with lettering,}
+ full of rough }
+ leaves }
+
+The Second, 1632, Third, 1664, and Fourth, 1685, Folios have
+considerably advanced in value--the Second has risen from L15, at which
+the Roxburghe copy was sold in 1812, to nearly L200; George Daniel's
+copy, of the purest quality from beginning to end, and one of the
+largest known, sold for L148, but fairly good copies may be had for half
+that amount. The Third Folio, which is really the rarest, as most of the
+impression was destroyed in the Great Fire of London, has gone up from
+L20 or L30 to L200, or even more when the seven doubtful plays have the
+separate title-page; and the Fourth Folio from L5 to about ten times
+that amount. But the most remarkable feature in connection with
+Shakespeare, so far as we are just now concerned, is the change which
+has taken place in the value of the quartos. We give below a tabulated
+list of first editions, in which this change will be seen at a glance:
+
+ Former Recent
+ Price. Price.
+ L s. d. L s. d.
+ 'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' 1818 18 0 0 385 0 0
+ 'Much Ado About Nothing,' {1797 7 10 0
+ {1818 17 17 0 267 10 0
+ 'Love's Labour Lost,' 1818 40 10 0 316 10 0
+ 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' {1805 2 2 0
+ {1818 12 10 0 116 0 0
+ 'The Merchant of Venice' {1815 9 9 0
+ {1818 22 1 0 270 0 0
+ 'King Richard II.,' 1598,[143:A] 1800 4 14 6 108 3 0
+ '2 Henry IV.,' 1797 (one leaf MS.) 8 8 0 225 0 0
+ 'Henry V.,' 1818 5 7 6 211 0 0
+ '1 Henry VI.,' 1801 38 7 0 50 0 0
+ 'Richard III.,' 1818 33 0 0 351 15 0
+ 'Troilus and Cressida,' 1800 5 10 0 110 0 0
+ 'Romeo and Juliet,' 1800 6 0 0 160 0 0
+ 'Hamlet,' 1812 4 13 0 36 0 0
+ 'King Lear,' 1800 28 0 0 70 0 0
+ 'Othello' (1622), 1818 56 14 0 155 0 0
+ 'Pericles,' 1812 1 15 0 40 0 0
+ 'Lucrece' 21 0 0 250 0 0
+ 'Venus and Adonis'[143:B] (Malone's copy) 25 0 0 315 0 0
+ 'Poems' 70 0 0
+ 'Sonnets' {1800 3 10 0
+ {1812 21 0 0 230 15 0
+
+[Illustration: _Title-page of the First Edition of 'The Compleat
+Angler.'_]
+
+What is true of the Shakespeare quartos and folios is also true in a
+slightly less accentuated degree of the first editions of the sixteenth
+and seventeenth century poets and dramatists. Dibdin describes a Mr.
+Byng as having purchased the only known copy of Clement Robinson's
+'Handefull of Pleasant Delites,' 1584, at a bookstall for 4d.; at his
+sale this 'Handefull' was sold for 25 guineas to the Duke of
+Marlborough, at whose sale, in 1819, it fetched L26 15s.
+
+[Illustration: _From the 'Pilgrim's Progress,' Part II._]
+
+Puttenham's 'Art of English Poesie,' 1589, and Gascoigne's 'Works,' are
+two other striking illustrations of the increase in the value of old
+English poetry, although the books themselves are of comparatively minor
+importance from a literary point of view. Isaac Reed well remembered
+when a good copy of either might have been had for 5s. In the first and
+second decades of this century the prices had gone up to about L5, but
+the present values would be nearer L20. Spenser's 'Faerie Queene,'
+1590-96, early in the century could have been had for L3 12s.; it now
+realizes ten times that amount if in fine condition. Milton's 'Paradise
+Lost' has increased in the same ratio. Lovelace's 'Lucasta' has risen
+from 11 guineas to nearly L50. The market value of a first edition of
+Walton's 'Compleat Angler,' 1653, in 1816 was 4 guineas; in 1879 this
+book fetched L52; it has since realized L310. Rarer even than the first
+Walton is the first edition of Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress,' 1678;
+Southey, writing in 1830, declared that the date of the first
+publication of this work was at that time unknown, since no copy could
+be traced. Not long after this an example--still in possession of Capt.
+Holford, of Park Lane--turned up, and was valued at L50; during the last
+few years four more have been unearthed: three of these are in England,
+and the other is among the treasures of the Lenox Library, New York. The
+commercial value of a copy is probably not much less than of a first
+Walton. Although the first edition of the first part of the 'Pilgrim's
+Progress' has always been considered so rare, the second part is even
+rarer; indeed, only three copies are known to exist: one (very
+imperfect) in the Astor Library in New York, one in the Rylands Library,
+and the other in the hands of a collector in London. Till some ten years
+since the two English copies were not known to exist; they were both
+bought in one bundle for a few shillings in Sotheby's sale-room. The
+imperfect American one was supposed to be unique till these came to
+light.
+
+Goldsmith's 'Vicar of Wakefield' sixty years ago was 'uncollected'; a
+quarter of a century ago it sold for L5; ten years ago it was worth L10;
+in 1891 a remarkably tall and clean copy, in the original calf as
+issued, sold at Sotheby's for L94. Gray's 'Elegy,' 1751, sold for L1
+16s. in 1888, and for L70 since then. Apropos of this 'Elegy,' there are
+only three uncut copies known, and one of these was obtained by Mr.
+Augustine Birrell, Q.C., a few years ago by a stroke of great good luck.
+He happened to be passing through Chancery Lane one day, and, having a
+little time at his disposal, dropped into Messrs. Hodgson's rooms, where
+a sale of books was in progress. At the moment of his entry some volumes
+of quarto tracts were being offered, and taking one of them in his hand,
+he opened it at random, and saw--a fine uncut copy of the famous
+'Elegy'! He bought the lot for a few shillings. It may be mentioned that
+the original manuscript of Gray's 'Elegy' sold for L130 in 1854.
+
+Such are a few of the excessively rare books, whose appearance in the
+market is at all times an event in the book-collecting world. Partly as
+an illustration of our forbears' wit, and partly as a list of curious
+and highly imaginary titles, the following article from the _London
+Magazine_ of September, 1759, is well worth quoting here:
+
+
+ '_BOOKS selling by Auction, at the Britannia, near the
+ Royal Exchange._
+
+ _By_ L. FUNNIBUS, _Auctioneer_.
+
+ '"Gratitude," a Poem, in twenty-four cantos, from the original
+ German of Lady Mary Hapsburgh, published at Vienna in the year
+ 1756.--"Machiavel the Second, or Murder no Sin," from the
+ French of Monsieur le Diable, printed at Paris for le Sieur
+ Daemon, in la Rue d'Enfer, near the Louvre.--"Cruelty a
+ Virtue," a Political Tract, in two volumes, fine imperial
+ paper, by Count Soltikoff.--"The Joys of Sodom," a Sermon,
+ preached in the Royal Chapel at Warsaw, by W. Hellsatanatius,
+ Chaplain to his Excellency Count Bruhl.--"The Art of
+ Trimming," a Political Treatise, by the learned Van-Self, of
+ Amsterdam.--"Self-Preservation," a Soliloquy, wrote extempore
+ on an Aspen Leaf on the Plains of Minden; found in the pocket
+ of an Officer who fell on the First of August.--"The Art of
+ Flying," by Monsieur Contades; with a curious Frontispiece,
+ representing Dismay with Eagle's Wings, and Glory with a pair
+ of Crutches, following the French Army.--"The Reveries of a
+ Superannuated Genius, on the Banks of Lake Liman, near
+ Geneva," by M. Voltaire.--"The Spirit of Lying," from
+ "L'Esprit Menteur" of Monsieur Maubert.--"Political
+ Arithmetic," by the same Author; in which is proved to
+ Demonstration that Two is more than Five, and that Three is
+ less than One.--"The Knotty Question Discussed," wherein is
+ proved that under certain circumstances, Wrong is Right, and
+ Right is Wrong, by a Casuist of the Sorbonne.--"A New Plan of
+ the English Possessions in America," with the Limits
+ _properly_ settled, by Jeffery Amherst, Geographer to his
+ Britannick Majesty.--"The Theory of Sea-fighting reduced to
+ Practice," by E. Boscawen, Mariner.--"A Treatise on the
+ Construction of Bridges," by I. Will, and I. Willnot,
+ Architects, near the Black-Friars, at Louvain.--"The Spirit of
+ Treaties," a very Curious Tract, in which is fairly proved,
+ that absolute Monarchs have a right to explain them in their
+ own sense, and that limited Princes are tied down to a strict
+ observance of the letter.--"The Conquest of Hanover by the
+ French, in the year 1759," a tragi-comic Farce, by a French
+ officer.--"A Letter of Consolation from the Jesuits in the
+ Shades, to their afflicted brethren at Lisbon," the second
+ edition.--"The Fall of Fisher," an excellent new Ballad, by
+ ---- Harvey, Esq.--"The Travels of a Marshal of France, from
+ the Weser to the Mayne"; shewing how he and 10,000 of his
+ companions miraculously escaped from the hands of the savage
+ Germans and English; and how, after inexpressible
+ difficulties, several hundreds of them got safe to their own
+ country. Interspersed with several Curious Anecdotes of Rapes,
+ Murders, and other French Gallantries; by P. L. C., a
+ Benedictine Monk, of the Order of Saint Bartholomew.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[100:A] Cooper's hammer was of boxwood. Millington applies to his own
+the Homeric line, +deine de klange genet' argnreoio bioio+, which anyone
+is quite at liberty to believe. James Christie's original hammer is
+still in the possession of the firm; Samuel Baker's belongs to Mr. H. B.
+Wheatley.
+
+[101:A] In 1686 Millington was selling the library of the deceased Lord
+Anglesey. Putting up a copy of 'Eikon Basilike,' there were but few
+bidders, and those very low in their biddings. Casually turning over the
+pages before bringing the hammer on the rostrum, he read, with evident
+surprise, the following note in Lord Anglesey's own handwriting: 'King
+Charles the Second and the Duke of York did both (in the last session of
+parliament, 1675, when I showed them, in the Lords' House, the written
+copy of this book, wherein are some corrections, written with the late
+King Charles the First's own hand) assure me that this was none of the
+said king's compiling, but made by Dr. Gauden, Bishop of Exeter; which I
+here insert for the understanding of others on this point, by attesting
+so much under my own hand.--ANGLESEY.'
+
+[121:A] There were 4,313 lots in this sale, the total of which was
+L4,001. The catalogue has a very curious engraved frontispiece of an
+oak-tree felled, and persons bearing away branches, with a Greek motto
+signifying that, the oak being felled, every man gets wood.
+
+[129:A] This particular copy is regarded as the finest ever sold at
+auction; it is bound in blue morocco by Derome, and cost Mr. Wodhull 15
+guineas in August, 1770.
+
+[132:A] John Ratcliffe, who died in 1776, lived in East Lane,
+Bermondsey, and followed the prosaic calling of a chandler. He collected
+Caxtons and the works of other early English printers with great
+diligence and judgment for nearly thirty years. Many of these appear to
+have been brought to him as wastepaper, to be purchased at so much per
+pound. An interesting account of this very remarkable man is given in
+Nichols' 'Literary Anecdotes,' iii., 621, 622.
+
+[133:A] The original or Caxton's price for this book was about 5s. or
+6s. per copy.
+
+[136:A] The title-page of the catalogue contained the following
+whimsical motto from Ebulus:
+
+ +Kai gar o taos dia to spanion thaumazetai.+
+
+ (The peacock is admired on account of its rarity.)
+
+Hearne speaks of Richard Rawlinson as 'vir antiquis moribus ornatus,
+perque eam viam euns, quae ad immortalem gloriam ducit.'
+
+[143:A] The first edition of this play, 1597, sold in 1864 for L341 5s.;
+it is the only copy known.
+
+[143:B] Thomas Jolley picked up a volume which contained a first edition
+of both 'Venus and Adonis' and the 'Sonnets,' for less than 3s. 6d. in
+Lancashire! The former alone realised L116 in 1844, and is now in the
+Grenville collection, British Museum. The copy of the former in the
+above list was purchased at Baron Bolland's sale in 1840 for L91; at
+Bright's sale for L91 10s., when it became Daniel's. The 'Sonnets,' also
+Daniel's copy, had belonged to Narcissus Luttrell, who gave 1s. for it.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+BOOKSTALLS AND BOOKSTALLING.
+
+
+OF the numerous ways and means of acquiring books open to the
+book-hunter in London, there is none more pleasant or popular than that
+of BOOKSTALLING. To the man with small means, and to the man with no
+means at all, the pastime is a very fascinating one. East, west, north,
+and south, there is, at all times and in all seasons, plenty of good
+hunting-ground for the sportsman, although the inveterate hunter will
+encounter a surfeit of Barmecides' feasts. Nearly every book-hunter has
+been more or less of a bookstaller, and the custom is more than
+tinctured with the odour of respectability by the fact that Roxburghe's
+famous Duke, Lord Macaulay the historian, and Mr. Gladstone the
+omnivorous, have been inveterate grubbers among the bookstalls. Macaulay
+was not very communicative to booksellers, and when any of them would
+hold up a book, although at the other end of the shop, he could tell by
+the cover, or by intuition, what it was all about, and would say 'No,'
+or 'I have it already.' Leigh Hunt was a bookstaller, for he says:
+'Nothing delights us more than to overhaul some dingy tome and read a
+chapter gratuitously. Occasionally, when we have opened some very
+attractive old book, we have stood reading for hours at the stall, lost
+in a brown study and worldly forgetfulness, and should probably have
+read on to the end of the last chapter, had not the vendor of published
+wisdom offered, in a satirically polite way, to bring us out a chair.
+"Take a chair, sir; you must be tired."' The first Lord Lytton had a
+fancy for these plebeian book-marts; whilst Southey had a mania for them
+almost: he could not pass one without 'just running his eye over for
+_one_ minute, even if the coach which was to take him to see Coleridge
+at Hampstead was within the time of starting.'
+
+The extreme variety of the bookstall is its great attraction, and the
+chances of netting a rare or interesting book lie, perhaps, not so much
+in the variety of books displayed as in their general shabbiness. Ten
+years ago an English journalist picked up a copy of the first edition of
+Mrs. Glasse's 'Art of Cookery,' in the New Kent Road, for a few pence.
+It is no longer a shabby folio, but, superbly bound, it was sold with
+Mr. Sala's books, July 23, 1895, for L10. A not too respectable copy of
+Charles Lamb's privately-printed volume, 'The Beauty and the Beast,' was
+secured for a few pence, its market-value being something like L20. A
+copy of Sir Walter Scott's 'Vision of Don Roderick,' 1816, first
+edition, in the original boards, was purchased, by Mr. J. H. Slater, in
+Farringdon Road, in January, 1895, for 2d.--not a great catch, perhaps,
+but it is one of the rarest of Scott's works; and as the originals of
+this prolific author are rapidly rising in the market, there is no
+knowing what it may be worth in the immediate future.
+
+Here is a curious illustration of the manner in which a 'find' is
+literally picked up. A man who sells books from a barrow in the streets
+was wheeling it on the way to open for the day, and passed close to a
+bookseller's assistant who was on his way to work. As the man passed, a
+small volume fell off into the road, which the assistant kindly picked
+up, with the intention of replacing it on the barrow. Before doing so,
+however, he looked at the volume. One glance was enough. 'Here, what do
+you want for this?' he asked. The dealer, taking a casual glance at the
+volume, said: 'Oh, thruppence, I suppose, will do.' The money was paid,
+and the assistant departed with the prize, which was a rare volume by
+Increase Mather, printed in 1698 at Boston, U.S.A., and worth from L8 to
+L12. A copy of Fuller's first work, and the only volume of poetry
+published by that quaint writer, the excessively rare 'David's Hainous
+Sinne,' 1631, was bought a few years ago for eighteenpence, probably
+worth half as many pounds.
+
+The coincidences of the bookstall are sometimes very remarkable. Mr. G.
+L. Gomme relates one which is well worth recording, and we give it in
+his own words: 'My friend, Mr. James Britten, the well-known plant-lore
+scholar, has been collecting for some years the set of twenty-four
+volumes of that curious annual, _Time's Telescope_. He had two
+duplicates for 1825 and 1826, and these he gave to me. One day last
+January I was engaged to dine with him, and in the middle of the _same_
+day I passed a second-hand bookshop, and picked out from the sixpenny
+box a volume of _Time's Telescope_ for 1816. In the evening I showed my
+treasure with great contentment to my friend, expecting congratulations.
+But, to my surprise and discomfiture, a mysterious look passed over his
+face, then followed a quick migration to his bookshelves, then a loud
+hurrah, and an explanation that this very "find" of mine was the _one_
+volume he wanted to complete his set, the one volume he had been in
+search of for some time.' Another book-collector picked out of a
+rubbish-heap on a country bookseller's floor a little old book of poetry
+with the signature of 'A. Pope.' Subsequently he found a manuscript note
+in a book on the shelves of a public library referring to this very
+copy, which, the writer of the note stated, had been given him by the
+poet Pope.
+
+The late Cornelius Walford related an interesting incident, the 'only
+one of any special significance which has occurred to me during
+thirty-five years of industrious book-hunting': 'When living at Enfield,
+I used generally to walk to the Temple by way of Finsbury, Moorgate,
+Cheapside, and Fleet Street. Every bookshop on the way I was familiar
+with. On one occasion I thought I would vary the route by way of Long
+Lane and Smithfield (as, indeed, I had occasionally done before). I was
+at the time sadly in want of a copy of "Weskett on Insurances," 1781, a
+folio work of some 600 pages. I had searched and inquired for it for
+years; no bookseller had ever seen it. I had visited every bookshop in
+Dublin, in the hope of finding a copy of the pirated (octavo) edition
+printed there; and but for having seen a copy in a public library,
+should have come to the conclusion that the book never existed. Some
+temporary sheds had been erected over the Metropolitan Railway in Long
+Lane. One, devoted to a meagre stock of old books, _was opened that
+morning_. The first book I saw on the rough shelves was Weskett,
+original edition, price a few shillings. I need hardly say I carried it
+away. . . . I have never seen or heard of another of the original
+edition exposed or reported for sale.'
+
+[Illustration: _Cornelius Walford, Book-collector._]
+
+Mr. Shandy _pere_ was a bookstaller also, and if Bruscambille's
+'Prologue upon Long Noses,' even when obtainable 'almost for nothing,'
+would fail to excite in every collector the enthusiasm experienced by
+Mr. Shandy, we can at all events sympathize with him. '"There are not
+three Bruscambilles in Christendom," said the stall-man, who, like many
+stall-men of to-day, did not hesitate to make a leap in the dark,
+"except what are chained up in the libraries of the curious." My father
+flung down the money as quick as lightning, took Bruscambille into his
+bosom, hied home from Piccadilly to Coleman Street with it, as he would
+have hied home with a treasure, without taking his hand once off from
+Bruscambille all the way.'
+
+[Illustration: _The South Side of Holywell Street._]
+
+We have already seen that there were bookstalls as well as bookshops in
+and about the neighbourhood of Little Britain during the latter part of
+the seventeenth century. There were bookstalls or booths also in St.
+Paul's Churchyard long before this period; but books had scarcely become
+old in the time of Shakespeare, so that doubtless the volumes which were
+to be had within the shadow of the cathedral were new ones. Booksellers
+gradually migrated from the heart of London to a more westerly
+direction. The bookstall followed, not so much as a matter of course as
+because there was no room for it; land became extremely valuable, and
+narrow streets, which are also crowded, are not a congenial soil for the
+book-barrow. The Strand and Holborn and Fleet Street districts, both
+highways and byways, became a favourite spot for the book-barrow during
+the last century, and remained such up to quite modern times--until,
+indeed, the iconoclastic wave of improvements swept everything before
+it. Holywell Street still remains intact.
+
+[Illustration: _Exeter 'Change in 1826._]
+
+One of the most famous bookstalling localities during the last century
+was Exeter 'Change, in the Strand, which occupied a large area of the
+roadway between the present Lyceum Theatre and Exeter Street, and has
+long since given place to Burleigh Street. The place was built towards
+the end of the seventeenth century, and the shops were at first occupied
+by sempsters, milliners, hosiers, and so forth. The place appears to
+have greatly degenerated, and soon included bookstalls among the
+standings of miscellaneous dealers. Writing on January 31, 1802, Robert
+Bloomfield observes: 'Last night, in passing through Exeter 'Change, I
+stopt at a bookstall, and observed "The Farmer's Boy" laying there for
+sale, and the new book too, marked with very large writing, Bloomfield's
+"Rural Tales": a young man took it up, and I observed he read the whole
+through, and perhaps little thought that the author stood at his elbow.'
+This locality was also a famous one for 'pamphlet shops.' 'Sold at the
+Pamphlet Shops of London and Westminster' is an imprint commonly seen on
+title-pages up to the middle of the last century. In addition to shops
+and stalls, book-auctions were also held here. The curious and valuable
+library of Dr. Thomas Pellet, Fellow of the College of Physicians, and
+of the Royal Society, was sold 'in the Great Room over Exeter 'Change,'
+during January, 1744, beginning at 5 p.m. (see p. 105).
+
+[Illustration: _A Barrow in Whitechapel._]
+
+Early in the eighteenth century, the third Earl of Shaftesbury, in his
+'Miscellaneous Reflections,' 1714, refers to notable philosophers and
+divines 'who can be contented to make sport, and write in learned
+Billingsgate, to divert the Coffeehouse, and entertain the assemblys at
+Booksellers' shops, or the more airy Stalls of inferior book-retailers.'
+
+Bookstalls or barrows have been for nearly a century a feature of the
+East End of London, more particularly of Whitechapel Road and
+Shoreditch. The numbers of barrows have increased, but the locality is
+practically the same. Many useful libraries have been formed from off
+these stalls, and many very good bargains secured. Excellent collections
+may still be formed from them, but the chances of a noteworthy 'find'
+are indeed small. The book-hunter who goes to either of these places
+with the idea of bagging a whole bundle of rarities is likely to come
+away disappointed; but if he is in a buying humour the chances are ten
+to one in favour of his getting a good many useful books at very
+moderate figures. We have heard of a man who picked up a complete set of
+first editions of Mrs. Browning in Shoreditch, but no one ever seems to
+have met that lucky individual; and as the story is retailed chiefly by
+the owner of the barrow from which they were said to have been
+rescued--the said owner apparently not in the least minding the
+inevitable conclusion at which the listener will arrive--the story is
+not repeated as authentic. One of the last things which has come out of
+Shoreditch lately is a copy of the first edition of Gwillim's 'Display
+of Heraldry' (1610), in excellent condition, and which was purchased for
+a few pence. An East End book-hunter tells us that, among other rarities
+which he has rescued from stalls and cellars in that district, are a
+first folio Ben Jonson; a copy of the Froben Seneca (1515), with its
+fine bordered title-page, by Urs Graf; an early edition of Montaigne,
+with a curious frontispiece; the copy of the _editio princeps_ Statius
+(1483), which was purchased by Mr. Quaritch at the Sunderland sale; one
+or two Plantins, in spotless splendour; Henry Stephens' Herodotus, a
+book as beautiful as it is now valueless, but of which a copy is kept in
+a showcase at South Kensington, and others, all at merely nominal
+prices.
+
+Many first-class libraries were formed by these _frequentationes
+orientales_. It is a great pity that Macaulay, for example, has not left
+on record a few of the very remarkable incidents which came under his
+observation during these pilgrimages. The late Mr. W. J. Thoms
+contributed a few of his to the _Nineteenth Century_ thirteen years ago.
+One of Mr. Thoms' most striking 'East End' book-hunting anecdotes
+relates to a Defoe tract. When a collected edition of Defoe's works was
+contemplated some forty years ago, it was determined that the various
+pieces inserted in it should be reprinted from the editions of them
+superintended by Defoe himself. 'There was one tract which the editor
+had failed to find at the British Museum or any other public library,
+and which he had sought in vain for in "The Row" or any bookseller's
+within reach of ordinary West End mortals. Somebody suggested that he
+should make a pilgrimage to Old Street, St. Luke's, and perhaps Brown
+might have a copy. Old Brown, as he was familiarly called, had a great
+knowledge of books and book-rarities, although perhaps he was more
+widely known for the extensive stock of manuscript sermons which he kept
+indexed according to texts, and which he was ready to lend or sell as
+his customers desired. . . . The editor inquired of Brown whether he had
+a copy of Defoe's tract. "No," said Brown; "I have not, and I don't know
+where you are likely to find one. But if you do meet with one, you will
+have to pay pretty handsomely for it." "I am prepared to pay a fair
+price for it," said the would-be customer, and left the shop. Now, Old
+Brown had a "sixpenny box" outside the door, and he had such a keen eye
+to business that I believe, if there was a box in London which would
+bear out Leigh Hunt's statement [that no one had ever found anything
+worth having in the sixpenny box at a bookstall], it was that box in Old
+Street. But as the customer left the shop his eye fell on the box, he
+turned over the rubbish in it, and at last selected a volume. "I'll pay
+you for this out of the box." "Thank you, sir," said Brown, taking the
+proffered sixpence. "But, by-the-by, what is it?" "It is _a_ tract by
+Defoe," was the answer, to Old Brown's chagrin. For it was the very work
+of which the purchaser was in search.'
+
+In the way of antiquity doubtless the New Cut--as what was once Lambeth
+Marsh is now termed--comes next to the two East End localities above
+mentioned as a bookstall locality. The place has certainly been a
+book-emporium for at least half a century. Mr. G. A. Sala declares that
+he has purchased for an old song many of his rarest books in this
+congested and unsavoury locality where Robert Buchanan and his ill-fated
+friend, David Gray, shared a bankrupt garret on their first coming up to
+London from Scotland. The present writer has picked up some rare and
+curious books in that locality during the past ten years, and others
+have doubtless done the same. Not so very long ago a volume with the
+autograph of Drayton was secured for one penny, certainly not an
+extravagant price.
+
+[Illustration: _A Book-barrow in Farringdon Road._]
+
+For some years Farringdon Road has enjoyed the distinction of being the
+best locality in London for bookstalling. Its stalls are far more
+numerous, and the quality of the books here exposed for sale is of a
+much higher class, than those which are to be met with in other places.
+There are between thirty and forty bookstalls or barrows here, and the
+place has what we may describe as a bibliopolic history, which goes back
+for a period of twenty years. The first person to start in the
+bookselling line was a coster of the name of Roberts, who died somewhat
+suddenly either in December of 1894 or early in January of the present
+year. Roberts appears to have been a fairly successful man at the trade,
+and had a fairly good knowledge of cheap books. The _doyen_ of the
+Farringdon Road bibliopoles is named Dabbs--a very intelligent man, who
+started first in the hot-chestnut line. Mr. Dabbs has generally a fairly
+good stock of books, which varies between one and two thousand volumes,
+a selection of which are daily displayed on four or five barrows, and
+varying from two a penny ('You must take two') up to higher-priced
+volumes. Curiously enough, he finds that theological books pay the best,
+and it is of this class that his stock chiefly consists. Just as
+book-hunters have many 'finds' to gloat over, so perhaps booksellers
+have to bewail the many rarities which they have let slip through their
+fingers. It would be more than could be expected of human nature, as it
+is at present constituted, to expect booksellers to make a clean or even
+qualified confession in this respect. Our friend Dabbs, however, is not
+of this hypersensitive type, and he relates, with a certain amount of
+grim humour, that his greatest lost opportunity was the selling of a
+book for 1s. 6d. which a few days afterwards was sold in Paris for L50.
+He consoles himself with the reflection that at all events _he_ made a
+fair profit out of this book. If we could all be as philosophical as
+this intelligent book-barrow-keeper, doubtless the slings and arrows of
+outrageous Fortune would impress fewer wrinkles on our brows, and help
+us to think kindly of the friends who put us 'up' to good things in the
+way of gold-mines and generously left us to pay the piper.
+
+[Illustration: _A few Types in Farringdon Road._]
+
+However picturesque may be the calling of the bookstall-keeper to the
+person who experiences a fiendish delight in getting a 6d. book out of
+him for 5-1/2d., the calling is on the whole a very hard one. Exposed
+to all weathers, these men have a veritable struggle for existence.
+Their actual profits rarely exceed 30s. or L2 weekly. They vary greatly,
+of course, according to weather, and a wet Saturday makes a very
+material difference to their takings. Many weeks throughout the year
+these takings do not average more than 8s. or 10s. We have made
+inquiries among most of the bookstall-keepers in the Metropolis, and the
+above facts can be depended upon. When these men happen upon a rare
+book, they nearly invariably sell it to one of the better-class
+booksellers. By this means they make an immediate profit and effect a
+ready sale. There is beyond this a numerous class of what may be
+described as 'book-ghouls,' or men who make it a business to haunt the
+cheap bookstalls and bag the better-class or more saleable books and
+hawk them around to the shops, and so make a few shillings on which to
+support a precarious existence, in which beer and tobacco are the sole
+delights. We once met a man who did a roaring trade of this description,
+chiefly with the British Museum. He took notes of every book that struck
+him as being curious or out of the way, and those which he discovered to
+be absent from the Museum he would at once purchase. He was great in the
+matter of editions, such as Pope, Junius, Coleridge, and so forth. The
+Museum is naturally lacking in hundreds of editions of English authors;
+but as these editions, almost without exception, possess no literary
+value, their presence (or absence) was not a matter of importance. For
+some months the 'collector' referred to inundated the Museum with these
+unimportant editions. Our friend discovered that the Museum authorities,
+ignoring the prices which he placed on his wares, would only have them
+at their own figures--which showed a curious similarity to those at
+which the vendor had obtained them--and this, coupled with the fact that
+they refused to purchase many of the items offered at any price, led him
+to the conclusion that he was serving his country at too cheap a rate.
+It is scarcely necessary to add that he is now following a vocation
+which, if less agreeable, is certainly more profitable to himself.
+Occasionally one of these professional bookstallers blossoms into a
+shopkeeper in some court or alley off Holborn; but more generally they
+are too far gone in drink and dilapidation to get out of the rut.
+
+One of the most curious characters who ever owned a bookstall was Henry
+Lemoine, the son of a French Huguenot. He was born in 1756, and for many
+years kept a stall in Bishopsgate Churchyard. He wrote many books, and
+did much hack-work for various publishers, chiefly in the way of
+translations from the French. He gave up shopkeeping in 1795, and became
+a pedestrian bookseller or colporteur of pamphlets. In 1807 he again set
+up a small stand of books in Parliament Street, and died in April, 1812.
+He might have achieved success, and become a respectable member of
+society, but his great failing was an all-consuming thirst.
+
+[Illustration: _Henry Lemoine, Author and Bookseller._]
+
+Writing over forty years ago in 'London Labour and the London Poor,'
+1851, Henry Mayhew remarked: 'There has been a change, and in some
+respects a considerable change, in the character or class of books sold
+at the street stalls, within the last forty or fifty years, as I have
+ascertained from the most experienced men in the trade. Now sermons, or
+rather the works of the old divines, are rarely seen at these stalls, or
+if seen, rarely purchased. Black-letter editions are very unfrequent at
+street bookstalls, and it is twenty times more difficult, I am assured,
+for street-sellers to pick up anything really rare and curious, than it
+was in the early part of the century. One reason assigned for this
+change by an intelligent street-seller was, that black-letter or any
+ancient works were almost all purchased by the second-hand booksellers,
+who have shops and issue catalogues, as they have a prompt sale for them
+whenever they pick them up at book-auctions or elsewhere.' As we have
+already pointed out, the same rule which obtained forty years ago
+applies with equal force to-day, and in the chief instances in which we
+have met with books well known to be rare, on bookstalls, their
+condition has been so bad as to render them valueless, except, perhaps,
+for the purpose of helping to complete imperfect copies.
+
+At one time the bookstall-keepers had fairly good opportunities of
+making a haul of a few rare books--that was when they were called in to
+clear out offices and old houses. As the world has grown wiser in
+respect to books as well as other things, executors, legatees, and so
+forth, have acquired unreasonable views as to the value of old books,
+and everything in the shape of a volume is sent to the regular
+book-auctioneers. When it is remembered that practically all the books
+which now occur on the various bookstalls of the Metropolis are
+purchased under the hammer at Hodgson's, the chances of obtaining
+anything rare are reduced to a minimum. These books are the refuse of
+the various bookshops, after, perhaps, having passed from one shop to
+another for several years without finding a purchaser outside the trade.
+At Hodgson's, of course, these books find their level, after repeated
+appearances; they are here sold, not quite by the cartload, but
+certainly in lots sufficiently large to fill a moderate sized
+wheelbarrow. The tastes of the bookbuying public are so infinite that
+there would seem to be a sale, at some time or another, for every
+species of printed matter; but the habitual haunter of the bookstalls
+meets with the same water-soaked dog-eared volumes month after month,
+and year after year, so that he is forced to the conclusion that the
+right purchaser has not yet come along. These volumes appeal to the
+bookbuyer with a piteousness which is scarcely less than positively
+human. In the words of George Peele, written over three centuries ago,
+these books seem to say,
+
+ 'Buy, read and judge,
+ The price do not grudge;
+ It will give thee more pleasure
+ Than twice as much treasure;'
+
+but no one seems to take the hint. Samuel Foote, in 'The Author,' makes
+Vamp say: 'Books are like women, Master Cape; to strike they must be
+well dressed; fine feathers make fine birds: a good paper, an elegant
+type, a handsome motto, and a catching title, has drove many a dull
+treatise through three editions.' These adventitious aids may still
+possess a potent influence in selling a new book even to-day, but they
+have little effect on the sale of the books which gravitate towards the
+book-barrow.
+
+The bookstall-keeper, it is true, has no rent to pay, except for the
+hire of his barrow, which amounts to one shilling per week each. Even
+this small charge is a considerable item where a man hires two or three
+barrows and does scarcely any trade. Then he has to pay someone to look
+after his goods during his absence. Further than this, the barrow-man
+has to pay cash down before he removes his purchase from the sale-room.
+On the other hand he gives no credit. The bookseller who enjoys the
+luxury of a shop, gets credit from the auctioneer, and gives credit to
+his customers. He has to put as large a margin of profit as possible on
+his books, and an average of sixpence each has to be added to the
+original cost of every item catalogued. The bookstall-man is, naturally,
+handicapped in many ways, and if he finds the sweepings of his more
+aristocratic _confreres'_ shops a long time on his hands, he, at all
+events, makes as large a profit with much fewer liabilities.
+
+We have referred to Hodgson's as the centre from which nearly all the
+bookstalls are supplied. Occasionally, however, the barrow-man buys at
+Sotheby's, and frequently so at Puttick and Simpson's. Sometimes the
+more adventurous spirits attend auctions in private houses in the
+suburbs, and occasionally those held a few miles out of town. These
+expeditions are more often than not 'arranged,' and usually resolve
+themselves into 'knock-outs.' It is a by no means unknown contingency
+for two or three men to purchase, against all comers, the entire lot of
+books at figures which invariably put the auctioneer into an exceedingly
+good humour; neither is it an unknown event for these men to decamp
+without the books, and also without leaving their addresses or deposit!
+Such tricks, however, are not the work of the tradesmen who have a
+_locus standi_, but of the better class of book-jackals, who, failing to
+get the books for next to nothing, outbid everyone else, and leave the
+auctioneer to get out of the dilemma as he best can.
+
+[Illustration: _The late Edmund Hodgson, Book-auctioneer._]
+
+For many years the weekly cattle-market at Islington has been a happy
+hunting-ground of the bookstall-keeper. Books are among the hundred and
+one articles which are brought from every conceivable source, and many
+very good things have doubtless been picked up here. But it is always
+the early prowler who gets the rarities--the man who gets there at eight
+or nine o'clock in the morning. There is very little but absolute
+rubbish left for the post-prandial visitor. A few inveterate
+book-hunters have journeyed thither at various times and in a spasmodic
+manner, but the hope of anything worth having has usually turned out to
+be a vain one: they have always been anticipated.
+
+Between the more ambitious shop and the nondescript bookstall, there is
+a class or species of bookseller who deserves a niche in this place. We
+refer to men like Purcell, in Red Lion Passage, Red Lion Square,
+Holborn, who are almost as much printsellers as booksellers. They make
+one book by destroying many others. Grangerizing is the proper name of
+this practice; but as the Rev. Mr. Granger has been productive of more
+curses than a dozen John Bagfords--an evil genius of the same type--the
+process is now termed extra-illustrating. However much one may denounce
+the whole system, it is impossible, whatever a particular book-hunter's
+idiosyncrasy may be, not to feel interested in some of the collections
+which these enterprising and ruthless biblioclasts manage to get
+together. Mr. Purcell is an adept at this game, of which, doubtless, Mr.
+F. Harvey, of St. James's Street, is one of the most clever, as he is
+certainly the most eminent of professors. Mr. Purcell's collection of
+prints, engravings, press-cuttings, and so forth, cover an
+extraordinarily wide field. In fifty cases out of a hundred, booksellers
+who make grangerizing a speciality find it pays far better to break up
+an illustrated book than to sell it intact. When they purchase a book,
+it is obviously their own property, to preserve or destroy, as they find
+most agreeable. Personally, we regard the system as in many ways a
+pernicious one, but it is one upon which a vast amount of cant has been
+wasted.
+
+But bookshops and stalls are obviously not the only places at which
+bargains in books are likely to be secured, as the following anecdote
+would seem to prove: 'A writer and reader well versed in the works of
+the minor English writers recently entered a newspaper-shop at the East
+End and purchased a pennyworth of snuff. When he got home he found that
+the titillating substance was wrapped in a leaf of Sir Thomas Elyot's
+black-letter book, "The Castell of Helth." The next day the purchaser
+went in hot haste to the shop and made a bid for the remainder of the
+volume. "You are too late, sir," spoke the shopkeeper. "After you had
+gone last night, a liter_airy_ gent as lives round the corner gave me
+two bob for the book. There was only one leaf torn out, which you got.
+The book was picked up at a stall for a penny by my son." The purchaser
+of the pennyworth at once produced the leaf, with instructions for it to
+be handed to his forestaller in the purchase of the volume, together
+with his name and address; and next day he received a courteous note of
+thanks from the "liter_airy_ gent" aforesaid.' Nothing is so uncertain
+as one's luck in book-hunting, but, without entirely discrediting the
+foregoing story, we can only say that it is an old friend with a new
+face. We have heard the same thing before. Not so very long ago, a
+certain bookseller thought he had at last got a prize; it was one of the
+rarest Shakespeare quartos, and worth close on L100. He had purchased it
+among a lot of other dirty pamphlets. He looked the matter up, and
+everything seemed to point to the fact that his copy was genuine in
+every respect--a most uncommon stroke of luck indeed. The precious
+quarto was in due course sent to Puttick's, and the modest reserve of
+L70 was placed upon it. The quarto was genuine in every respect, but it
+was a _facsimile_!
+
+It may be taken for granted that genuine Shakespeare quartos do not
+occur on bookstalls, and even a rare Americana tract only occurs in the
+wildest dreams of the book-hunter. Nevertheless, 'finds' of more or less
+interest continue to be made by keen book-hunters. Dr. Garnett tells how
+a tradesman at Oswestry had in his possession books to which he attached
+no importance, but which, a lady informed him, must be very rare. They
+were submitted to the authorities of the British Museum, who gave a
+high price for them. One was Sir Anthony Sherley's 'Wits New Dyall,'
+published in 1604, of which only one other copy is known to be in
+existence. As a rule, offers of rare books come from booksellers, who do
+not always say how they become possessed of them. Among the private
+people who offer books to the Museum for sale are a large proportion who
+think that a book must necessarily be rare because it is a hundred years
+old or more. Before the great catalogue was made, finds were
+occasionally made in the Museum itself, and even now a volume will
+occasionally be found which has special interest and value on account of
+its binding. In other cases a book will be found to be in a binding made
+up of leaves of some rare work far more valuable than the book itself.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+SOME BOOK-HUNTING LOCALITIES.
+
+
+LITTLE BRITAIN AND MOORFIELDS.
+
+THERE are few more attractive phases in the history of book-hunting in
+London than that of localities. Up to nearly the end of the last
+century, these localities were for the most part, and for close on 350
+years, confined to within a narrow area. With the rapid expansion of
+London north, east, south, and west, the 'trade' has not only expanded,
+but its representatives have sprung up in every district, whilst many of
+the older ones have forsaken the limits of the City, and pitched their
+tents in Greater London. For centuries bookselling and publishing
+flourished side by side in St. Paul's Churchyard, Fleet Street, and
+their immediate neighbourhoods.
+
+[Illustration: _St. Paul's Churchyard, 1606. From the Crace
+Collection._]
+
+Of all the old bookselling localities close to the heart of London, none
+were more famous than Little Britain and Moorfields. Three years before
+the Great Fire of London--in 1663--Sorbiere, in his 'Journey to
+England,' made the following observation: 'I am not to forget the vast
+number of booksellers' shops I have observed in London: for besides
+those who are set up here and there in the City, they have their
+particular quarters, such as St. Paul's Churchyard and Little Britain,
+where there is twice as many as in the Rue Saint Jacque in Paris, and
+who have each of them two or three warehouses.' The bookselling zenith
+of Little Britain was attained in the seventeenth century; it may almost
+be said to have commenced with the reign of Charles I., and to have
+begun a sort of retrogression with the Hanoverian succession. But there
+were printers and booksellers here at the latter part of the sixteenth
+century. From a newspaper published in this district in 1664, we learn
+that no less than 464 pamphlets were published here during four years.
+It was a sort of seventeenth-century combination of the Paternoster Row
+and Fleet Street of the present day. It is the place where, according to
+a widely circulated statement, first made in Richardson's 'Remarks on
+Paradise Lost,' 1734, an Earl of Dorset accidentally discovered, when on
+a book-hunt in 1667, a work hitherto unknown to him, entitled 'Paradise
+Lost.' He is said to have bought a copy, and the bookseller begged him
+to recommend it to his friends, as the copies lay on his hand like so
+much wastepaper. The noble Earl showed his copy to Dryden, who is
+reported to have exclaimed: 'This man cuts us all out, and the ancients
+too.' Though this anecdote may be apocryphal, certain it is the poem is
+in a way connected with the neighbourhood, inasmuch as Simmons' shop was
+in Aldersgate Street. In addition to this fact, Richardson also tells us
+that Milton lodged for some time in Little Britain with Millington, the
+famous book-auctioneer, who had then quitted the rostrum and followed
+the more peaceful vocation of a dealer in old books.
+
+Roger North, in his 'Life of the Right Hon. Francis North,' has an
+oft-quoted reference to Little Britain. From this interesting account we
+learn that during the latter part of the seventeenth century it was a
+plentiful and perpetual emporium of learned authors, and that men went
+thither as to a market. The trade of the place was, in consequence, an
+important one, the shops being large, and much resorted to by literary
+personages, wits, men-about-town, and fashionable notabilities
+generally. The booksellers then were men of intellect. But referring, by
+way of contrast, to the place during the earlier half of the eighteenth
+century, he laments that 'this emporium is vanished, and the trade
+contracted into the hands of two or three persons, who, to make good
+their monopoly, ransack, not only their neighbours of the trade that are
+scattered about the town, but all over England, ay, and beyond sea, too,
+and send abroad their circulators, and in this manner get into their
+hands all that is valuable. The rest of the trade are content to take
+their refuse, with which, and the fresh scum of the press, they furnish
+one side of the shop, which serves for the sign of a bookseller, rather
+than a real one; but instead of selling, deal as factors, and procure
+what the country divines and gentry send for; of whom each hath his
+book-factor, and, when wanting anything, writes to his bookseller and
+pays his bill. And it is wretched to consider what pickpocket work, with
+the help of the press, these demi-booksellers make. They crack their
+brains to find out selling subjects, and keep hirelings in garrets, at
+hard meat, to write and correct by the groat; and so puff up an octavo
+to a sufficient thickness; and there is six shillings current for an
+hour and half's reading, and perhaps never to be read or looked upon
+after. One that would go higher, must take his fortune at blank walls,
+and corners of streets, or repair to the sign of Bateman, King, and one
+or two more, where are best choice, and better pennyworths. I might
+touch other abuses, as bad paper, incorrect printing, and false
+advertising; and all of which and worse are to be expected, if a careful
+author is not at the heels of them.'
+
+We get an interesting glimpse of a meeting of two book-lovers in this
+locality from Izaak Walton. In his 'Life of Bishop Sanderson,' Walton
+writes that about the time Sanderson was printing this excellent preface
+('before his last twenty Sermons,' 1655), 'I met him accidentally in
+London, in sad-coloured clothes, and, God knows, far from costly. The
+place of our meeting was near to Little Britain, where he had been to
+buy a book, which he then had in his hand.'
+
+The house of Bateman is worthy of an important chapter in the
+bookselling annals of Little Britain, and the best-known member
+(Christopher) of the family is described in the usual sugared style of
+John Dunton: 'There are few booksellers in England (if any) that
+understand books better than Mr. Bateman, nor does his diligence and
+industry come short of his knowledge. He is a man of great reputation
+and honesty.' Nichols states that Bateman would allow no person to look
+into books in his shop, and when asked a reason for this extraordinary
+rule, he answered: 'I suppose you may be a physician or an author, and
+want some recipe or quotation; and, if you buy it, I will engage it to
+be perfect before you leave me, but not after, as I have suffered by
+leaves being torn out, and the books returned, to my very great loss and
+prejudice.' Bateman's shop was a favourite resort of Swift, who several
+times speaks of it in his 'Journal to Stella:' 'I went to Bateman's, the
+bookseller, and laid out eight and forty shillings for books. I bought
+three little volumes of Lucian, in French, for our Stella, and so, and
+so' (January 6, 1710-11); and again: 'I was at Bateman's, to see a fine
+old library he has bought, and my fingers itched as yours would do at a
+china-shop' (July 9, 1711).
+
+One of the most frequent visitors to Bateman's shop was Thomas Britton,
+'the small-coal man,' who died in September, 1714. His knowledge of
+books, of music and chemistry was certainly extraordinary, having regard
+to his ostensible occupation. His collection of manuscripts and printed
+music and musical instruments was very large. Lord Somers gave L500 for
+his collection of pamphlets, and Sir Hans Sloane was also a purchaser of
+many curious articles. He was a very well-known character, and 'was so
+much distinguished that, when passing through the streets in his blue
+linen frock, and with his sack of small coal on his back, he was
+frequently accosted with the following expression: "There goes the
+famous small-coal man, who is a lover of learning, a performer in music,
+and a companion for gentlemen."' Saturday, when Parliament was not
+sitting during the winter, was the market day with the booksellers of
+Little Britain; and in the earlier part of the last century, the
+frequenters of this locality included such worthies as the Duke of
+Devonshire, Edward, Earl of Oxford, and the Earls of Pembroke,
+Sunderland, and Winchelsea. After the 'hunt' they often adjourned to the
+Mourning Bush in Aldersgate, where they dined and spent the remainder of
+the day.
+
+[Illustration: _Thomas Britton, 'the small-coal man,' Collector of
+Musical Instruments and MSS._]
+
+Another famous Little Britain bookseller was Robert Scott whose sister
+was the Hon. and Rev. Dr. John North's 'grandmother's woman.' Scott was
+a man of 'good parts,' and was in his time, says Roger North, the
+'greatest librarian in Europe; for besides his stock in England, he had
+warehouses at Frankfort, Paris, and other places, and dealt by factors.'
+When an old man, Scott 'contracted with one Mills, of St. Paul's
+Churchyard, near L10,000 deep, and articled not to open his shop any
+more. But Mills, with his auctioneering, atlases, and projects, failed,
+whereby poor Scott lost above half his means. . . . He was not only an
+expert bookseller, but a very conscientious, good man, and when he threw
+up his trade, Europe had no small loss of him.'
+
+The most celebrated family of booksellers, perhaps, who lived in Little
+Britain, was that of Ballard, or Bullard, as the original name appears
+by the auction catalogues. The family were connected with the trade for
+over a century, and were noted, says Nichols, 'for the soundness of
+their principles in Church and State.' One Henry Ballard lived at the
+sign of the Bear without Temple Bar, over against St. Clement's Church,
+in 1597, but whether he was an ancestor of the family in question is not
+certain. Thomas Ballard, the founder of the bookselling branch, was
+described by Dunton, in 1705, as 'a young bookseller in Little Britain,
+but grown man in body now, but more in mind:
+
+ 'His looks are in his mother's beauty drest,
+ And all the Father has inform'd the rest.'
+
+Samuel Ballard, for many years Deputy of the Ward of Aldersgate Within,
+died August 27, 1761, and his only son, Edward, January 2, 1796, aged
+eighty-eight, in the same house in which he was born, having outlived
+his mental faculties. He was the last of the profession in Little
+Britain.
+
+Among the scores of Little Britain men who combined publishing with
+second-hand bookselling, one of the more interesting is William Newton,
+who resided there during the earlier years of the last century. In 1712
+he published Quincy's 'Medicina Statica,' at the end of which is this
+curious 'Advertisement' (minus the superfluity of capitals): 'Those
+persons who have any Librarys (_sic_) or small parcels of old books to
+dispose of, either in town or countrey, may have ready money for them of
+Will. Newton, Bookseller in Little Britain, London. Also all gentlemen,
+and schoolmasters, may be furnished with all sorts of classics, in usum
+Delphi, Variorum, etc. Likewise, he will exchange with any person, for
+any books they have read and done with.'
+
+It was from the Dolphin, in Little Britain, that Samuel Buckley first
+issued the _Spectator_, March 1, 1711, _et seq._ Tom Rawlinson resided
+here for some years, as did another and different kind of celebrity,
+Benjamin Franklin, who worked at Palmer's famous printing-house in
+Bartholomew Close. 'While I lodged in Little Britain,' says Franklin, in
+his 'Autobiography,' 'I made an acquaintance with one Wilcox, a
+bookseller, whose shop was at the next door. He had an immense
+collection of second-hand books. Circulating libraries were not then in
+use; but we agreed that, on certain reasonable terms, which I have now
+forgotten, I might take, read, and return any of the books. This I
+esteemed a great advantage, and made as much use of as I could.'
+
+[Illustration: _Duke Street, Little Britain, formerly called Duck
+Lane._]
+
+But by Franklin's time the book trade of Little Britain had declined
+beyond any hope of recovery. In 1756 Maitland describes the place as
+'very ruinous'; the part from 'the Pump to Duck Lane is well built, and
+though much inhabited formerly by booksellers, who dealt chiefly in old
+books, it is now much deserted and decayed.' A few years before Nichols
+published his 'Literary Anecdotes,' two booksellers used to sport their
+rubric posts close to each other here in Little Britain, and these
+rubric posts[176:A] were once as much the type of a bookseller's shop as
+the pole is of a barber's.
+
+Nearly all the numerous lanes and alleys immediately contiguous to
+Little Britain were more or less inhabited by second-hand booksellers.
+The most important in every respect of these was Duck Lane, subsequently
+rechristened Duke Street, and in 1885 as a part and parcel of Little
+Britain. It is the street which leads from West Smithfield to one end of
+Little Britain, and the change was a very foolish one. It was to this
+street that Swift conjectured that booksellers might send inquiries for
+his works.
+
+ 'Some county squire to Lintot goes,
+ Inquires for Swift in verse and prose.
+ Says Lintot, "I have heard the name,
+ He died a year ago." "The same."
+ He searches all the shops in vain:
+ "Sir, you may find them in Duck Lane."'
+
+And Garth tells how the learned Dr. Edward Tyson filled his library from
+the Duck Lane shops:
+
+ 'Abandoned authors here a refuge meet,
+ And from the world to dust and worms retreat
+ Here dregs and sediments and authors reign,
+ Refuse of fairs and gleanings of Duck Lane.'
+
+Mr. W. Carew Hazlitt has noted the fact that a copy of Zach. Ursinus'
+'Summe of Christian Religion,' translated by H. Parry (1617), contains
+on the first leaf this note: 'Mary Rous her Booke, bought in Duck Lane
+bey Smithfelde, this year, 1644.'
+
+Not very far from Little Britain is the Barbican, which at the earlier
+part of the century contained several bookshops, but has since
+degenerated into forbidding warehouses. Charles Lamb, under date March
+25, 1829, writes: 'I have just come from town, where I have been to get
+my bit of quarterly pension, and have brought home from stalls in
+Barbican the old "Pilgrim's Progress," with the prints--Vanity Fair,
+etc.--now scarce. Four shillings; cheap. And also one of whom I have oft
+heard and had dreams, but never saw in the flesh--that is in
+sheepskin--"The Whole Theologic Works of Thomas Aquinas." My arms ached
+with lugging it a mile to the stage, but the burden was a pleasure, such
+as old Anchises was to the shoulders of AEneas, or the lady to the lover
+in the old romance, who, having to carry her to the top of a high
+mountain (the price of obtaining her), clambered with her to the top and
+fell dead with fatigue.'
+
+[Illustration: _Charles Lamb, after D. Maclise._]
+
+The district to which the name of Moorfields was once applied has no
+great historic interest. It remained moorfields until it was first
+drained in 1527. In the reign of James I. it was first laid out into
+walks, and during the time of Charles II. some portions of it were built
+upon. It soon became famous for its musters and pleasant walks, its
+laundresses and bleachers, its cudgel-players and popular amusements,
+its bookstalls and ballad-sellers. Writing at the beginning of the last
+century, that pungent critic of the world in general, Tom Brown,
+observes: 'Well, this thing called prosperity makes a man strangely
+insolent and forgetful. How contemptibly a cutler looks at a poor
+grinder of knives; a physician in his coach at a farrier a-foot; and a
+well-grown Paul's Churchyard bookseller upon one of the trade that sells
+second-hand books under the trees in Moorfields!' In Thoresby's 'Diary'
+we have an entry under the year 1709 of a very rare edition of the New
+Testament in English, 1536, having been purchased in Moorfields.
+
+[Illustration: _Old Houses in Moorfields._]
+
+By the middle of the last century Moorfields became an assemblage of
+small shops, particularly booksellers', and remained such until, in
+1790, the handsome square of Finsbury arose on its site. That some of
+these booksellers of Moorfields had considerable stocks is seen by the
+fact that that of John King, of this place, occupied ten days in the
+dispersal at Samuel Baker's in 1760. Perhaps one of the most famous of
+the Moorfields booksellers was Thomas King, who published priced
+catalogues of books from 1780 to 1796, and who deserted Moorfields at
+about the latter date, to take premises in King Street, Covent Garden,
+as a book-auctioneer. Horace Walpole, referring to James West's sale in
+1773, says: 'Mr. West's books are selling outrageously. His family will
+make a fortune by what he collected from stalls and Moorfields.' This
+sale, which occupied twenty-four days, included, as we have said on a
+previous page, books by Caxton, Wynkyn de Worde, and others, and also
+works on Old English literature, voyages and travels, not a few of which
+were undoubtedly picked up in Moorfields. The Rev. John Brand, secretary
+of the Society of Antiquaries, who died in 1806, visited almost daily
+the bookstalls between Piccadilly and Mile End, and may be regarded as
+another Moorfields book-hunter; he generally returned from these
+excursions with his deep and wide pockets well laden. His books were
+chiefly collected in this way, and for comparatively small sums. Brand
+cared little for the condition of his books, many of which were
+imperfect, the defects being supplied in neatly-written MS. (See p.
+190.) John Keats, the poet, was born in Moorfields, and Tom Dibdin was
+apprenticed to an upholsterer in this district.
+
+
+FINSBURY.
+
+[Illustration: _Interior of Lackington's Shop._]
+
+When Moorfields became improved into Finsbury Circus, the bookselling
+element was by no means extinguished. James Lackington (1746 to 1816),
+who had established himself as a bookseller in Chiswell Street, was
+issuing catalogues from that address from 1779 to 1793. He first started
+selling books on Midsummer Day, 1774, in Featherstone Street, St.
+Luke's. It was from Chiswell Street that Lackington dated those rambling
+letters which he styles 'Memoirs of the Forty-five First Years' of his
+life. In twelve years he had progressed so rapidly, from the sack of old
+rubbish for which he paid a guinea and with which he began business as a
+bookseller, that a move to more commodious premises became necessary. In
+1794 he transferred his stock to one of the corners of Finsbury
+Square--which had been then built about five years--and started his
+'Temple of the Muses.' The original building was burnt down some years
+ago, but the late Charles Knight has left on record an interesting
+sketch of the place as it struck him in 1801: 'Over the principal
+entrance is inscribed, "Cheapest Booksellers in the World." It is the
+famous shop of Lackington, Allen and Co., "where above half a million of
+volumes are constantly on sale." We enter the vast area, whose
+dimensions are to be measured by the assertion that a coach and six
+might be driven round it. In the centre is an enormous circular counter,
+within which stand the dispensers of knowledge, ready to wait upon the
+county clergyman, in his wig and shovel hat; upon the fine ladies, in
+feathers and trains; or upon the bookseller's collector, with his dirty
+bag. If there is any chaffering about the cost of a work, the shopman
+points to the following inscription: "The lowest price is marked on
+every book, and no abatement made on any article." We ascend a broad
+staircase, which leads to "The Lounging Rooms" and to the first of a
+series of circular galleries, lighted from the lantern of the dome,
+which also lights the ground-floor. Hundreds, even thousands, of volumes
+are displayed on the shelves running round their walls. As we mount
+higher and higher, we find commoner books in shabbier bindings; but
+there is still the same order preserved, each book being numbered
+according to a printed catalogue. . . . The formation of such an
+establishment as this assumes a remarkable power of organization, as
+well as a large command of capital.'
+
+[Illustration: _Jones and Co. (successors to Lackington)._]
+
+Six years after he had started, Lackington, who had been joined by his
+friend, John Denis--a man of some capital--published his first catalogue
+(1779), the title of the firm being Lackington and Co., and the list
+enumerating some 12,000 volumes. Denis appears to have been a genuine
+book-collector and a man of some taste, with the very natural result
+that they soon parted company. Lackington was as vain and officious a
+charlatan as ever stepped in shoe-leather--a trade to which he had been
+brought up, by the way--but that he had organizing abilities of a very
+uncommon order there can be no question. He found the catalogue business
+a great success, and in due course issued one of 820 pages, with
+entries of nearly 30,000 volumes and sets of books, all classified under
+subjects as well as sizes. For thirteen years (after 1763) Lackington
+did all his own cataloguing. In 1798 the Temple of the Muses was made
+over to George Lackington, Allen and Co. The former was a third cousin
+of the founder of the firm, and is described by John Nichols as 'well
+educated and gentlemanly.'
+
+[Illustration: _Lackington's Halfpenny._]
+
+When he retired from the business, Lackington enjoyed himself to the top
+of his bent, travelling all over the kingdom in his state coach and
+scribbling. His 'Confessions' appeared in 1804, and form a sequel to his
+'Memoirs,' already mentioned. He died on November 22, 1815, and is
+buried at Budleigh Salterton, Devon. As a bookseller, he certainly was a
+success--perhaps, indeed, one of the most successful, all things
+considered, that ever lived in London. He is a hero in pretty much the
+same sense as James Boswell. He had, as a matter of course, his
+detractors. His contemporary booksellers loved him not, for his methods
+of quick sales and small profits were things unheard of until he
+appeared on the scene. Peter Pindar's 'Ode to the Hero of Finsbury
+Square, 1795,' is a choice specimen of this witty writer. It begins:
+
+ 'Oh! thou whose mind, unfetter'd, undisguised,
+ Soars like the lark into the empty air;
+ Whose arch exploits by subtlety devised,
+ Have stamped renown on Finsbury's New Square,
+ Great "hero" list! Whilst the sly muse repeats
+ Thy nuptial ode, thy prowess great _in sheets_.'
+
+Accompanying this ode was a woodcut, which represents Lackington
+mounting his gorgeous carriage upon steps formed by Tillotson's
+'Sermons,' a Common Prayer, and a Bible; from one of his pockets there
+protrudes a packet of papers, labelled 'Puffs and lies for my book,' and
+from the other 'My own memoirs.'
+
+The 'Co.' of George Lackington, Allen and Co. was a Mr. Hughes. At the
+next shuffling of cards the firm consisted of Lackington, A. Kirkman,
+Mavor--a son of Dr. Mavor, of Woodstock--and Jones. In 1822 the firm
+consisted of Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, and Lepard, and
+subsequently of Harding and Lepard (who had absorbed the important
+business of Triphook, the Cunning Bookseller of Beloe, and it was this
+trio who published the second edition of Dibdin's 'Library Companion'),
+by whom the business was transferred to Pall Mall East. George
+Lackington died in March, 1844, aged seventy-six. In the _Bookseller_ of
+December 16, 1886, there is an interesting memoir of Kames James Ford,
+'the last of the Lackingtonians,' who died at Crouch Hill five days
+previously, aged ninety-four.
+
+
+CENTRAL AND EAST LONDON.
+
+[Illustration: _The Poultry in 1550._]
+
+Cheapside had never much attraction to the book-collector, but the
+Poultry (which is in reality a continuation of the Cheapside
+thoroughfare) was for two and a half centuries a bookselling locality.
+In 1569, for example, John Alde was living at 'the long shop adjoining
+to St. Mildred's Church in the Poultry.' From the middle to the end of
+the seventeenth century the locality had become quite famous for its
+bookshops. Nat Ponder, who 'did time' for publishing a seditious
+pamphlet, was Bunyan's publisher. John Dunton's shop was at the sign of
+the Black Raven. No. 22 was the residence of the brothers Charles and
+Edward Dilly, and it was here, at a dinner, that Dr. Johnson's
+prejudices against Wilkes were entirely broken down by the latter's
+brilliant conversation. The Dillys were great entertainers, and all the
+more notable literary people of the period were to be met at their
+house. They amassed a very large fortune. Edward died in 1807, having
+relinquished the business some years previously to Joseph Mawman, who
+died in 1827. Mawman, it may be mentioned, wrote an 'Excursion to the
+Highlands of Scotland,' 1805, which the _Edinburgh_ furiously assailed:
+'This is past all enduring. Here is a tour, _travelled_, _written_,
+_published_, _sold_, and, for anything we know, _reviewed_ by one and
+the same individual! We cannot submit patiently to this monstrous
+monopoly.' No. 31 was the shop of Vernor and Hood, booksellers. The
+latter was father of the facetious Tom Hood, who was born here in 1798.
+Spon, of 15, Queen Street, Cheapside, was issuing, half a century ago,
+his 'City of London Old Book Circulars,' which often contained excellent
+books at very moderate prices.
+
+[Illustration: _The Old Mansion House, Cheapside._]
+
+The district more or less immediately contiguous to the Bank of England
+was for a long period a favourite bookselling locality, but heavy rents
+and crowded thoroughfares have completely killed the trade in the heart
+of commercial London. Early in the seventeenth century, Pope's Head
+Alley, a turning out of Cornhill, contained a number of booksellers' and
+publishers' shops. In the latter part of the seventeenth century, Thomas
+Guy, with a capital of about L200, started selling books at 'the little
+corner house of Lombard Street and Cornhill'; but his wealth was not
+derived from this source. It is interesting to note, however, that this
+little corner shop existed so recently as 1833 or 1834. Alexander
+Cruden, of 'Concordance' fame, settled in London in 1732, and opened a
+bookstall under the Royal Exchange, and it was whilst here that he
+compiled the 'Concordance' which ruined him in business and deranged his
+mind. William Collins, whose catalogues for many years 'furnished
+several curiosities to the literary collectors,' started selling books
+in Pope's Head Alley, in or about 1778, but was burnt out in the
+following year, when he removed to Exchange Alley, where he remained
+until the last decade of the last century. John Sewell, who died in 1802
+(aged sixty-eight), was one of the last to sport the rubric posts, and
+his shop in Cornhill was a highly popular resort with book-buyers; he
+was succeeded by another original character in the person of James
+Asperne. J. and A. Arch were in Cornhill contemporaneously with Asperne,
+and it was to these kindly Quakers that Thomas Tegg turned, and not in
+vain, after being summarily dismissed from Lane's, in Leadenhall Street,
+and with whom he remained for some years. It was not until some time
+after he had started on his own account that Tegg commenced his nightly
+book-auctions at 111, Cheapside, an innovation which resulted in Tegg
+finding himself a fairly rich man. His next move was to the old Mansion
+House, once the residence of the Lord Mayor, and here he met with an
+increased prosperity and popularity. He was elected a Common Councillor
+of the ward of Cheap, and took a country house at Norwood. Up to the
+close of 1840, Tegg had issued 4,000 works on his own account (chiefly
+'remainders'), and not 'more than twenty were failures.' The more
+noteworthy second-hand booksellers of this neighbourhood half a century
+ago were Charles Davis, whose shop was at 48, Coleman Street, and T.
+Bennett, of 4, Copthall Buildings, at the back of the Bank, each of whom
+published catalogues. A quarter of a century ago the last-named address
+was still in possession of second-hand booksellers--S. and T. Gilbert,
+and subsequently of Gilbert and Field. One of the oldest bookselling
+firms in the City is that of Sandell and Smith, of 136, City Road, which
+dates back to 1830. It was whilst exploring in some of the upper rooms
+of this shop that a well-known first-edition collector, Mr. Elliot
+Stock, came upon an incomparable array of the class of book for which he
+had an especial weakness. He obtained nearly a sackload at an average of
+tenpence or a shilling each, and as many of these are now not only very
+rare, but in great demand at fancy prices, it is scarcely necessary to
+say that the investment was a peculiarly good one. The 'haul' included
+works by Byron, Bernard Barton, Browning, Barry Cornwall, Lytton,
+Cowper, Dryden, Hogg, Moore, Rogers, Scott, Wordsworth, and a lot of
+eighteenth-century writers. Half a century ago Edwards' 'Cheap Random
+Catalogues' were being issued from 76, Bunhill Row.
+
+[Illustration: _Gilbert and Field's Shop in Copthall Court._]
+
+[Illustration: _E. George's (late Gladding's) Shop, Whitechapel Road._]
+
+So far as the East End of London is concerned, there is not, perhaps,
+very much to say. The second-hand bookselling trade for the past
+half-century has been confined in a large measure to three firms--R.
+Gladding, an octogenarian, who dealt almost exclusively in theological
+books, whose shop was at 76, Whitechapel Road, and who retired at the
+end of 1893; E. George and Sons, who have been for many years
+established at 231, Whitechapel Road, and have lately acquired
+Gladding's shop; and Joseph Smith, 2, Oxford Street, Whitechapel. The
+two last-named firms are, in their respective ways, of more than usual
+interest. Mr. E. George, whose father, William George, was also a
+bookseller, started in business on his own account between thirty and
+forty years ago, his stock-in-trade consisting of four shillings' worth
+of miscellaneous volumes, which he exposed for sale on a barrow close
+to the old Whitechapel workhouse, which occupied the ground on which one
+of Mr. George's shops now stands. Mr. George has built up one of the
+most remarkable and extensive business connections in existence. His
+stock may be roughly calculated at about 700,000 or 800,000 volumes or
+parts, two large houses and warehouses being literally crammed full from
+top to bottom. There is scarcely any periodical or transactions of any
+learned society which they are unable to complete, and in many
+instances--_Punch_, for example--they have at least a dozen complete
+sets, besides an infinity of odd numbers and parts. It is scarcely
+necessary to point out that Messrs. George's business has very little to
+do with the locality in which their shops are situated. They are the
+wholesale firm of the trade, and the larger part of their business is
+done in the United States and among the provincial booksellers of Great
+Britain, ten huge cases and a complete set of Hansard being on the eve
+of exportation to America at the time of our visit. It is a curious
+fact, and one well worth mentioning, that until last year (1894) this
+firm never issued a catalogue. It is also interesting to point out that
+their shop at 76, Whitechapel Road is one of the most admirably arranged
+bookstores in the country. It was specially constructed, and is not
+unlike a miniature British Museum Reading-room; there are two galleries,
+one above the other. The second East End worthy has a literary as well
+as a bibliopolic interest. Joseph Smith will be better remembered by
+posterity as the compiler of a 'Catalogue of Friends' Books,' and of the
+'Bibliotheca Anti-Quakerana,' than as a bookseller. He was twenty years
+compiling the former, and is perhaps one of the most striking
+illustrations of the wisdom of the theory that the bookseller who wishes
+to be a success should never read! Joseph Smith is of the Society of
+Friends, and among his schoolfellows were John Bright and W. E. Forster.
+
+Second-hand bookselling in the East End has declined during the past
+quarter of a century from several causes, the chief and most important
+being the almost complete withdrawal of moderately well-to-do people
+from the locality. The neighbourhood has become so exclusively inhabited
+by the poorest of the poor, and by the desolate immigrants from all
+countries, that the higher phases of bookselling have little chance of
+flourishing. Mr. E. George informs us that fifteen or twenty years ago
+he frequently sold in one day books to the value of L15 to genuine
+residents of the East End, but that he now does not sell fifteen
+shillings' worth. So far as local customers are concerned, he might just
+as well have nothing more elaborate than a warehouse.
+
+Many interesting bookish events have, nevertheless, transpired in what
+is now the slummiest district of London, and if the best of these
+anecdotes were collected they would fill quite a big volume. They are
+very varied in character, and some of the stories have very different
+morals. Here is one related concerning the Rev. Mr. Brand, to whom we
+have already referred. He was a clergyman of that district, and, it is
+feared, sometimes neglected his religious duties for the more engrossing
+charms of the chase. One Friday afternoon he was roaming in the
+neighbourhood of his church, when his eye fell on the shop of a Jew
+bookseller which he had not before noticed, and was astonished to see
+there a number of black-letter volumes exposed for sale. But the sun was
+rapidly going down, and the Jew, loath to be stoned by his neighbours
+for breaking the Sabbath, was hastily interposing the shutters between
+the eyes of the clergyman and the coveted books. 'Let me look at them
+inside,' said the Rev. Mr. Brand; 'I will not keep you long.'
+'Impossible,' replied the Jew. 'Sabbath will begin in five minutes, and
+I absolutely cannot let myself be drawn into such a breach of Divine
+Law. But if you choose to come early on Sunday morning you may see them
+at your leisure.' The reverend gentleman accordingly turned up at eight
+a.m. on Sunday, intending to remain there till church-time, he having to
+do duty that day. He had provided himself with the overcoat which he
+wore on his book-hunting expeditions, and which had pockets large enough
+to swallow a good-sized folio. The literary treasures of the son of
+Israel were much more numerous than the Gentile expected. At this time
+there was not such a rush for Caxtons as we have witnessed since the
+Roxburghe sale. Mr. Brand found one of these precious relics in a very
+bad condition, although not past recovery, paid a trifling price for it,
+and pocketed it. Then he successively examined some rare productions of
+the presses of Wynkyn de Worde, Pynson, and so forth. The clergyman's
+purchases soon began to assume considerable proportions. Archimedes was
+not more fully absorbed in his geometrical problems when the Roman
+soldier killed him, than the East End clergyman in his careful
+collations. He was aroused, however, from his reveries by the Jewess
+calling out: 'Mike, dinner is ready.' 'Dinner!' exclaimed the parson.
+'At what time do you dine?' 'At one o'clock,' she replied. He looked at
+his watch. It was too true. He hastened home. In the meantime, the
+beadle had been to his house, and finding he had left it in his usual
+health, it was feared some accident had happened. The congregation then
+dispersed, much concerned at the absence of the worthy pastor, who,
+however, atoned in the evening, by unwonted eloquence, for his
+unpremeditated prank of the morning.
+
+
+HOLBORN AND NEIGHBOURHOOD.
+
+As a second-hand bookselling locality, Holborn is one of the oldest of
+those in which the trade is still carried on vigorously. As a
+bookselling locality it has a record of close on three centuries and a
+half. As early as 1558, a publisher was issuing cheap books in
+connection with John Tisdale, at the Saracen's Head, in Holborn, near to
+the Conduit, and in one of these booklets we are enjoined to
+
+ 'Remember, man! both night and day,
+ Thou needs must die, there is no Nay.'
+
+Probably the earliest, and certainly one of the earliest, books
+published in Holborn was the 'Vision of Piers Plowman,' 'now fyrst
+imprinted by Robert Crowley, dwellyng in Ely-rents in Holburne,' in
+1550, which contains a very quaint address from the printer. In and
+about the year 1584, Roger Warde, a very prolific publisher, was
+dwelling near 'Holburne Conduit, at the sign of the "Talbot,"' and a
+still more noteworthy individual, Richard Jones, lived hard by, at the
+sign of the Rose and Crown.
+
+Early in the seventeenth century, several members of the fraternity had
+established themselves in and around Gray's Inn Gate, then termed, more
+appropriately, Lane. Henrie Tomes published 'The Commendation of Cocks
+and Cock-fighting' (1607), which, no doubt, the 'young bloods' of the
+period perused much more diligently than more instructive and edifying
+books with which Mr. Tomes also could have supplied them.
+
+Its most famous bibliopolic resident, however, is Thomas Osborne, or Tom
+Osborne, as he was called in the trade and by posterity. Tom Osborne's
+fame began and ended with himself. Nobody knew whence he came, and
+probably nobody cared. His catalogues cover a period of thirty
+years--1738-1768--and include some very remarkable libraries of many
+famous men. In stature he is described as short and thick, so that Dr.
+Johnson's famous summary method of knocking him down[192:A] was not
+perhaps so difficult a feat as is generally supposed. To his
+inferiors--including, as he apparently but ruefully thought, Dr.
+Johnson--he generally spoke in an authoritative and insolent manner. As
+ignorant as Lackington, he was considerably less aware of the fact.
+Osborne's shop, like that of Jacob Tonson[192:B] at the end of the
+seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth centuries, was at the Gray's
+Inn Road gate of, or entrance to, Gray's Inn. His greatest _coup_ was
+the purchase of the Harleian Collection of books--the manuscripts were
+bought by the British Museum for L10,000--for L13,000, in 1743. It is
+said on good authority that the Earl of Oxford gave L18,000 for the
+binding of only a part of them. In 1743-44, the extent of this
+extraordinary collection was indicated by the 'Catalogus Bibliotheca
+Harleianae,' in four volumes. The first two, in Latin, were compiled by
+Dr. Johnson at a daily wage, and the third and fourth (which are a
+repetition of the first two), in English, are by Oldys. A charge of 5s.
+was made for the first two volumes, which caused a good deal of
+grumbling among the trade, and was resented 'as an avaricious
+innovation,' but Osborne replied that the volumes could be either
+returned in exchange for books or for the original purchase-money. He
+was also charged with rating his books at too high a price, but a glance
+through the catalogue will prove this to be an unjust accusation. The
+copy of the Aldine Plato, 1513, on vellum, for which Lord Oxford gave
+100 guineas, is priced by Osborne at L21. The sale of the books appears
+to have been extremely slow, and Johnson assured Boswell that 'there was
+not much gained by the bargain.' Nichols' 'Literary Anecdotes' (iii.
+649-654) gives a list of the libraries which Osborne absorbed into his
+stock at different times, but few of these are anything more than names
+at the present day. Osborne is satirized in the 'Dunciad,' but,
+according to Johnson, was so dull that he could not feel the poet's
+gross satire. Sir John Hawkins states that Osborne used to boast that he
+was worth L40,000, and doubtless this was true. His
+
+ 'Bushy bob, well powder'd every day,
+ Bloom'd whiter than a hawthorn hedge in May,'
+
+was one of his acquired peculiarities. Nichols tells us that the
+expression 'rum books' arose from Osborne's sending unsaleable volumes
+to Jamaica in exchange for rum.
+
+But whilst Tom Osborne was _the_ bookseller of Holborn, there were many
+others well established here during the last century, and whose names
+have been handed down to us by the catalogues which they published.
+William Cater, for instance, was issuing catalogues from Holborn in
+1767, when he sold the libraries of Lord Willoughby, president of the
+Society of Antiquaries, and in 1774 of Cudworth Bruck, another
+antiquary. Cater was succeeded in 1786 by John Deighton, of Cambridge.
+In the person of Henry Dell we get a literary bookseller, who had
+established himself first in Tower Street, and in or about 1765 in
+Holborn, where, Nichols tells us, he died very poor. He wrote 'The
+Booksellers, a Poem,' 1766, which has been pronounced 'a wretched,
+rhyming list of booksellers in London, and Westminster, with silly
+commendations of some and stupid abuse of others.' Other Holborn
+booksellers were: William Fox, 1773-1777; John Hayes, who died November
+12, 1811, aged seventy-four, and 'whose abilities were of no ordinary
+class, and his erudition very considerable'; John Anderson, of Holborn
+Hill, 1787-1792, who sold the library of the Hon. John Scott, of Gray's
+Inn; Francis Noble, who, besides being a bookseller, kept for many years
+an extensive circulating library in Holborn, but who, in consequence of
+his daughter's obtaining a share in the first L30,000 prize in the
+lottery, retired from business, and died at an advanced age in June,
+1792; Joseph White, 1779-1791; and William Flexney, who died January 7,
+1808, aged seventy-seven, and who was the original publisher of
+Churchill's 'Poems,' and is thus immortalized by that versatile 'poet':
+
+ 'Let those who energy of diction prize,
+ For Billingsgate, quit Flexney, and be wise.'
+
+Percival Stockdale, in his 'Memoirs,' speaks highly of his 'old friend'
+Flexney, 'with whom I have passed many convivial and jovial hours.'
+
+J. H. Prince, of Old North Street, Red Lion Square, Holborn, who wrote
+and published his own eccentric 'Life' in 1806, and who, trying and
+failing in nearly everything else, took to bookselling and book-writing,
+evidently, like many other authors before and since, found soliciting
+subscriptions for his book 'a most painful undertaking to a susceptible
+mind.' His motto was, 'I evil ni etips,' or 'I live in spite.' A much
+more important bookseller of Holborn was John Petheram, who lived at 94,
+High Holborn in the fifties, and whose catalogues were styled 'The
+Bibliographical Miscellany'; for some time, with each of his catalogues
+he issued an eight-page supplement, which consisted of a reprint of some
+very rare tract; the selection of some of these was in the hands of Dr.
+E. F. Rimbault. A complete set of these catalogues would be extremely
+interesting; we have only seen half a dozen of them, and these are in
+the British Museum. A somewhat similar effort to give an extra interest
+to catalogues was made a few years ago by J. W. Jarvis and Son, of King
+William Street, and also by Pickering and Chatto, the Haymarket; but the
+experiment apparently did not succeed.
+
+[Illustration: _Middle Row, Holborn, 1865._]
+
+Apart from Holborn, properly so called, Middle Row, an insulated row of
+houses, abutting upon Holborn Bars, and nearly opposite Gray's Inn
+Road, claims a notice here, for it was long a book-hunting locality, and
+two bookshops, at least, existed there until the place was demolished in
+August, 1867. Perhaps its most famous bookseller was John Cuthell, who
+came to London from Scotland in 1771, and became assistant to Drew, of
+Middle Row, whom he succeeded. He was publishing catalogues here from
+1787, and did a very large export business with America. He was noted
+for his stock of medical and scientific books. He was still at Middle
+Row in 1813, when John Nichols published his 'Literary Anecdotes,' to
+which he was a subscriber. Cuthell died at Turnham Green in 1828, aged
+eighty-five. He was succeeded by Francis Macpherson, who issued the
+thirtieth number of his catalogue in April, 1840, from No. 4, Middle
+Row. The works offered comprised a selection of theological, classical,
+and historical books. One of the most curious entries relates to an
+extensive collection of books and pamphlets by and concerning the famous
+Dr. Richard Bentley, five volumes in quarto, and thirty-one more in
+octavo and duodecimo; the set (now, we believe, in the British Museum),
+doubtless the most complete ever offered for sale, was priced at L25,
+and was probably utilized in Dyce's editions of Bentley's
+'Dissertations,' and in an edition of Bentley's 'Sermons at Boyle's
+Lecture,' both of which Macpherson published. This catalogue is
+interesting from the number of illustrations which it affords of the
+transition period of English book-collecting; the various editions of
+the classics are priced at very moderate figures, whilst English
+classics are offered at comparatively 'fancy' sums. For example, a very
+neat copy of the first edition of 'Tom Jones' is offered at 18s., and a
+fine copy of John Bale's 'Image of Both Churches,' without date, but
+printed by East at the latter part of the sixteenth century, at L1 7s.
+J. Coxhead is another Holborn bookseller who may be regarded as a link
+between the old and the new. He was at 249, High Holborn in 1840, and
+had been established forty years. His lists were apparently issued only
+once or twice a year; one of the notices in his catalogue may be quoted
+here, as showing the chief medium by which country book-collectors were
+supplied with their books: 'Gentlemen residing in the country had better
+apply direct to J. Coxhead for any articles from this list, or they can
+obtain them by giving the order to their country bookseller, and it will
+be sent in their weekly parcel from London.' At about the same time, and
+for nearly the same period, David Ogilby was selling second-hand books
+at the same locality.
+
+One of the most interesting of the Holborn booksellers was William
+Darton, of 58, Holborn Hill, of whose shop we give an 'interior' view
+from a plate engraved by Darton himself. William was a son of William
+Darton, who founded the famous publishing house of Darton and Harvey, of
+55, Gracechurch Street, in the latter part of the last century, their
+speciality being children's books, which had a fame almost as extensive
+as those of the great Mr. Newbery himself. He was joined by his brother
+Thomas, and for two generations a successful business was carried on in
+this place; the three generations of Dartons were prominent members of
+the Society of Friends. The house chiefly devoted itself to publishing,
+but it had a fairly large trade in selling the books issued by other
+publishers. The firm ceased to exist about the time when the Holborn
+Valley improvements swept away so many of the old landmarks of that
+locality. Mr. Joseph W. Darton, the sole partner in Wells Gardner,
+Darton and Co., is a grandson of the founder of the Holborn Hill house
+and a great-grandson of the original William Darton. A history of the
+Dartons would form as interesting a volume as that on John Newbery.
+
+[Illustration: _William Darton, Bookseller_, The Founder of the House of
+Darton and Harvey.]
+
+Holborn is an additionally interesting book-locality from the fact that
+it was from here that some of the first book-catalogues were issued.
+This important innovation owes much to Charles Davis, whose shop was
+'against Gray's Inn.' The earliest of these catalogues which we have
+seen is a very interesting list of 168 pages octavo, and includes
+'valuable libraries, lately purchased, containing near 12,000 volumes in
+Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, Italian, Spanish, and English,' 'which
+will be sold very cheap, the lowest price fix'd in each book, on
+Thursday, May 7, 1747.' The list is in many respects very curious, not
+the least of which is that not one of the items offered is priced. One
+of the facts which strike one most forcibly in this connection is the
+large capitals which must have been sunk in books even at this early
+period. Davis, like all the other booksellers--notably Tonson and
+Lintot--of that period, was a bookseller as well as publisher.
+
+[Illustration: _Interior of Darton's Shop, Holborn Hill._]
+
+Moving further westward, we find records of bookselling for just a
+couple of centuries back. Robert Kettlewell was established at the Hand
+and Sceptre, King's Street, Bloomsbury, whence he issued his kinsman's
+apparently useful, and certainly very dull, pamphlet, entitled 'Death
+Made Comfortable; or, The Way to Die Well,' and sold a variety of other
+books besides. Making a leap of nearly a century, we meet with Samuel
+Hayes, of Oxford Street, and evidently a relative of John Hayes, to whom
+we have already referred. Samuel Hayes--when not in a French prison, for
+he was actually incarcerated by Napoleon when on a visit to France--was
+at this place of business for sixteen years, 1779 to 1795, and published
+several catalogues. Isaac Herbert, nephew of the editor of Ames'
+'Typographical Antiquities,' was selling books in Great Russell Street
+in and about 1795; Joseph Bell was established as a bookseller in Oxford
+Street in the earlier part of the present century; Shepperson and
+Reynolds were in the same thoroughfare from 1784 to 1793, and sold
+several very good libraries within the period indicated. Writing in
+1790, Pennant mentions that the chapel of Southampton, or Bedford House,
+Bloomsbury, was at that time rented by Lockyer Davis as a magazine of
+books. How long it had been in Davis's tenancy is not certain, but he
+died in 1791. William Davis, the author of several interesting
+bibliographical books, including two 'Journeys Round the Library of a
+Bibliomaniac,' was at the Bedford Library, Southampton Row, Holborn,
+during the early part of the century. Name after name might be quoted if
+any useful purpose would be served.
+
+[Illustration: _James Westell's, 114, Oxford Street._]
+
+There are many links which still connect the Holborn of to-day with the
+Holborn and immediate district of the past. Three have, however, passed
+away within recent years. Edward W. Stibbs, whose death occurred in the
+spring of 1891, at the age of eighty, and whose stock was sold at
+Sotheby's in the following year, was one of the veterans of the trade,
+and was essentially of the old school--the school which confined itself
+almost exclusively to classics. The second removal is that of Mr. J.
+Brown, whose shop was nearly opposite the entrance to Chancery Lane, and
+was for nearly thirty years an exceedingly pleasant rendezvous of
+book-collectors, and whose proprietor was one of the most genial of
+bibliopoles. The third is Edward Truelove, of 256, High Holborn, the
+well-known agnostic bookseller, who removed here from the Strand, and
+who had been in business over forty years. Mr. Truelove retired two or
+three years since. Further up the road, in New Oxford Street, we find
+the shop of Mr. James Westell, whose career as a bookseller embraces a
+period of over half a century, having started in 1841. Mr. Westell
+first began in a small shop in Bozier's Court, Tottenham Court Road, and
+this shop has been immortalized by Lord Lytton in 'My Novel,' for it is
+here that Leonard Fairfield's friendly bookseller was situated.[201:A]
+Bozier's Court was a sort of eddy from the constant stream which passes
+in and out of Oxford Street, and many pleasant hours have been spent in
+the court by book-lovers. After Mr. Westell left, it passed into the
+hands of another bookseller, G. Mazzoni, and finally into that of Mr. E.
+Turnbull, who speaks very highly of it as a bookselling locality. Mr.
+Turnbull added another shop to the one which was occupied by Mr.
+Westell; but when the inevitable march of improvements overtook this
+quaint place three or four years ago, Mr. Turnbull had to leave, and he
+then took a large shop in New Oxford Street, where he now is. During Mr.
+Turnbull's tenancy in Bozier's Court several rivals started round about
+him; but one after another failed to make it pay, and retired, leaving
+him eventually in entire possession. Another old Holborn bookseller, Mr.
+George Glashier, who started in 1841, still has a large shop in
+Southampton Row; not the shop which he occupied for very many years
+within a few yards of Holborn, but nearer Russell Square, a less crowded
+thoroughfare than the old place in the same street or row. The shop now
+occupied by Mr. A. Reader, in Orange Street, Red Lion Square, has been a
+bookseller's for over half a century, one of the most noted tenants of
+it being Mr. John Salkeld, who removed nearly twenty years since to
+Clapham Road, and whose charmingly rustic shop, 'Ivy House,' is quite
+one of the sights of bookish London.
+
+[Illustration: _Salkeld's Shop--'Ivy House'--in Clapham Road._]
+
+Indeed, nearly every by-street,[202:A] as well as the public highway in
+and around Holborn, has had its bookseller ever since the beginning of
+the century. Lord Macaulay, C. W. Dilke, W. J. Thoms, Edward Solly, John
+Forster, and the visions of many other mighty book-hunters, crowd on
+one's memory in grubbing about after old books in this ancient and
+attractive, if not always particularly savoury, locality. The two
+Turnstiles have always been favourites with bibliopoles. Writing in
+1881, the late Mr. Thoms said: 'Many years ago I received one of the
+curious catalogues periodically issued by Crozier, then of Little
+Turnstile, Holborn. From a pressure of business or some other cause, I
+did not look through it until it had been in my possession for two or
+three days, and then I saw in it an edition of "Mist's Letters" in three
+volumes! In two volumes the book is common enough, but I had never heard
+of a third volume; neither does Bohn in his edition of Lowndes mention
+its existence. Of course, on this discovery, I lost no time in making my
+way to Little Turnstile; and on asking for the "Mist" in three volumes,
+found, as I had feared, that it was sold. "Who was the lucky purchaser?"
+I asked anxiously; adding, "Aut Dilke aut Diabolus!" "It was not
+Diabolus," was Crozier's reply; and I was reconciled when I found the
+book had fallen into such good hands, and not a little surprised when
+Crozier went on to say, "But he was not the first to apply for it. Mr.
+Forster sent for it, but would not keep it, because it was not a
+sufficiently nice copy."' Both the Great and the Little Turnstiles,
+Holborn, have always been, as we have said, famous as book-hunting
+localities, and they still preserve this reputation. In 1636 a
+publisher and bookseller, George Hutton, was at the 'Sign of the Sun,
+within the Turning Stile in Holborne.' J. Bagford, the celebrated
+book-destroyer, was first a shoemaker in the Great Turnstile, a calling
+in which he was not successful. Then he became a bookseller at the same
+place, and still success was denied him. At Dulwich College is a library
+which includes a collection of plays formed by Cartwright, a bookseller
+of the Turnstile, who subsequently turned actor.
+
+[Illustration: _John Bagford, Shoemaker and Book-destroyer._]
+
+[Illustration: _Mr. Tregaskis's Shop--'The Caxton Head'--in Holborn._
+
+(After a Drawing by E. J. Wheeler.)]
+
+The chief and most enterprising firm of booksellers in Holborn proper is
+that of Mr. and Mrs. Tregaskis, at No. 232, the corner of the New
+Turnstile. The house itself is full of interest, and is quite a couple
+of hundred years old. A century ago one of the most eventful scenes of
+David Garrick's career was enacted here, for it was from this house that
+the great actor was buried. Mrs. Tregaskis first started, as Mrs.
+Bennett, at the corner of Southampton Row, and some time after removing
+to her present shop, married Mr. James Tregaskis, and the two together
+have built up a business which is scarcely without a rival in London.
+The shop is literally crammed with rare and interesting books, whilst
+'The Caxton Head Catalogues' are got up with every possible care. Almost
+next door to the shop for many years occupied by the late Edward
+Stibbs, Mr. Walter T. Spencer carries on a trade which is almost
+entirely confined to first editions of modern authors. From Mr. R. J.
+Parker's shop at 204, the present writer has picked up a very large
+number of rare and interesting books, including a first edition of
+Goldsmith--not, however, the 'Vicar'--at exceedingly moderate sums. Mr.
+E. Menken, of Bury Street, New Oxford Street, is one of the most
+successful booksellers of recent years, and his stock is both large and
+select. Mr. Menken first started in Gray's Inn Road, nearly opposite the
+Town Hall, five or six years ago, subsequently removing to Bury Street;
+but his business grew so rapidly that he had to take the adjoining shop
+into his service. Mr. Menken's model catalogues invariably contain
+something which every book collector feels it is absolutely necessary
+to have. He is a man of versatile abilities, literary and otherwise, and
+includes among his customers no less a person than Mr. Gladstone.
+Messrs. Bull and Auvache, of 35, Hart Street, Bloomsbury, are extensive
+dealers in editions of the classics and Bibles. At one time there were
+no less than four second-hand booksellers in Hyde Street, New Oxford
+Street, but at present there is only one. Next door but one to Mudie's,
+we have the shop of Mr. James Roche, who is a link with the past, having
+started in 1850, and for many years carried on business in a little
+corner shop in Southampton Row, one door from the Holborn highway.
+Messrs. J. Rimell and Sons, noted for their extensive collection of
+works on the fine arts and architecture, are at 91, Oxford Street. Among
+the literary booksellers of the first quarter of the present century,
+William Goodhugh, of 155, Oxford Street, deserves a mention here. 'The
+English Gentleman's Library Manual,' 1827, is his best-known work,
+although from a literary standpoint it is a poor concern; he also wrote
+'Gates' to the French, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic and Syriac,
+'unlocked by new and easy methods.' Goodhugh was conversant with several
+of the Oriental and many European languages. His knowledge of books was
+a very extensive and profound one, and as a literary bookseller he is an
+interesting figure in the annals of bibliopolic history. Fifty years ago
+many good books were picked up out of 'Miller's Catalogue of Cheap
+Books,' which appeared monthly from 404, Oxford Street, that for
+September, 1845, being numbered 127. A quarter of a century ago there
+were several booksellers in Oxford Street, _e.g._, G. A. Davies, at 417;
+W. Heath, at 497; J. Kimpton, at 303; E. Lumley, at 514; J. Pettit, at
+528; and Whittingham.
+
+[Illustration: _Day's Circulating Library in Mount Street._]
+
+The further west one goes, the less interesting do the annals of
+bookselling become, for Oxford Street is essentially a modern locality,
+and second-hand bookselling never has thrived much in new localities. It
+was, however, when rummaging over the contents of a stall in a Wardour
+Street alley that Charles Lamb lighted upon a ragged duodecimo, which
+had been the delight of his infancy. The price demanded was sixpence,
+which the owner, himself a squab little duodecimo of a character,
+enforced with the asseverance that his own mother should not have it for
+a farthing less, supplementing the assertion with an oath and 'Now, I
+have put my soul to it.' The book was the 'Queen Like Closet,' which, it
+is scarcely necessary to say, Elia rescued from the man of profanity.
+Soho has long been more or less of a bookselling quarter. John Paul
+Manson, who was in King Street, Westminster, in 1786, and issued from
+thence 'A Summer Catalogue' in 1795, subsequently removed to Gerard
+Street, Soho, and died in 1812. He was especially well versed, not only
+in Caxtons, but in all the best works of the early printers, and many
+English black-letter books passed through his hands. Dibdin observes
+that Professor Heyne could not have exhibited greater signs of joy at
+the sight of the Towneley manuscript of Homer than did Manson on the
+discovery of Rastell's 'Pastyme of the People' among the books of Mr.
+Brand. Two sons of this Manson subsequently became partners in the firm
+of Christie, the art auctioneers. The first Sampson Low started as a
+bookseller in Berwick Street, Soho, in or about 1790.
+
+Day's Library, the second oldest existing circulating library in London
+(the oldest is that of Cawthorn and Hutt, established in 1744, Cockspur
+Street), has continued from the year 1776 within a few hundred yards of
+its present situation. In that year a Mr. Dangerfield established it on
+the north side of Berkeley Square, and it was purchased from him by Mr.
+Rice in 1810 or 1811, under whom it largely developed in extent and
+reputation. In 1818 he removed into the adjoining Mount Street at No.
+123 (south side), where for about fifty years the library remained.
+Meanwhile it became the property of Mr. Hoby, and after one or two
+changes successively of Mr. John and Mr. Charles Day, father and son. In
+Mr. John Day's hands it crossed the road to No. 16 on the north side,
+and remained there about twenty-four years, till that part of Mount
+Street was cleared to make way for the present Carlos Place. Then in the
+year 1890 it again crossed the road to No. 96, where Mr. Charles Day
+holds a long lease. An early catalogue of the institution shows that the
+eighteenth-century circulating libraries contained a portion of the
+weightier works, such as history, biography, travels, etc., a fact which
+is rarely realized in the face of the popular impression that it was
+left to the late Mr. C. E. Mudie to supply such works.
+
+
+ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD AND NEIGHBOURHOOD.
+
+[Illustration: Paternoster Row on a Bank Holiday.]
+
+The bookselling and book-hunting annals of the district which starts
+with St. Paul's, and terminates at Charing Cross, might occupy a
+goodly-sized volume. We must of necessity be brief, chiefly because both
+Paternoster Row and St. Paul's Churchyard have been, for the most part,
+book-publishing rather than second-hand bookselling localities. As a
+literary highway, Paternoster Row is of considerable antiquity, for
+Robert Rikke, a paternoster-maker and citizen, had a shop here in the
+time of Henry IV., and there can be no question that its name originated
+from the fact that it was at a very early period the residence of the
+makers of paternosters, or prayer-beads. Before the Great Fire of 1666,
+Paternoster Row was not much of a bookselling centre, for it was
+inhabited chiefly by mercers, silkmen, and lacemen, whose shops were a
+fashionable resort of the gentry who resided at that time in the
+immediate vicinity. After the Fire, the Row gradually became famous for
+its booksellers, or rather publishers, who resided at first near the
+east end, and whose large warehouses were 'well situated for learned and
+studious men's access thither, being more retired and private.' Although
+the book-annals of Paternoster Row chiefly deal with matters subsequent
+to the Great Fire, there were many publishers and booksellers there over
+a hundred years before that calamity. In and about 1558 there were, for
+example, two of the fraternity here established--Richard Lant and Henry
+Sutton, the latter's shop being at the sign of the Black Morion. For
+over twenty years, 1565 to 1587, Henry Denham was at the Star in
+Paternoster Row, whence he issued, among a large number of other books,
+George Turberville's 'Epitaphs, Epigrams, Songs, and Sonnets' in 1570.
+
+The last century, however, witnessed the rise of Paternoster Row as a
+publishing locality. From 1678 and onwards book-auctions were held at
+the Hen and Chickens at nine in the morning; at the Golden Lion over
+against the Queen's Head Tavern, Paternoster Row, at nine in the morning
+and two in the afternoon, and at other places both in the Row and in its
+numerous tributaries, such as Ivy Lane, Ave Maria Lane, etc. Although
+some of the earliest book-auctions held in this country took place in
+the immediate vicinity of Paternoster Row, and although it had attained
+a world-wide celebrity as a publishing centre, it has very few
+interesting records as a second-hand bookselling locality. Awnsham and
+John Churchill were located at the Black Swan in 1700; William Taylor,
+the publisher of 'Robinson Crusoe,' 1719, was here at the sign of the
+Ship early in the last century, and was succeeded by Thomas Longman in
+1725, the present handsome pile of buildings, erected in 1863, being on
+the original spot occupied in part by the founder of the firm. The
+Longmans had a second-hand department attached to their house in the
+early part of the present century, as we have already seen. Others which
+may be here mentioned as being connected with the Row are Baldwin and
+Cradock; and Ralph Griffiths, of the 'Dunciad'--'those significant
+emblems, the owl and long-eared animal, which Mr. Griffiths so sagely
+displays for the mirth and information of mankind'--for whom Goldsmith
+wrote reviews in a miserable garret. The last firm of second-hand
+booksellers of note who thrived in Paternoster Row was that of William
+Baynes and Son; and the last of the race is still remembered by the
+older generation of book-collectors, with his old-time appearance in
+frills and gaiters. In 1826 Baynes published one of the most remarkable
+catalogues (254 pages) of books printed in the fifteenth century which
+has ever appeared. It is full of extremely valuable bibliographical
+information. For many years John Wheldon, the natural history
+bookseller, had a shop, chiefly for the sale of back numbers of
+periodicals, at 4, Paternoster Row (as well as in Great Queen Street),
+and this little shop subsequently passed into the tenancy of Jesse
+Salisbury, who was there until six or seven years ago. The Chapter
+Coffee-house, where so many important publishing schemes have been
+mooted and carried out, still lingers in the Row, but modernized out of
+all recognition.
+
+The chief interest of St. Paul's Churchyard as a book locality centres
+itself in the publishing rather than the second-hand bookselling phase.
+One of our earliest printer-publishers, Julian Notary, was 'dwellynge in
+powles chyrche yarde besyde ye weste dore by my lordes palyes' in 1515,
+his shop sign being the Three Kings. At the sign of the White Greyhound,
+in St. Paul's Churchyard, the first editions of Shakespeare's 'Venus and
+Adonis' and 'Rape of Lucrece' were published by John Harrison; at the
+Fleur de Luce and the Crown appeared the first edition of the 'Merry
+Wives of Windsor'; at the Green Dragon the first edition of the
+'Merchant of Venice'; at the Fox the first edition of 'Richard II.';
+whilst the first editions of 'Richard III.,' 'Troilus and Cressida,'
+'Titus Andronicus,' and 'Lear' all bear Churchyard imprints.
+
+Not only were there very many booksellers' shops around the Yard, but at
+the latter part of the sixteenth century bookstalls started up, first at
+the west, and subsequently at the other doors of the cathedral. From a
+letter addressed by Sir Clement Edmonds, March 28, 1620, to the Lord
+Mayor, we gather that two houses were erected at the west gate of St.
+Paul's without the sanction of the authorities, and these were ordered
+to be removed, as were also certain 'sheds or shops that were being
+erected near the same place.' A chief portion of the stock of these
+shops and stalls would naturally be devotional books of various
+descriptions. That these books were not always to be relied on we infer
+from an amusing anecdote in the Harleian manuscripts, related by Sir
+Nicholas L'Estrange, to the effect that 'Dr. Us[s]her, Bishop of Armath,
+having to preach at Paules Crosse, and passing hastily by one of the
+stationers, called for a Bible, and had a little one of the London
+edition given him out, but when he came to looke for his text, that very
+verse was omitted in the print.'
+
+[Illustration: _John Evelyn, Book-collector._]
+
+Mr. Pepys' bookseller, Joshua Kirton, was at the sign of the King's
+Arms. Writing under date November 2, 1660, Pepys chronicles: 'In Paul's
+Churchyard I called at Kirton's, and there they had got a masse book for
+me, which I bought, and cost me 12s., and, when I come home, sat up late
+and read in it with great pleasure to my wife, to hear that she was long
+ago acquainted with it.' Kirton was one of the most extensive sufferers
+of the bookselling fraternity in the Great Fire; from being a
+substantial tradesman with about L8,000 to the good, he was made L2,000
+or L3,000 'worse than nothing.' The destruction of books and literary
+property generally, in and around St. Paul's, in this fire was enormous,
+Pepys calculating it at about L150,000, and Evelyn putting it at
+L200,000, or, in other words, about one million sterling as represented
+by our money of to-day. Evelyn tells us that soon after the fire had
+subsided the other trades went on as merrily as before, 'only the poor
+booksellers have been indeed ill-treated by Vulcan; so many noble
+impressions consumed by their trusting them to y{e} churches.'
+
+[Illustration: _Newbery's Shop in St. Paul's Churchyard._
+
+From an old woodcut.]
+
+One of the most considerable of the Churchyard booksellers after the
+Great Fire was Richard Chiswell, the father or progenitor of a numerous
+family of bibliopoles. John Dunton, indeed, describes him as well
+deserving of the title of 'Metropolitan Bookseller of England, if not of
+all the world.' He was born in 1639, and died in 1711. In 1678 he sold,
+in conjunction with John Dunmore, another bookseller, the libraries of
+Dr. Benjamin Worsley and two other eminent men. At St. Paul's
+Coffee-house, which stood at the corner of the entrance from St. Paul's
+Churchyard to Doctors' Commons, the library of Dr. Rawlinson was, in
+1711, sold--'at a prodigious rate,' according to Thoresby--in the
+evening after dinner. Although not quite _a propos_ of our subject, we
+can scarcely help mentioning the name of so celebrated a Churchyard
+publisher as John Newbery, who lived at No. 65, the original site being
+now covered by the buildings of the R.T.S.; his successors, Griffith and
+Farran, were at No. 81 until the year 1889, when they moved westward. F.
+and C. Rivington were at No. 62 for many years, as Peter Pindar tells
+us:
+
+ 'In Paul's churchyard, the Bible and the Key,
+ This wondrous pair is always to be seen,--
+ Somewhat the worse for wear--a little grey--
+ One like a saint, and one with Caesar's mien.'
+
+A mere list of the Churchyard booksellers would fill a goodly-sized
+volume. In addition to those already mentioned, one of the most famous
+and successful families who resided here were the Knaptons, where,
+during the first three quarters of the last century, they built up an
+enormous trade, and were succeeded by Robert Horsfield, who carried on
+the business in Ludgate Street, and died in 1798. We possess one of the
+interesting catalogues of James and John Knapton, whose shop was at the
+sign of the Crown. It runs to twenty pages octavo, and enumerates an
+extraordinary variety of literature. The books written and sermons
+preached by right reverends and reverends occupy the first five pages,
+arranged according to the authors' names; and then follow the works of
+ordinary, commonplace mortals, sermons and Aphra Behn's romances, Mr.
+Dryden's plays and the 'Whole Duty of Man' appearing cheek-by-jowl.
+
+The most important contribution to the earlier history of bookselling
+appeared from St. Paul's Churchyard in the shape of Robert Clavell's
+'General Catalogue of Books printed in England since the Dreadful Fire,
+1666, to the End of Trinity Term, 1676.' This catalogue was continued
+every term till 1700, and includes an abstract of the bills of
+mortality. The books are classified under their respective headings of
+divinity, history, physic and surgery, miscellanies, chemistry, etc.,
+the publisher's name in each case being given. Dunton describes Clavell
+as 'an eminent bookseller' and 'a great dealer,' whilst Dr. Barlow,
+Bishop of Lincoln, distinguished him by the term of 'the honest
+bookseller.' Clavell's shop was at the sign of the Stag's Head, whilst
+his partner in many of his projects was Henry Brome, of the Sun, also in
+the Churchyard.
+
+Joseph Johnson, the Dry Bookseller of Beloe, demands a short notice
+here. He was born at Liverpool in 1738, and after serving an
+apprenticeship with George Keith, Gracechurch Street, began business for
+himself on Fish Street Hill, which, being in the track of the medical
+students at the hospitals in the Borough, was a promising locality.
+After some years here, he removed to Paternoster Row, where he had as
+partners first a Mr. Davenport, and then John Payne; the house and stock
+were destroyed by fire in 1770, after which he removed to St. Paul's
+Churchyard, where he continued until his death in 1809, the father of
+the trade. He was a considerable publisher, and 'two poets of great
+modern celebrity were by him first introduced to the publick--Cowper and
+Darwin.' Whilst at Fish Street Hill he took over the stock of John Ward,
+of which he issued a catalogue.
+
+Ludgate Hill to a certain degree not unnaturally secured a little of the
+'bookish' brilliancy which diffused itself round and about the
+Churchyard. The highway to the cathedral was naturally a good business
+quarter, and there can be very little doubt that some of the stalls or
+booths, which formed a sort of middle row in Ludgate, were occupied by
+stationers and booksellers, who are not usually indifferent to the
+advantages of a good thoroughfare. It never, however, came up to St.
+Paul's Churchyard, either as a publishing or as a bookselling locality;
+but many retailers were here during the latter part of the last century.
+Queen Charlotte, wife of George III., is reported by Robert Huish to
+have said to Mrs. Delany: 'You cannot think what nice books I pick up at
+bookstalls, or how cheap I buy them.' The Rev. Dr. Croby, in his 'Life
+of George IV.,' tells us that Queen Charlotte was in the habit of paying
+visits, in company with some lady-in-waiting, to Holywell Street and
+Ludgate Hill, 'where second-hand books were exposed for sale during the
+last half of the eighteenth century.' During the earlier part of this
+period, among the booksellers of note in Ludgate Street were Robert
+Horsfield, William Johnston, and Richard Ware (who was a considerable
+adventurer in new publications). The business established at about the
+same period and in the same locality by Richard Manley, was considerably
+extended by John Pridden (1728-1807). The libraries of many eminent and
+distinguished characters passed through his hands, Nichols tells us. His
+offers in purchasing them were liberal, and, being content with small
+profits, 'he soon found himself supported by a numerous and respectable
+set of friends, not one of whom ever quitted him.'
+
+Jonah Bowyer was at the Rose, in Ludgate Street, in and about the year
+1706, when he published the Lord Bishop of Oxford's 'Sermons preached
+before the Queen' at St. Paul's in May of that year; and it was either
+this Bowyer or William Bowyer--the two were not related--who established
+a bookselling department on the frozen Thames in 1716. William Johnston,
+who died at a very advanced age in 1804, was one of the most successful
+of Ludgate Hill booksellers, and his employees included George Robinson
+and Thomas Evans, each of whom became the founder of a very extensive
+business. George Conyers was at the Ring, Ludgate Hill, for some years
+during the last quarter of the seventeenth century, and prior to his
+removal to Little Britain. Conyers dealt chiefly in Grub Street
+compilations, which included cheap and handy guides to everything on
+earth, and it is likely that his shop was a literary or book-collecting
+resort. The most famous bibliopole who had a shop in Ludgate is perhaps
+William Hone, to whom the liberty of the press owes so much, and who
+removed here from his house at the corner of Ship Court, Old Bailey.
+Truebner and Co. left Ludgate Hill soon after they amalgamated with Kegan
+Paul, Trench and Co.
+
+
+FLEET STREET.
+
+The Churchyard is, of course, the home of bookselling, but, as we have
+seen, as time went on, its children, so to speak, repudiated their
+birthplace. In the middle of the sixteenth century, for example, Fleet
+Street contained nearly as many bookshops as the parent locality. In
+addition to this, England's second printer, Wynkyn de Worde, abandoning
+the Westminster house of his master, William Caxton, took up his
+residence in Fleet Street in or about the year 1500. The sign of his
+shop was the Sun, 'agaynste the Condyte,' and as the Conduit stood at
+the lower end of Fleet Street, a little eastward of Shoe Lane, we get
+some idea of the exact locality. He was buried in St. Bride's Churchyard
+in 1534. W. Griffith was busy at the sign of the Falcon, near St.
+Dunstan's Church, printing booklets about current events with 'flowery'
+titles, and these books he sold at his second shop, designated the
+Griffin, 'a little above the Conduit,' in Fleet Street. William Powell,
+at the George, was publishing religious books of various sorts, and a
+'Description of the Countrey of Aphrique,' a translation of a French
+book on Africa, which was perhaps the very first on a topic now pretty
+nearly threadbare. Richard Tottell was dwelling at the Hand and Star,
+between the two temple gates, and just within Temple Bar,[217:A] whence
+he sent forth books by a score and more distinguished men, and whose
+name is worthily linked with those of Littleton, More, Tusser, Grafton,
+Boccaccio, and many others. In 1577 Elizabeth granted the same
+individual the privilege of printing 'all kinds of "Law bookes," which
+was common to all printers, who selleth the same bookes at excessive
+prices, to the hindrance of a greate nomber of pore students.' Other
+Fleet Street booksellers were William Copland, who issued a number of
+books, T. and W. Powell, and Henry Wykes.
+
+Two of the earliest Fleet Street booksellers, Robert Redman and Richard
+Pynson, quickly got at loggerheads, the bone of contention being
+Pynson's device or mark, which his rival stole. These are the
+neighbourly terms which Pynson applies to Redman; they occur at the end
+of a new edition of Littleton's 'Tenures,' 1525: 'Behold I now give to
+thee, candid reader, a Lyttleton corrected (not deceitfully) of the
+errors which occurred in him. I have been careful that not my printing
+only should be amended, but also that with a more elegant type it should
+go forth to the day: that which hath escaped from the hands of Robert
+Redman, but truly Rudeman, because he is the rudest out of a thousand
+men, is not easily understood. Truly I wonder now at last that he hath
+confessed it his own typography, unless it chanced that even as the
+Devil made a cobbler a mariner, he hath made him a Printer. Formerly
+this scoundrel did profess himself a Bookseller, as well skilled as if
+he had started forth from Utopia. He knows well that he is free who
+pretendeth to books, although it be nothing more.' This pretty little
+quarrel continued some time, and broke out with renewed vigour on one or
+two subsequent occasions; but the rivals ultimately became friends, and
+when Pynson retired from business, he made over his stock to 'this
+scoundrel' Redman, who then removed to Pynson's shop, next to St.
+Dunstan's Church.
+
+The bibliopolic history of Fleet Street is almost synonymous with the
+literary history of this country. Anything like an exhaustive account,
+even so far as relates to the bookselling side of the question, would be
+quite out of place in a work of this description. A few points,
+therefore, must suffice. Apart from the booksellers already mentioned,
+the following are also worthy of notice. At the latter part of the
+sixteenth century Thomas Marsh, of the Prince's Arms, near St.
+Dunstan's, issued Stow's 'Chronicles,' and was the holder of several
+licenses for printing; for nearly half a century J. Smethwicke (who died
+in 1641) had a shop 'under the diall' of St. Dunstan's, whence he issued
+Shakespeare's 'Hamlet,' 'Love's Labour Lost,' 'Romeo and Juliet,'
+'Taming of the Shrew,' as well as works by Henry Burton, Drayton,
+Greene, Lodge, and others; Richard Marriot was in St. Dunstan's
+Churchyard early in the seventeenth century, and his ventures included
+Quarles' 'Emblems,' 1635, Dr. Downes' 'Sermons,' 1640, and Walton's
+'Compleat Angler,' 1653, for which 1s. 6d. was asked, and for a good
+copy of which L310 has been recently paid; Marriot was also the sponsor
+of the first part of Butler's 'Hudibras,' 1663. Thomas Dring, of the
+George, near Clifford's Inn; John Starkey, of the Mitre, between the
+Middle Temple Gate and Temple Bar, the publisher of Shadwell's plays,
+and for some time an exile at Amsterdam; Abel Roper, of the Black Boy,
+over against St. Dunstan's Church, and publisher of the _Post Boy_
+newspaper; Thomas Bassett, with whom Jacob Tonson was apprenticed;
+Tonson himself, of the Judge's Head, near the Inner Temple Gate (he
+started in Chancery Lane), are Fleet Street booksellers of the latter
+half of the seventeenth century. Early in the following century we get
+such names as Benjamin Tooke, of the Middle Temple Gate; Edmund Curll,
+whose chaste publications appeared from the sign of the Dial and Bible,
+against St. Dunstan's Church; Bernard Lintot, Tonson's great rival and
+Pope's publisher, of the Cross Keys, between the Temple Gates; Ben
+Motte, who succeeded Tooke; Andrew Millar, Samuel Highley, John Murray,
+and many others who might be mentioned, but who were publishers rather
+than second-hand booksellers.
+
+One of the earliest, and perhaps the very first, of the Fleet Street
+contingent of booksellers who advertised their stock through the medium
+of priced catalogues was John Whiston, the younger son of the famous
+William Whiston. Whiston sold several important libraries, including
+those of such eighteenth-century celebrities as D'Oyly, Dr. Castell,
+Wasse, Chishull, Dr. Banks, Prebendary John Wills, Adam Anderson (author
+of 'The History of Commerce'), and many others; he included a large
+number of literary men among his acquaintances. From 1756 to 1765 he
+appears to have been in partnership with Benjamin White, and the
+libraries which they sold during this period included those of the Rev.
+Stephen Duck; Thomas Potter, Esq., M.P., son of the Archbishop of
+Canterbury; Charles Delafaye, Esq., of the Secretary of State's Office;
+Dr. James Tunstall, Vicar of Rochdale, etc. Of all the second-hand
+booksellers of the latter half of the last century the most considerable
+was the Benjamin White above mentioned, whose shop was at the sign of
+Horace's Head, in Fleet Street, and whose bulky catalogues, often
+including over 10,000 lots, are now very rare and exceptionally
+interesting. The contents of these catalogues were classified, first
+into three divisions, folio, quarto, and octavo and duodecimo, and then
+again into numerous sections according to the subject-matter of the
+volumes. 'The sale will begin' on such and such a day, and 'catalogues
+may be had' at various stated booksellers' shops in London, and at
+Oxford, and 'the principal towns of England.' From 1716 to 1792 Benjamin
+White and his son and namesake issued catalogues of various collections
+of books, including the libraries (or selections from) of Dr. Thomas,
+Bishop of Salisbury; Sir William Calvert, M.P. for London; Dr. Secker;
+Rev. Joseph Spence; Dr. Hutchinson, editor of Xenophon; Dr. William
+Borlase; Dr. Matthew Maty, Secretary of the Royal Society, and Principal
+Librarian, British Museum; Sir Richard Jebb; Rev. John Bowles, editor of
+'Don Quixote'; Rev. John Lightfoot, chaplain to the Countess Dowager of
+Portland, and author of the 'Flora Scotica.'
+
+One of White's best customers was the eccentric George Steevens, who,
+however, discontinued his daily visits, after many years' regular
+attendance, for no real cause. He then transferred his attentions to
+Stockdale's, whom in turn he abruptly forsook. The elder Benjamin
+retired from business with 'a plentiful fortune,' and died at his house
+in South Lambeth in March, 1794, and Benjamin junior retired to
+Hampstead a few years after his father, leaving the business to a
+younger brother, John, who continued bookselling until the earlier part
+of the present century, when he, in his turn, gave up active work for
+the 'enjoyment of a country life' with 'an easy competence.' In one of
+the catalogues of this celebrated firm--our copy is minus the
+title-page, but it was evidently issued about 1790--four of the most
+interesting entries occur among the folios: Caxton's 'Lyfe of the
+Faders,' with 'curious old wooden plates, not quite perfect, in Russia,'
+is priced at L5 5s.; Caxton's 'Lyfe of our Lady,' by John Lydgate, is
+offered at 10s. 6d.; a _fair_ copy of Caxton's 'Lyfe of St. Katherine
+of Senis' is figured at L10 10s., the price asked also for a 'fair, not
+quite perfect' example of the 'Golden Legende.' A Second Folio
+Shakespeare is priced at L4; a Fourth Folio at L1 7s. The same catalogue
+includes a copy of the famous 'Book of Hawking and Hunting,' printed at
+St. Albans in 1486, but unfortunately the price is omitted, as is the
+case with several other important rarities. The Whites published some
+fine natural history books, including those of Pennant, Latham, and
+White of Selborne; the last was a relative of the booksellers. Whiston
+was succeeded by Nathaniel Conant, who sold, _inter alia_, the library
+of Samuel Speed, 1776, and John White was succeeded by his partner, J.
+G. Cochrane. Sixty years ago Charles Tilt, afterwards Tilt and Bogue,
+occupied 85, Fleet Street, and a charming view of this shop appears in
+Cruikshank's 'Almanack' for March, 1835.
+
+[Illustration: _Charles Tilt's Shop._
+
+From Cruikshank's 'Comic Almanac.']
+
+Although the bookselling history of Fleet Street did not cease with the
+general migration of booksellers, from the end of the last to the
+beginning of the present century much of its glory as such had
+departed. During the second and third quarters of the nineteenth century
+its bibliopolic annals are indeed few. One of its most interesting
+houses was situated at No. 39, upon part of the site of the present
+banking-house of Messrs. Hoare. Here formerly stood the famous Mitre
+Tavern; this place was much damaged during the Great Fire, and was
+partly rebuilt. In the last century it was a favourite resort of Wanley,
+Vertue, Dr. Stukeley, Hawkesworth, Percy, Johnson, Boswell, and many
+other celebrities. Johnson and Boswell first dined here in 1763. It was
+here that the 'Tour to the Hebrides' was planned; it was here also, at a
+supper given by Boswell to the Doctor, Goldsmith, Davies, the
+bookseller, Eccles, and the Rev. John Ogilvie, that Johnson delivered
+himself of the theory that 'the noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever
+sees is in the highroad that leads to England.' From 1728 to 1753 the
+Society of Antiquaries met here, and for some time also the Royal
+Society held its meetings in this place. In 1788 the tavern ceased to
+exist, and the house became the 'Poets' Gallery' of Macklin, whose
+edition of the Bible is described as an unrivalled monument of his taste
+and energy. Thomas Macklin died in 1800, and the erstwhile Mitre gave
+place--possibly not at once, but certainly very soon after--to Saunders'
+Auction-rooms. The most important sale which occurred here, and of which
+we have discovered any record, was an anonymous one in February, 1818;
+the catalogue was entitled 'Bibliotheca Selecta: Library of an eminent
+Collector, removed from the North of England.' This sale occupied six
+days, and comprised a very fine series of books of old English poetry,
+history, topography, and illustrated books. For instance, a very fine
+copy in a genuine state of the First Folio Shakespeare realized the then
+high figure of L121 16s. A copy of Yates's 'Castell of Courtesie,' 1582,
+sold for L23 2s., Steevens' copy eighteen years previously going for L2
+10s. A large number of other excessively rare books, several of which
+were unique, were sold here at the same time; but whose they were, or
+how they could have drifted into such an unimportant auction centre as
+Saunders', are questions which we are not able to answer. Fifty years
+ago there were at least three important firms of literary auctioneers in
+Fleet Street--Henry Southgate (who eventually turned author, and who
+died about three years ago), at No. 22; L. A. Lewis, at No. 125; and E.
+Hodgson, referred to on p. 116. At each of these three centres many
+extensive collections of books came under the hammer. When the elder
+Southgate died or retired, in about 1837, two of his assistants,
+Grimston and Havers, left, and started on their own account at 30,
+Holborn Hill, making the auction of books a speciality; but their
+existence appears to have been brief.
+
+The neighbourhood had, however, a book-auction repute long before the
+present century dawned, and the Rose Tavern, near Temple Bar, was a
+favourite locality for this method of selling books. Samuel Baker here
+sold the entire library ('Bibliotheca Elegans') of Alderman Sir Robert
+Baylis in 1749, and that of Conyers Middleton, Principal Librarian of
+the University of Cambridge, March 4, 1750-51, and nine following
+days--by order and for the benefit of the widow, who in the preface
+'takes this opportunity to assure the public that this catalogue
+contains the genuine library of Dr. Middleton, without any alteration,
+and is sold for my advantage'--there were 1,300 lots.
+
+
+THE STRAND.
+
+[Illustration: _Butcher Row, 1798._]
+
+The modernization of the Strand, but more particularly the erection of
+the New Law Courts from Temple Bar to Clement's Inn, has destroyed very
+many book-hunting and literary localities. This project involved the
+obliteration of thirty-three streets, lanes and courts, and the
+levelling of 400 dwelling, lodging and ware houses, and so forth,
+sheltering over 4,000 individuals. It has entirely altered the aspect of
+the place; not perhaps before it was necessary, for the whole
+neighbourhood had degenerated into rookeries of the vilest description.
+Among the localities swept away, a brief reference may be made to one
+which has a twofold interest--Butcher Row--first, because Clifton's
+Eating-house, one of Dr. Johnson's favourite resorts, was in this Row,
+and secondly because one of the earliest catalogues of second-hand books
+was issued from within a yard or two of Clifton's. J. Stephens' shop was
+at the sign of the Bible in Butcher Row, and towards the latter part of
+1742 he published 'a catalogue of several libraries of books lately
+purchased, in several languages,' etc., the price of each book being, as
+usual, marked on the first leaf before the sale commenced, which sale
+was announced to begin 'on Tuesday, the 2nd of November, 1742,' and 'to
+continue till all are sold.' For a copy of this exceedingly rare and
+interesting catalogue we are indebted to Mr. Dobell, the bookseller. It
+comprises twenty-six pages octavo, and enumerates over 1,300 books, the
+majority of which are priced. There are very few volumes in this list
+which are now included in anyone's desiderata, but the list itself is a
+very good indication of the book-buying tastes of our forbears of a
+century and half ago. Butcher Row, it may be mentioned, was immediately
+beyond St. Clement's Church (on the northern side of the Strand), and by
+the end of the last century had degenerated into a number of wretched
+fabrics and narrow passages, the houses greatly overhanging their
+foundations; in or about 1802, this street was pulled down and gave
+place to Pickett Street, so named because the improvement was the scheme
+of Alderman Pickett.
+
+[Illustration: _Charles Hutt's House in Clement's Inn Passage._]
+
+One of the last bookselling haunts to be pulled down was the quaint old
+shop occupied by the late Charles Hutt (who, by the way, was born in the
+vestry of the Clare Market chapel-of-ease) where many famous
+book-hunters had picked up bargains. Charles Hutt, had he lived, would
+have become one of the leading booksellers of the day. He was for some
+years at Hodgson's, and possessed a remarkable taste for, and knowledge
+of, books. He left Hodgson's and started on his own account in the old
+ramshackle house already referred to. This shop presented so
+unfavourable an exterior that even the Income-tax Fiend never 'called
+in,' although at one time there were several thousands of pounds' worth
+of books in it. Hutt did a very extensive trade, not only in this
+country, but in America. He had an especial aptitude at completing sets
+of particular authors--Landor, Leigh Hunt, Byron, Shelley--and
+contributed much to the prevailing taste for modern first editions. A
+younger brother, Mr. F. H. Hutt, has been for some years established at
+10, Clement's Inn Passage, within a few yards of the old shop. The
+associations of the past half-century of this neighbourhood include two
+other well-known firms of booksellers. Theophilus Noble, who had removed
+from 114, Chancery Lane, was at 79, Fleet Street for some years until
+his death in 1851, and a member of the same family is still a
+second-hand bookseller opposite St. Mary-le-Strand Church. Reeves and
+Turner removed from Noble's old house in Chancery Lane, to the house on
+the west side of Temple Bar and adjoining it on the north, erected on
+the site of the famous old bulk-shop, the last of its race, where at one
+time Crockford, 'Shell-fishmonger and gambler,' lived. When Temple Bar
+was removed, this shop came down, and Reeves and Turner (who for the
+second time had to bow to the necessities of 'improvements') opened
+their well-known place on the south side of the Strand, facing St.
+Clement's Church. Their spacious shop here for about a quarter of a
+century was a famous book-haunt, and one of the very few successful ones
+which have existed in a crowded thoroughfare. It always contained an
+immense variety of good and useful books, priced at exceedingly moderate
+amounts, and the poorer book-lover could always venture, generally
+successfully, on suggesting a small reduction in the prices marked
+without being trampled in the dust as a thief and a robber. A year or
+two ago, when the lease of the shop expired, Messrs. Reeves and Turner
+bibliopolically ceased to exist--there not being a Reeves or a Turner in
+the Chancery Lane firm of booksellers of that name--but Mr. David
+Reeves, a son of Mr. William Reeves, started in Wellington Street,
+Strand, the latter, the _doyen_ of London booksellers, occupying a
+portion of the house as a publisher and a dealer in remainders.
+
+[Illustration: _Mr. William D. Reeves, Bookseller._]
+
+The most famous bookselling locality in this district is Holywell
+Street, or, as it is now generally called, Booksellers' Row. This street
+has always been afflicted with a questionable repute, not without cause,
+and much of the ill-odour of its past career still clings to it. Even
+second-hand bookselling has not purged it entirely. Half a century ago
+its shops were almost entirely taken up with the vendors of second-hand
+clothes, and the offals of several other more or less disreputable
+trades. Above these shops resided the Grub Street gentry of the period.
+'It was,' says one who knew it well, 'famous for its houses of call for
+reporters, editors and literary adventurers generally, all of whom
+formed a large army of needy, clever disciples of the pen, who lived by
+their wits, if they had any, and in lieu of those estimable
+qualifications, by cool assurance, impudence, and the gift of their
+mother tongue in spontaneous and frothy eloquence.' It was also a famous
+and convenient place 'for literary gentlemen and others, who were
+desirous of evading bailiffs and sheriffs' officers who might be anxious
+of making their acquaintance,' for even if they were traced to the
+Holywell Street entrance of any particular house, they could easily
+escape into Wych Street, and so slip the myrmidons of the law. It next
+became the emporium of indecent literature (from which charge it is not
+yet quite free), but much of this peculiar trade was suppressed by Lord
+Campbell's Act. For nearly half a century the place has been growing in
+popularity as a _locus standi_ of the reputable second-hand book trade.
+Every book-hunter of note has known, or knows, of its many shops.
+Macaulay, for example, obtained many of his books from Holywell Street.
+The late Mr. Thoms related, in the _Nineteenth Century_, a very curious
+incident which put the great historian in possession of some French
+_memoires_ of which he had long been endeavouring to secure a copy.
+Macaulay was once strolling down this street, when he saw in a
+bookseller's window a volume of Muggletonian tracts. 'Having gone in,
+examined the volume, and agreed to buy it, he tendered a sovereign in
+payment. The bookseller had not change, but said if he (Macaulay) would
+just keep an eye on the shop, he would step out and get it. His name, I
+think, was Hearle, and he had some relatives of the same name who had
+shops in the same street. This shop was at the west end of the street,
+and backed on to Wych Street; and at the back was a small recess,
+lighted by a few panes of glass, generally somewhat obscured by the
+dust of ages. While Macaulay was looking round the shop, a ray of
+sunshine fell through this little window on four little duodecimo
+volumes bound in vellum. He pulled out one of these to see what the work
+was, and great was his surprise and delight at finding these were the
+very French _memoires_ of which he had been in search for many years.'
+
+More rare and interesting books have been picked up in this street
+during the past forty years than in any other locality. Rumour, which
+sometimes tells the truth, says that Shelley's copy, with his autograph
+on the title-page, of Ossian's 'Poems' was picked up here for a few
+pence. A book with Shakespeare's autograph on the title-page was also
+said to have been rescued from among a lot of cheap books in this
+locality a few years ago. We are not certain, but we believe that the
+Shakespeare autograph has been proved to be a forgery. If that is so,
+then perhaps the honour of being the greatest 'find' ever discovered,
+about four years ago, in Holywell Street, pertains to a perfect copy of
+'Le Pastissier Francois,' 1655, the most valuable of all the Elzevirs,
+its value being from about L60 to L100. The copy in question was bound
+up with a worthless tract, and history has not left on record what the
+bookseller thought when he discovered his ignorance. A copy of the first
+edition of Horne's 'Orion,' 1843, was purchased in this street for 2d.
+in 1886, its market value being about L2. It was originally issued at
+1/4d., by way of sarcasm on the low estimation of epic poetry. The
+Holywell Street bookseller did not appraise it at a much higher figure
+than the author. Scarcely a week passes without a volume possessing
+great personal or historic interest being 'bagged' in this narrow but
+delightful thoroughfare. Many of these finds, it is true, may not be of
+great commercial value, but they are oftentimes very desirable books in
+more respects than one. The present writer has been fortunate in this
+matter. No person would now rank James Boswell, for instance, among
+great men, but a book in two volumes, with the following inscription,
+'James Boswell, From the Translator near Padua, 1765,' would not be
+reckoned costly at 1s., the book in question being a beautiful copy of
+Cesarotti's translation into Italian of Ossian's 'Poems.' David Hume's
+own copy of 'Histoire du Gouvernement de Venise,' par le Sieur Amelot de
+la Houssaie, 1677, was not dear at 6d., and at a similar price was
+obtained an excessively rare volume (for which a well-known
+book-collector had been on the look-out in vain for many years), whose
+contents are little indicated by the title of 'Roman Tablets,' 1826, but
+whose nature is at all events suggested by the sub-title of 'Facts,
+Anecdotes, and Observations on the Manners, Customs, Ceremonies and
+Government of Rome.' It is a terrific exposure (originally written in
+French), for which the author was prosecuted at the solicitation of the
+Pope's Nuncio at Paris. The late John Payne Collier has told of a
+Holywell Street 'find' as far back as January 20, 1823, when he picked
+up a very nice clean copy of Hughes' 'Calypso and Telemachus,' 1712, for
+which he paid 2s. 6d. It was not, however, until he reached home that he
+discovered the remarkable nature of his purchase, which had belonged to
+Pope, who had inscribed in his own autograph thirty-eight couplets,
+addressed 'To Mr. Hughes, On His Opera.' These are only a selection from
+an extensive series of more or less interesting 'finds,' of which every
+collector has a store.
+
+Two of the earliest and best-known of the more important Holywell Street
+booksellers passed away some years ago. 'Tommy' Arthur, who made a
+respectable fortune out of the trade, and whose shop and connections are
+now in the possession of W. Ridler, who is a successful trader, and a
+man of considerable independence as regards the conventionalities of
+appearances. (Our artist's portrait of this celebrity in his brougham,
+indulging in the extravagance of a clay pipe, had not arrived at the
+time of going to press, so it must be held over until the next edition
+of this book.) Joseph Poole was another Holywell Street bookseller of an
+original type, with his quaint semi-clerical attire. This bibliopole's
+relatives still carry on business in this street, school-books being
+with them a speciality. The _doyen_ of the street is Mr. Henry R. Hill,
+whose two shops are at the extreme east end of the street. Mr. Hill has
+been here for about forty years, and has seen many changes, not only in
+the general character of the street, but also of the tastes in
+book-fancies. Mr. Hill's shops, with Mrs. Lazarus's three hard by, are
+full of interesting books, priced at very moderate figures. The latter
+has been established here for about fifteen years. Messrs. Myers, who
+also occupy three bookshops in this street, were for some years with
+Mrs. Lazarus; and Mr. W. R. Hill acquired a great deal of his
+book-knowledge at Reeves and Turner's. Mr. Charles Hindley has been long
+established in this street.
+
+[Illustration: _Messrs. Hill and Son's Shop in Holywell Street._]
+
+The step from fifth-rate book-making to second-hand bookselling is not a
+great one, and just as Holywell Street sheltered the Grub-writers of
+half a century ago, so Drury Lane and its immediate vicinity was their
+recognised locality in the earlier part of the last century. It is
+impossible to associate respectability, to say nothing of fashion, with
+this evil-smelling, squalid thoroughfare. And yet there can be no
+question about its having been at one time an aristocratic quarter.
+Until within the last few years, the Lane itself, and its numerous
+tributaries, contained many second-hand bookshops. The most celebrated,
+and, indeed, almost the only one of any interest, was Andrew Jackson,
+who made a speciality of old and black-letter books. Nichols tells us
+that for more than forty years he kept a shop in Clare Market, and here,
+'like another Magliabecchi, midst dust and cobwebs, he indulged his
+appetite for reading; legends and romances, history and poetry, were
+indiscriminately his favourite pursuits.' In 1740 he published the first
+book of 'Paradise Lost' in rhyme, and ten years afterwards a number of
+modernizations from Chaucer. The contents of his catalogues of the years
+1756, 1757, 1759, and one without date, were in rhyme. He retired in
+1777, and died in July, 1778, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.
+Charles Marsh, another literary bookseller, was for some time a friend
+and neighbour of Jackson's. Marsh (who afterwards removed to a shop now
+swallowed by the improvements in Northumberland Avenue, Charing Cross)
+was situated at Cicero's Head, in New Round Court, off the Strand, and
+is described by one who knew him as being afflicted with 'a very unhappy
+temper, and withal very proud and insolent, with a plentiful share of
+conceit.' He wrote a poem entitled 'The Library, an Epistle from a
+Bookseller to a Gentleman, his Customer; desiring him to discharge his
+bill,' 1766. He was originally a church-clerk. The only catalogue of
+this celebrity which we have seen is a bulky one, over 100 pages octavo,
+enumerating 3,000 books, 'among which are included the libraries of the
+Rev. Mr. Gilbert Burnet, Minister of Clerkenwell, and an eminent
+apothecary, both lately deceased.' The date is May 7, 1747. Some of the
+prices in this catalogue can only be described as absurd; for example,
+Lydgate's 'Bochas; or, The Fall of Princes,' 1517, 5s.; a collection of
+old plays and poems, two volumes, 1592, 6s.; Tusser's 'Five Hundred
+Points of Good Husbandry,' 1574, 2s. 6d.; and black-letter books by the
+score are here offered at sums from one to three or four shillings each.
+The neighbourhood has for many years ceased to be a bookselling
+locality, for although book-hunters prefer side-streets and quiet
+thoroughfares for the prosecution of their hobby, the pestiferous
+vapours of Drury Lane would kill any bibliopolic growth more vigorous
+than a newsvendor's shop.
+
+[Illustration: _Messrs. Sotheran's Shop in Piccadilly._]
+
+When, by slow degrees, the various trades moved in a direction west of
+Temple Bar, it was only natural that the trade in second-hand books
+should be similarly attracted. The Strand itself, which, at the end of
+the last century and beginning of the present, was a much narrower
+street than it is now, is not, and never has been, a great
+book-emporium, for a reason which we have more than once pointed out.
+But the immediate vicinity has been for over a century and a half, as it
+still continues to be, the favourite locality of some of the chief
+booksellers. To-day the Strand proper only contains three
+representatives, in Messrs. H. Sotheran and Co., the finer of whose two
+shops is in Piccadilly, and Mr. David Nutt (both of whom are, however,
+vendors of new books, and often act as publishers), and Messrs.
+Walford. Within a stone's-throw of the main thoroughfare we have John
+Galwey and Suckling and Galloway, Garrick Street; James Gunn and
+Nattali, Bedford Street; B. F. Stevens, Trafalgar Square; H. Fawcett,
+King Street; W. Wesley and Sons, Essex Street; and many others. One of
+the most interesting incidents in connection with the Strand relates to
+a house which stood between Arundel and Norfolk Streets, where, at the
+end of the seventeenth century, lived the father of Bishop Burnet. 'This
+house,' says Dr. Hughson, writing in 1810, 'continued in the Burnet
+family till within living memory, being possessed by a bookseller of the
+same name--a collateral descendant of the Bishop.' Of much more
+importance, however, is the fact that at 132, Strand a bookseller named
+Wright started, about 1730, the first circulating library in London.
+About ten years afterwards he was succeeded by William Bathoe ('a very
+intelligent bookseller' who died in October, 1768), who carried on the
+circulating library in addition to bookselling. Bathoe was a
+book-auctioneer as well as a retail vendor; he sold the books of
+'William Hogarth, Esq., sergeant-painter,' under the hammer. In or about
+the year 1747 he had established himself 'in Church Lane, near St.
+Martin's Church in the Strand, almost opposite York Buildings,' whence
+he issued a thirty-eight-paged (octavo) catalogue, comprising the
+'valuable library of the learned James Thompson Esq., deceased, with the
+collection of a gentleman lately gone abroad'; this list enumerates
+nearly 1,000 items, the prices, ranging from 6d. upwards, being
+uniformly low. Walton's 'Compleat Angler,' 1661, 'with neat cuts,' would
+not be long unsold at 3s. 6d.; and the same may be said of Purchas's
+'Pilgrimage,' 1617, 2s. 6d.; of Rochester's complete poems at 2s.; and
+very many others. At 'No. 18 in the Strand' lived J. Mathews, the
+bookseller, and father of Charles Mathews, the actor; and in this house
+the latter was born. Jacob Tonson was at 'Shakespeare's Head, over
+against Catherine Street, in the Strand,' now 141; the house, since
+rebuilt, was afterwards occupied by Andrew Millar, who deposed
+Shakespeare, and erected Buchanan's Head instead. Millar was succeeded
+by his friend and apprentice, Thomas Cadell (who became a partner in
+1765), in 1767; he retired in 1793. Cadell's son then became head of the
+concern, and took William Davies into partnership. The firm of Cadell
+and Davies existed until the death of the latter in 1820, after which
+Cadell (the Opulent Bookseller of Beloe) continued it in his own name
+until his death in 1836. Samuel Bagster; Whitmore and Fenn; J. Walter
+(an apprentice of Robert Dodsley, and the founder of the _Times_);
+William Brown (an apprentice of Sandby), Essex Street, who died in 1797,
+and who was succeeded by Robert Bickerstaff; Henry Chapman, Chandos
+Street, 1790-1795; W. Lowndes; and Walter Wilson, of the Mews Gate, were
+Strand booksellers of more or less note during the latter part of the
+last, and the earlier part of the present, century.
+
+
+CHARING CROSS AND NEIGHBOURHOOD.
+
+John Millan was one of the most famous of Charing Cross or Whitehall
+booksellers, for he was located here for over half a century, dying in
+1784, aged over eighty-one years. Richard Gough drew the following
+picture of Millan's shop in March, 1772: 'On my return from Westminster
+last night, I penetrated the utmost recesses of Millan's shop, which, if
+I may borrow an idea from natural history, is incrusted with literature
+and curiosities like so many stalactitical exudations. Through a narrow
+alley, between piles of books, I reached a cell, or _adytum_, whose
+sides were so completely cased with the same _supellex_ that the
+fireplace was literally _enchasse dans la muraille_. In this cell sat
+the deity of the place, at the head of a whist party, which was
+interrupted by my inquiry after _Dillenius_ in sheets. The answer was,
+he "had none in sheets or blankets." . . . I emerged from this shop,
+which I consider as a future Herculaneum, where we shall hereafter root
+out many scarce things now rotting on the floor, considerably sunk below
+the level of the new pavement.' Millan was succeeded by Thomas and John
+Egerton, the latter being 'a bookseller of great eminence'--the
+Black-letter Bookseller of Beloe--whose death occurred in 1795. 'It was
+in his time,' says Beloe, 'that Old English books, of a particular
+description both in prose and verse, were, for some cause or
+other--principally, perhaps, as they were of use in the illustration of
+Shakespeare--beginning to assume a new dignity and importance, and to
+increase in value at the rate of 500 per cent.' Another Charing Cross
+bookseller, Samuel Leacroft (who succeeded Charles Marsh), died in 1795,
+and it is rather curious that John Egerton was a son-in-law of Lockyer
+Davis, whilst his neighbour was an apprentice.
+
+Of Samuel Baker, whose shop was in Russell Street, Covent Garden, we
+have already spoken in our account of book-auctioneers. One of his
+early--May, 1747--catalogues (not auction) comprises the libraries of
+Dr. Robert Uvedale, and of this divine's son and namesake, also a D.D.,
+of Enfield; it enumerates over 3,000 items. Thomas Becket (an apprentice
+of Millar, and Sterne's first publisher) and P. De Hondt were successful
+Strand booksellers; the former finally settled himself in Pall Mall, and
+was one of the first to make a speciality of foreign books, of which he
+imported large quantities between 1761 and 1766. C. Heydinger, of the
+Strand, was a German bookseller who issued catalogues from 1771 to 1773,
+and who died in distressed circumstances about 1778. Henry Lasher
+Gardner, who died at a very advanced age in 1808, was a venerable
+bookseller, whose shop was opposite St. Clement's Church, Strand; he
+published catalogues between 1786 and 1793. William Otridge, at first
+alone, and afterwards in partnership with his son, issued catalogues
+from the Strand during the last quarter of the last century. In 1796
+Joseph Pote was selling books at the Golden Door, over against Suffolk
+Street, Charing Cross. John Nourse (died 1780), bookseller to his
+Majesty, was another celebrated bibliopole of the Strand, and is
+described by John Nichols as 'a man of science, particularly in the
+mathematical line.' Francis Wingrave succeeded Nourse.
+
+One of the most celebrated booksellers of this neighbourhood during the
+last half of the eighteenth century was Tom Davies, who sported his
+rubric posts[237:A] in Russell Street, Covent Garden, and who was driven
+from his position as actor in Garrick's company by Churchill's killing
+satire:
+
+ 'He mouths a sentence as curs mouth a bone.'
+
+In spite of satirists, the verdict of his contemporaries is ratified, so
+to speak, in voting Tom Davies a good fellow. Dr. John Campbell
+described him as 'not a bookseller, but a gentleman dealing in books';
+and the Rev. P. Stockdale described him as 'the most gentleman-like
+person of that trade whom I ever knew.' Dr. Johnson said he was 'learned
+enough for a clergyman,' which was an equivocal compliment, for the
+clergymen of the period were not, as a rule, learned. Davies was
+generally talkative, but at times quite the reverse, and sometimes
+uttered pious ejaculations. Between 1764 and 1776 Davies sold a number
+of interesting and valuable libraries--those, for example, of William
+Shenstone and William Oldys. Davies, like many other contemporary
+booksellers, was fond of scribbling, and was the author of 'Memoirs of
+Garrick,' and other books.
+
+Probably the most famous bookseller of the Strand is Thomas Payne, who
+for over half a century (1740-1794) was selling books in this locality.
+'Honest Tom Payne' started business in or about 1740, for in February of
+that year he issued a catalogue of 'curious books in divinity, history,
+classics, medicine, voyages, natural history,' etc., from the 'Round
+Court,[237:B] in the Strand, opposite York Buildings.' About ten years
+later (January, 1750) he had removed to the Mews Gate to a shop shaped
+like the letter L, which became one of the most famous literary resorts
+of the period. Just before leaving Round Court, Tom Payne issued a sort
+of clearance catalogue, comprising 10,000 volumes, 'which will be sold
+very cheap.' The Mews Gate was near St. Martin's Church, and probably
+close to the bottom of the new thoroughfare, Charing Cross Road. It was
+at this shop that all the book-collectors of the day most congregated,
+for it was to Tom Payne's that the majority of libraries were
+consigned--_e.g._, those of Ralph Thoresby, Sir John Barnard, Francis
+Grose, Rev. S. Whisson, and many others whose names are now nothing but
+names, but who were at the time well-known collectors. Tom Payne's
+customers included all the bibliophiles of the period. 'Must I,' asks
+Mathias in the 'Pursuits of Literature'--
+
+ 'Must I, as a wit with learned air,
+ Like Doctor Dewlap, to Tom Payne's repair,
+ Meet Cyril Jackson and mild Cracherode,
+ 'Mid literary gods myself a god?
+ There make folks wonder at th' extent of genius
+ In the Greek Aldus or the Dutch Frobenius,
+ And then, to edify their learned souls,
+ Quote pleasant sayings from _The Shippe of Foles_.'
+
+[Illustration: _Honest Tom Payne._]
+
+Mathias describes Tom Payne as 'that Trypho emeritus,' and as 'one of
+the honestest men living, to whom, as a bookseller, learning is under
+considerable obligations.' Beloe, in his 'Sexagenarian,' states that at
+Tom Payne's and at Peter Elmsley's, in the Strand, 'a wandering scholar
+in search of pabulum might be almost certain of meeting Cracherode,
+George Steevens, Malone, Wyndham, Lord Stormont, Sir John Hawkins, Lord
+Spencer, Porson, Burney, Thomas Grenville, Wakefield, Dean Dampier, King
+of Mansfield Street, Towneley, Colonel Stanley,' and others. Savage
+professed to have picked up his 'Author to Let' at 'the Mews Gate on my
+way from Charing Cross to Hedge Lane.' Tom Payne (who was a native of
+Brackley) came into possession of his famous shop at the Mews' Gate
+through his marriage with Elizabeth Taylor, whose brother built and for
+some time occupied it. About 1776 Tom Payne ('Bookseller Extraordinary
+to the Prince Regent, and Bookseller to the University of Oxford') took
+his son into partnership, to whom fourteen years later he relinquished
+the business, and died in February, 1799, in his eighty-second year.
+Thomas Payne the younger (to whom Dibdin dedicated his 'Library
+Companion,' 1825) remained here until 1806, when he removed to Pall
+Mall; in 1813 he took Henry Foss, who had been his apprentice, into
+partnership. The former died in 1831, and was succeeded by his nephew,
+John Payne, and Henry Foss, who retired from the trade in 1850, when
+their stock came under the hammer at Sotheby's. In the preface to his
+'Library Companion,' 1825, Dibdin speaks very highly of the catalogue of
+Payne and Foss: 'Since the commencement of this work, Messrs. Payne and
+Foss have published a catalogue of 10,051 articles. I have smiled, in
+common with many friends, to observe rare and curious volumes selling
+for large sums at auctions, when sometimes _better_ copies of them may
+be obtained in that incomparable repository in Pall Mall at two-thirds
+of the price. Whoever wants a _classical fitting out_ must betake
+themselves to this repository.'
+
+The bibliopolic history of the Mews Gate did not terminate with the
+younger Tom Payne. When he removed to a more aristocratic quarter, the
+shop passed into the occupation of William Sancho, the negro bookseller,
+whose father, Ignatius, was born in 1729 on board a ship in the slave
+trade soon after it had quitted the coast of Guinea. William Sancho died
+before 1817, and was succeeded at the Mews Gate by James Bain, who
+afterwards removed to No. 1, Haymarket, where the business is still
+carried on, 'in accordance with the best bookselling traditions, by his
+younger son, the second James Bain having died early in 1894.' The Mews
+was taken down in 1830, and was used in its latter days to shelter
+Cross's Menagerie from Exeter 'Change.
+
+One of the oldest firms of Strand booksellers was that started in 1686
+by Paul Vaillant, who, at the time of the revocation of the Edict of
+Nantes, escaped to England. His shop was opposite Southampton Street,
+and his chief dealings were in foreign books. He was succeeded by his
+sons Paul and Isaac, and then by his grandson, Paul III., the son of
+Paul II. The second Paul purchased a quantity of books at Freebairn's
+sale for the Earl of Sunderland, and his joy at securing the copy of
+Virgil's 'Opera,' printed 'per Zarothum,' 1472, is duly chronicled by
+Nichols; he was one of the booksellers employed by the Society for the
+Encouragement of Learning. He died in 1802, aged eighty-seven, and as
+both of his two sons had elected to follow other occupations, the
+business passed into the hands of Peter Elmsley, the great friend and
+companion of Gibbon, whose 'Decline and Fall,' however, he did not see
+his way to publish; he was a great linguist, and possessed 'an amount of
+general knowledge that fitted him for conversation and correspondence
+upon a familiar and equal footing with the most illustrious and
+accomplished of his day.' At the end of the last century he resigned
+the business to his shopman, David Bremner, 'whose anxiety for acquiring
+wealth rendered him wholly careless of indulging himself in the ordinary
+comforts of life, and hurried him prematurely to the grave.' He was
+succeeded by James Payne (the youngest son of the famous Tom) and J.
+Mackinlay, both of whom also came to premature ends, the former through
+being long confined as a prisoner in France.
+
+Among the most famous of the Strand booksellers of the earlier part of
+the present century were Rivington and Cochran, of No. 148 (near
+Somerset House), and Thomas Thorpe, of 38, Bedford Street. With these
+two firms it really seemed a question as to which could issue the most
+bulky catalogues. The earliest example which we have seen of the former
+is dated 1825; it extends to over 800 pages, and comprises nearly 18,000
+items in various languages and in every department of literature. Thomas
+Thorpe was undoubtedly the giant bibliopole of the period. If anything
+striking or original occurred in the bookselling world, it was generally
+Thorpe who did it. Dibdin describes him as 'indeed a man of might.' His
+catalogues, continues the same writer, 'are of never-ceasing production,
+thronged with the treasures which he has gallantly borne off, at the
+point of his lance, in many a hard day's fight, in the Pall Mall and
+Waterloo Place arenas. But these conquests are no sooner obtained than
+the public receives an account of them, and during the last year only
+his catalogues, in three parts, now before me, comprise no fewer than
+179,059 articles. What a scale of buying and selling does this fact
+alone evince! But in this present year two parts have already appeared,
+containing upwards of 12,000 articles. Nor is this all. On September 24,
+1823, there appeared the most marvellous phenomenon ever witnessed in
+the annals of bibliopolism.[241:A] The _Times_ had four of the five
+columns of its last page occupied by an advertisement of Mr. Thorpe,
+containing the third part of his catalogue for that year. On a moderate
+computation, this advertisement comprised 1,120 lines. The effect was
+most extraordinary. Many wondered, and some remonstrated; but Mr. Thorpe
+was master of his own mint, and he never mentions the circumstance but
+with perfect confidence, and even gaiety of heart, at its success.'
+Thorpe issued catalogues from 1829 to 1851, and during one year alone,
+1843, his lists comprised over 16,000 lots. In 1836 he removed from
+Bedford Street to 178, Piccadilly. Thorpe was the first _merchant_ in
+autographs, and Sir Thomas Phillipps was one of the first _collectors_
+who flourished in the iniquity of the pursuit, and it was the latter who
+on one occasion purchased the entire contents of one of Thorpe's
+autograph catalogues.
+
+Another distinguished bibliopole of this locality, or, more correctly,
+of Great Newport Street, was Thomas Rodd, who died in April, 1849, in
+his fifty-third year. The business was really started by his father and
+namesake, who was a man of considerable literary ability, and who
+abandoned his intention of entering the Church when he became possessed
+of a secret for making imitation diamonds, rubies, garnets, etc. In 1809
+he added bookselling to that of manufacturing sham stones. After getting
+into trouble with the Excise on account of the latter accomplishment, he
+devoted himself entirely to the book-trade. The elder Rodd died in 1822,
+and his son, the more famous bibliopole, succeeded to the business,
+which he developed in an extraordinary manner within a few years. His
+memory and knowledge of books were almost limitless, and, like Thomas
+Thorpe, most of his schemes were on a scale to create a sensation.
+Rodd's catalogues are of great bibliographical value. In spite of his
+extensive connections, his stock at the time of his death was enormous.
+It was sold, in ten different instalments, at Sotheby's, between
+November, 1849, and November, 1850.
+
+[Illustration: _Henry G. Bohn, Bookseller._]
+
+[Illustration: _John H. Bohn._]
+
+Henry G. Bohn may be regarded as the connecting link between the old and
+the new school of booksellers. He was born in London on January 4, 1796,
+and died in August, 1884. His father was a bookbinder of Frith Street,
+Soho, but when he removed to Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, he added
+(in 1814) a business in second-hand books. Between this year and 1830,
+H. G. Bohn paid repeated visits to the Continent as his father's buyer.
+In 1831 he married a daughter of Mr. Simpkin, of Simpkin, Marshall and
+Co. He started in business for himself, and rapidly built up an
+extensive trade, far exceeding any of his rivals. At about the same time
+his brother James also started on his own account, at 12, King William
+Street, Charing Cross, whilst the third brother, John Hutter Bohn, who
+has been for nearly forty years the cataloguer at Sotheby's and is still
+living, attended to the original business. Bohn's famous 'Guinea
+Catalogue' was deservedly regarded as a great triumph in its way,
+although it has been far surpassed by the splendid catalogues of his
+whilom apprentice, B. Quaritch. Bohn's fame now rests almost exclusively
+in his publishing ventures, which proved a veritable gold-mine to the
+originator, and are still highly lucrative investments in the hands of
+Messrs. George Bell and Sons. He 'edited' an edition of Lowndes'
+'Bibliographer's Manual,' and his name occurs on the title-pages of a
+great many books dealing with an extensive variety of subjects. It is
+scarcely necessary to say that Bohn has very little claim to be regarded
+either as an editor or as an author, unless the cash purchase of the
+product of other men's brain and study conferred either of these titles
+upon him. He was, however, a remarkable person, with a very wide
+knowledge of books. While quite a young man he catalogued the books of
+Dr. Parr. The growing extent of his publishing business killed the
+second-hand trade, so far as he was concerned, and his stock was
+disposed of at Sotheby's in the years 1868, 1870, and 1872, occupying
+fifty days in selling, and realizing a total of over L13,300. Both Henry
+G. Bohn and his brother James dealt largely in remainders, and of this
+class of merchandise each issued catalogues early in the year 1840 (and
+at other times), and the difference in the extent of the trade done by
+the two brothers may be indicated by the fact that the catalogue of the
+former extends to 132 pages, whilst that of the latter is only 16 pages.
+In this, as in everything else which he undertook, H. G. Bohn was first
+and his rivals nowhere. One of Bohn's rivals in the 'forties' was Joseph
+Lilly, who once undertook to purchase everything important in the book
+line which was offered, but he soon gave up the idea. His shop was for
+some time at 19, King Street, Covent Garden, and his catalogues always
+contained a large number of select books. He had served a short time at
+Lackington's, and was distinguished for the zeal with which he purchased
+First Folio Shakespeares. Lilly died in 1870, and his vast stock came
+under the hammer at Sotheby's in six batches, 1871-73.
+
+[Illustration: _Mr. F. S. Ellis._]
+
+King William Street, Strand, until the last three or four years, had
+been for nearly a century a famous emporium of second-hand bookshops.
+Its most famous inhabitant in this respect was Charles John Stewart
+(whom Henry Stevens, of Vermont, described as the last of the learned
+old booksellers), who was born in Scotland at the beginning of the
+present century, and died on September 17, 1883. He was one of
+Lackington's pupils, and started as a second-hand bookseller with
+Howell, subsequently carrying on the business alone. His chief commodity
+was theological books, and when his stock--perhaps the largest of its
+kind known--came to be sold, it realized close on L5,000. Joel Rowsell
+was another famous bibliopole who resided in this street, and he, like
+Stewart, retired in 1882. G. Bumstead (whose speciality was curious or
+eccentric books; he was distinctly an 'old' bookseller, for he rarely
+bought anything printed after 1800), Molini and Green, J. M. Stark, and
+J. W. Jarvis and Sons, were also, at one time or another, in this
+bookselling thoroughfare, which is now entirely deserted by the
+fraternity. Doubtless one of the most successful of modern bibliopoles
+who lived in the vicinity of the Strand is Mr. F. S. Ellis, who was an
+apprentice of James Toovey, and who in a comparatively few years built
+up a business second only to that of Quaritch. Mr. Ellis (who purchased
+the valuable freewill of T. and W. Boone's connection) compiled the
+greater portion of the catalogue of the celebrated Huth Library, and
+since he has retired to Torquay has taken up book-editing with all the
+zeal which characterized his earlier career as a bookseller. Mr. Ellis's
+shop was at 33, King Street, Covent Garden, and afterwards at 29, New
+Bond Street, and the prestige of his name is worthily maintained by his
+nephew, Mr. G. I. Ellis (with whom is Mr. Elvey), at the latter address.
+The whole neighbourhood of which Covent Garden may be taken as the
+centre, is full of a bibliopolic history, which dates back to the
+beginning of the last century. The time when Aldines were to be picked
+up at 1s. 6d. each, and when Shakespeare Folios were to be had for 30s.
+each round about the Piazza, has, it is true, long gone by; but a very
+large library, in almost any branch of literature, may be easily formed,
+at a very moderate cost, any day within a stone's-throw of London's
+great vegetable market. It may be mentioned, _en passant_, that George
+Willis, the editor-publisher of _Willis's Current Notes_, was for many
+years at the Great Piazza, Covent Garden. The firm subsequently became
+known as Willis and Sotheran, and is now Sotheran and Co.: this highly
+respectable house was established in Tower Street, E.C., as far back as
+1816.
+
+[Illustration: _A Corner at Ellis and Elvey's._]
+
+
+WESTMINSTER HALL.
+
+[Illustration: _Westminster Hall when occupied by Booksellers and
+others._
+
+From a Print by Gravelot.]
+
+There is not, perhaps, in the whole world, a more interesting
+bookselling locality than Westminster Hall. This place is redolent with
+historical associations, with parliaments, coronations, revelries, and
+impeachments. Stalls for books, as well as other small merchandise, were
+permitted in the hall of the palace of Westminster early in the
+sixteenth century. The poor scholars of Westminster also were employed
+in hawking books between school-hours. In the procession of sanctuary
+men who accompanied the Abbot of Westminster and his convent, December
+6, 1556, was 'a boy that killed a big boy that sold papers and printed
+books, with hurling of a stone, and hit him under the ear in Westminster
+Hall.' In the churchwardens' accounts of the parish of St. Margaret,
+Westminster, there is, under date 1498-1500, an entry: 'Item, Received
+for another legende solde in Westmynster halle, v_s._ viij_d._,' the
+'legende' being one of the thirteen copies of 'The Golden Legend'
+bequeathed by Caxton to the 'behove' of the parish of St. Margaret's.
+Towards the end of the sixteenth century Tom Nash wrote: 'Looke to it,
+you booksellers and stationers, and let not your shop be infested with
+any such goose gyblets, or stinking garbadge as the jygs of newsmongers;
+and especially such of you as frequent Westminster Hall, let them be
+circumspect what dunghill papers they bring thether: for one bad
+pamphlet is inough to raise a dampe that may poyson a whole towne,' etc.
+At first the shops or stalls were ranged along the blank wall on the
+southern side of the hall. Subsequently they occupied not only the whole
+of the side, but such portion of the other as was not occupied by the
+Court of Common Pleas, which then sat within the hall itself, as did the
+Chancery and King's Bench at its farther end. Gravelot's print of the
+hall during term-time shows this arrangement. The stationers and other
+tradespeople in the hall were a privileged class, inasmuch as they were
+exempt from the pains and penalties relative to the license and
+regulation of the press. Here as elsewhere there were plenty of inferior
+books obtainable; Pepys, writing October 26, 1660, and referring to some
+purchases made in the hall, remarks: 'Among other books, one of the life
+of our Queen, which I read at home to my wife, but it was so sillily
+writ that we did nothing but laugh over it.' The stalls were
+distinguished by signs. One of the early issues of 'Paradise Lost,'
+1668, contains the name, among others, of Henry Mortlock, of the White
+Hart, Westminster Hall, but whose shop was at the Phoenix, St. Paul's
+Churchyard; Raleigh's 'Remains,' 1675, was printed for Mortlock. The
+majority of the hall booksellers had regular shops in St. Paul's
+Churchyard or elsewhere, for it is scarcely likely that they would open
+these stalls during vacation. Matthew Gilliflower, of the Spread Eagle
+and Crown, was one of the most enterprising of his class during the last
+quarter of the seventeenth century. James Collins, of the King's Head,
+was here contemporaneously with Gilliflower. C. King and Stagg were also
+extensive partners in 'adventures' in new books, and were among the
+'unprejudiced booksellers' who acted as agents for the _Gentleman's
+Magazine_ during the first year of its existence. At about the same time
+also, B. Toovey and J. Renn, were selling books here. Early in the reign
+of George III. the traders were ousted from Westminster Hall; and in
+1834 the dirty and mutilated vast parallelogram was thoroughly cleaned
+and repaired. Westminster Hall as a bookselling centre bears the same
+affinity to the trade proper as the sweetmeat stalls at a fair bear to
+confectionery. The books exposed for sale would only by a rare chance be
+choice or notable, and it was certainly not a likely place for folios or
+quartos.
+
+
+BOND STREET AND PICCADILLY.
+
+At the latter part of the seventeenth and the beginning of the
+eighteenth century, several booksellers had established themselves in
+Bond Street and Pall Mall. One of the best known is John Parker, 'an
+honest, good-natured man,' with whom was apprenticed, in 1713, Henry
+Baker, the antiquary, a friend of John Nichols. Parker's shop was in
+Pall Mall. At No. 29, New Bond Street, in 1730, we find J. Brindley, a
+reputable bookseller of his time, and who was one of a society formed in
+1736 'for the encouragement of learning,' which had a chequered and an
+undignified career. His shop was at the sign of the Feathers, and in
+1747 he describes himself as 'Bookseller to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.'
+The only example of his catalogue which we have seen is dated 1747, and
+it includes 4,289 lots, among which were long selections of books at 1s.
+each, or 10s. per dozen, and of others at 6d. each or 5s. per dozen.
+Brindley was succeeded in 1759 by his apprentice, a much more celebrated
+bibliopole, James Robson, who built up a very extensive connection and
+died in 1806. In company with James Edwards and Peter Molini (the Exotic
+Bookseller of Beloe), Robson, in 1788, undertook a journey to Venice for
+the purpose of examining the famous Pinelli Library, which was purchased
+for about L7,000; it was safely transferred to London and sold by
+auction in Conduit Street, the total result being L9,356. A large
+number of more or less famous collections of books passed through
+Robson's hands, notably those of Sir John Evelyn; Edward Spelman, the
+translator of Xenophon; the Duke of Newcastle (1770); W. Mackworth Praed
+(1772); Joseph Smith, Consul at Venice; Dr. Samuel Musgrave; J. Murray,
+Ambassador at Constantinople. Messrs. Robson and Clark were succeeded
+early in this century by Nornaville and Fell, who in 1830 made way for
+T. and W. Boone, who were, as we have said, succeeded by Mr. F. S.
+Ellis; it is interesting to note that this house had been in the
+occupation of booksellers for over a century and a half.
+
+The bookselling fraternity had, however, obtained no definite footing
+until shortly after the middle of the eighteenth century, when James
+Almon began to acquire notoriety, his political fearlessness more than
+once bringing him at loggerheads with the authorities. When he first
+came to London, he worked as a printer at Watts', in Wild's Court,
+Lincoln's Inn Fields, where he had the frame which had been occupied by
+Benjamin Franklin. His shop was opposite Burlington House, and for many
+years this was the meeting-place of the leading Whig politicians. He
+died in 1805, and was succeeded by J. Debrett, a name still associated
+with publishing.
+
+During the last few years of the last century, and probably in
+consequence of the greatly improved condition of the place, Piccadilly
+and neighbourhood became favourite spots with booksellers, the more
+notable being James Ridgway, whose 'repository of loyalty' was in York
+Street, St. James's Square, who died in 1838, aged eighty-three years;
+T. Hookham, Old Bond Street; and Stockdale, whose name will be for ever
+associated with that of Erskine in connection with the liberty of the
+press. Stockdale's shop, No. 178, Piccadilly, was for a long time in the
+possession of Thomas Thorpe; the place has since been rebuilt. R.
+Faulder, of New Bond Street, also deserves mention as being one of forty
+booksellers against whom actions were brought for selling the 'Baviad
+and Maeviad.' He is the Cunning Bookseller of Beloe, and appears to have
+been one of the most assiduous frequenters of 'forced' sales of
+household furniture, etc., where he often happened on books of rarity
+and value. He 'accumulated a very large property and retired,' but the
+_auri sacra fames_ pursued him to the end. William Clarke, of New Bond
+Street, best remembered as the compiler of that very valuable work,
+'Repertorium Bibliographicum,' 1819, was established as a bookseller in
+1793. During the second half of the last century Samuel Parker and
+Walter Shropshire were selling second-hand books in New Bond Street.
+Thomas Beet, who retired from business ten years ago, was a well-known
+bookseller of Bond Street and Conduit Street, and was a considerable
+purchaser at the leading auction sales. He frequently had the honour of
+submitting various special old books for the inspection of the Queen,
+the Prince of Wales, and other members of the Royal Family, whilst his
+shop in Conduit Street was a very popular resort of bookish men.
+
+Robert Dodsley, of Tully's Head, is one of the most famous of the Pall
+Mall booksellers. His shop was next to the passage leading into King
+Street, and now known as Pall Mall Place. He is perhaps better
+remembered as an author and compiler than as a bookseller, and best of
+all as a friend of Dr. Johnson, Pope, Spence, and other literary
+celebrities; he it was who first urged Johnson to start the famous
+'Dictionary.' Dodsley died in 1764, and his business was taken over by
+his brother James, who survived the founder thirty-three years. The
+celebrated firm of G. and W. Nicol, booksellers to his Majesty, for many
+years carried on in Pall Mall in Dodsley's shop, originated with David
+Wilson and his nephew George Nicol, who started in the Strand about
+1773, and who sold, _inter alia_, the library of Dr. Henry Sacheverell.
+George Nicol married the niece of the first Alderman Boydell, and was
+one of the executors of James Dodsley, who left him a legacy of L1,000.
+He is described as 'a most agreeable companion,' as a member of many of
+the literary clubs of his day, and enjoyed the friendly confidence of
+the Duke of Roxburghe, Duke of Grafton, and other eminent book-lovers.
+He died in Pall Mall, 1829, aged eighty-eight years. Nicol's stock was
+sold by auction at Evans's in 1825.
+
+[Illustration: _John Hatchard (1768-1849)._]
+
+The most ancient book-business in Piccadilly is that of Hatchard's,
+which dates back to 1797. It was started by John Hatchard, who had been
+an assistant at Tom Payne's. Hatchard was patronized by Queen Charlotte,
+the Archbishop of Canterbury, Canning, and Dr. Keate. Hatchard is the
+Godly Bookseller of Beloe; he was a Conservative, dressed like a bishop,
+and published for Hannah More and the Evangelicals. Zachary Macaulay,
+Wilberforce, and the other opponents of slavery, once involved Hatchard
+in a libel action, in which he was found guilty. Hatchard published for
+Crabbe and for Tupper, and, according to Mr. Humphreys' interesting
+'Piccadilly Bookmen,' Liston, Charles Kemble, and other actors,
+frequented the shop. So did the Duke of Wellington, who, 'when the
+library of the Duke's brother was sold at Evans's Auction Rooms in Pall
+Mall, where now stands the Carlton Club . . . sent several open
+commissions for books which he wished secured. Among these was a
+shilling pamphlet by A. G. Stapleton, with the late owner's notes in
+pencil. This was put up at 2s. 6d., and ultimately knocked down for L93
+to Hatchard, the under-bidder being Sir A. Alison. The Duke, though very
+much astonished at the price such a mere fragment had fetched, yet
+admired the obedience to his orders.' The Horticultural Society took its
+rise in a meeting at Hatchard's, and he also seems to have lent his
+premises to the 'Outinian Society,' a species of matrimonial agency,
+which did not last long; but the wonder is how so respectable and
+cautious a personage ever harboured it. Among his assistants were
+Fraser, afterwards noted for his magazine, and Tilt.
+
+[Illustration: _James Toovey, Bookseller._]
+
+The two great second-hand booksellers of the Piccadilly of the latter
+half of the present century are James Toovey and Bernard Quaritch.
+Toovey's shop at 177, Piccadilly (once occupied by William Pickering,
+the famous publisher), was for about forty years a favourite haunt of
+booksellers, for Toovey was a bibliophile as well as a bibliopole. His
+whole life was spent among books. He was apprenticed at fourteen to a
+bookseller, and for some time had a shop of his own in St. James's
+Street. He published Newman's 'Lives of the English Saints,' and other
+works by the leaders of the Tractarian movement, in addition to a very
+fine reprint of the 'Aberdeen Breviary,' of the original of which only
+four imperfect copies exist. An obituary notice describes him as 'very
+particularly the great authority on bindings. He made a strong
+speciality in old French red morocco bindings, and during his frequent
+visits to France brought back large buyings of them. Toovey bought
+notable books, but unless they had the second qualification of being in
+a good state, and the bindings valuable, he was less anxious about them.
+Given a notable book in a notable binding, he would buy it at almost any
+cost. When the present Mr. James Toovey--James Toovey _fils_--came into
+the business, he made a feature of those quaint sport and pastime books
+which every stroller along the south side of Piccadilly has been wont to
+stay and look at in Toovey's window. Ten years before his death the old
+man retired from the business in favour of his son, but his devotion to
+rare books and rare bindings was his ruling passion to the last.
+Toovey's, during its career, has known all the prominent book-hunters
+and a legion of eminent people who have been more than book-collectors.
+In the leisured times, Toovey's, like Hatchard's further along the
+street, was something of a resort for literary folk generally, and many
+people we who are younger are familiar with have been accustomed to find
+their way across Toovey's doorstep. Mr. Gladstone has visited the shop,
+and so has Cardinal Manning, and Prince Lucien Bonaparte, and Henry Huth
+often.' Having acquired a considerable fortune in business, he was able
+to indulge in the luxury, rare amongst booksellers, of collecting a
+private library for his own entertainment. He retired from active
+business several years ago, and passed his remaining days in the
+ever-delightful society of his bibliographical treasures. He died in
+September, 1893, in his eightieth year, and his stock of books came
+under the hammer at Sotheby's in March, 1894, when 3,200 lots realized
+just over L7,090. His very choice private library is still in the
+possession of his son, and among its chief cornerstones is the finest
+First Folio Shakespeare known. Toovey, like the elder Boone, secured
+many excessively rare books during his personal visits to the Continent.
+Pickering's son, Basil Montagu Pickering, remained with Toovey for a few
+years after his father retired, but eventually opened a shop on his own
+account at 196, Piccadilly, next to St. James's Church, and possessed at
+one time and another many exceedingly rare books. The name is still
+continued under the title of Pickering and Chatto, of 66, Haymarket, who
+continue to use the Aldine device employed both by William Pickering and
+his son. There is no Pickering in the present firm.
+
+[Illustration: _James Toovey's Shop, Piccadilly._]
+
+[Illustration: _Bernard Quaritch, the Napoleon of Booksellers._]
+
+Of all second-hand booksellers, living or dead, Bernard Quaritch is
+generally conceded to be the king. Mr. Quaritch was born in 1819 at
+Worbis, Prussia, and after serving an apprenticeship to a bookseller
+came over to England in 1842, and obtained employment at H. G. Bohn's,
+with whom he remained (exclusive of two years in Paris) until 1847. He
+left Bohn's in April of that year, with the observation: 'Mr. Bohn, you
+are the first bookseller in England, but I mean to be the first
+bookseller in Europe.' Quaritch started with only his savings as
+capital, and his first catalogue was nothing more than a broadside, with
+the titles of about 400 books, the average price of which ranged from
+1s. 6d. to 2s. His first big move was made in 1858, when the Bishop of
+Cashel's library was sold, when he purchased a copy of the Mazarin Bible
+for L595. In the same year appeared his first large catalogue of books,
+which comprised nearly 5,000 articles; two years later his catalogue had
+increased from 182 to 408 pages, and included close on 7,000 articles;
+in 1868 his complete catalogue consisted of 1,080 pages, and 15,000
+articles; in 1880 it had extended to 2,395 pages, describing 28,000
+books; but seven years later his General Catalogue consisted of 4,500
+pages, containing 40,000 articles. As a purchaser, Mr. Quaritch puts the
+whilom considered gigantic purchases of Thomas Thorpe entirely into the
+shade. In July, 1873, he purchased the non-scientific part of the Royal
+Society's Norfolk Library; a few weeks later at the Perkins sale he
+bought books and manuscripts to the extent of L11,000; at the sale of
+Sir W. Tite's books in 1874 the Quaritch purchases amounted to L9,500;
+at the two Didot sales in 1878 and 1879 his purchases exceeded L11,000
+in value; at the Beckford sale in 1882 a little more than half of the
+total (L86,000) was secured by Mr. Quaritch; at the Sunderland sale,
+1881-83, Mr. Quaritch's bill came to over L33,000; at all the other
+great sales of the past twenty years the largest buyer has invariably
+been 'B. Q.' In an announcement 'To Book Lovers in all Parts of the
+World,' the Napoleon of bibliophiles makes the following statement: 'I
+am desirous of becoming recognised as their London agent by all men
+outside of England who want books. The need of such an agent is
+frequently felt abroad by the heads of literary institutions,
+librarians, and book-lovers generally. They shrink from giving trouble
+to a bookseller in matters which require more attention and effort than
+the mere furnishing of some specific article in his stock, and they must
+often wish that it were possible to have the services of a man of
+ability and experience at their constant command. Such services I freely
+offer to anyone who chooses to employ them; no fee is required to obtain
+them, and not a fraction will be added to the cost of the supplies. The
+friendly confidence which is necessarily extended to one's agent at a
+distance will undoubtedly in time bring an ample return for my labours,
+but so far as the present is concerned, I ask for nothing but the
+pleasure of attending to the wants of those who are as yet without an
+agent in London. Whether the books to be procured through my
+intervention be rare or common, single items or groups, the gems of
+literature and art or the popular books of the day, I shall be happy to
+work in every way for book-lovers of every degree. Commissions of any
+kind may be entrusted to me; I will venture to guarantee satisfaction in
+every case, even in the delicate matter of getting books appropriately
+bound. It may likewise be well to state that my offer of agency extends
+to the selling of foreign books here, as well as to the supply of
+English books hence.' There is not much that is architecturally
+beautiful about Mr. Quaritch's shop at 15, Piccadilly, but its interest
+to the book-lover needs but little emphasis after what has been said.
+Like all great men, Bernard Quaritch has his little eccentricities, into
+which we need not now enter. We apologize to him for publishing the
+following extract, which is, however, not our own, but comes (of course)
+from an American source: 'Bernard Quaritch's antiquated hat is a
+favourite theme with London and other bookmen. A committee of the
+Grolier Club once made a marvellous collection of newspaper clippings
+about it, and a member of the Societe des Bibliophiles Contemporains
+wrote a tragedy which was a parody of AEschylus. In this tragedy Power
+and Force and the god Hephaistos nail the hat on Mr. Quaritch's head,
+like the Titan on the summit of overhanging rocks. Divinities of the
+Strand and Piccadilly, in the guise of Oceanidae, try to console the hat;
+but less fortunate than Prometheus, the hat knows it is for ever nailed,
+and not to be rescued by Herakles. However, _tout passe, tout casse,
+tout lasse_, as Dumas said, for Mr. Quaritch has bought a new hat, and a
+journal of London announces that the epic hat is enshrined in glass in
+the bibliopole's drawing-room.'
+
+One of the most modern of book-thoroughfares deserves a brief reference
+here. Charing Cross Road has for some years been a popular and
+successful resort of booksellers and book-hunters. It is within
+convenient reach of both the Strand and Holborn, and is only two or
+three minutes' walk from Piccadilly Circus. The books offered for sale
+here are, for the most part, priced at exceedingly moderate rates. Mr.
+Bertram Dobell may be regarded as the chief of the trade here,
+possessing, as he does, two large shops well filled with books of all
+descriptions. Mr. Dobell's catalogues are very carefully compiled, and
+possess a literary flavour by no means common; his lists of
+privately-printed books form a most valuable contribution to the
+bibliography of the subject. Mr. John Lawler, for many years chief
+cataloguer at Puttick's, and more recently at Sotheby's, had a shop in
+Charing Cross Road, which he has just given up; and Mr. A. E. Cooper,
+who makes a speciality of first editions of modern authors and curious
+and out-of-the-way books, both French and English.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[176:A] Sewell, Cornhill, and Becket and De Hondt, Strand, were among
+the last to use these curious trade signs.
+
+[192:A] The identical book with which Johnson knocked down Osborne,
+'Biblia Graeca Septuaginta,' folio, 1594, Frankfort, was at Cambridge in
+February, 1812, in the possession of J. Thorpe, bookseller, who
+afterwards catalogued it.
+
+[192:B] Timbs, writing in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ in 1868, identified
+the house at which Tonson probably lived, and this house was in Timbs's
+time a bookseller's. Gray's Inn Lane has become so thoroughly renovated
+and improved that it is no longer possible to point to any particular
+spot where any celebrity lived.
+
+[201:A] 'One day [writes Lytton] three persons were standing before an
+old bookstall in a passage leading from Oxford Street into Tottenham
+Court Road. Two were gentlemen; the third, of the class and appearance
+of those who more habitually halt at old bookstalls.
+
+'"Look," said one of the gentlemen to the other; "I have discovered here
+what I have searched for in vain the last ten years--the Horace of 1580,
+the Horace of the Forty Commentators--a perfect treasury of learning,
+and marked only fourteen shillings!"
+
+'"Hush, Norreys," said the other, "and observe what is yet more worth
+your study;" and he pointed to the third bystander, whose face, sharp
+and attenuated, was bent with an absorbed, and, as it were, with a
+hungering attention over an old worm-eaten volume.
+
+'"What is the book, my lord?" whispered Mr. Norreys.
+
+'His companion smiled, and replied by another question: "What is the man
+who reads the book?"
+
+'Mr. Norreys moved a few paces, and looked over the student's shoulder.
+"'Preston's Translation of Boethius,' 'The Consolations of Philosophy,'"
+he said, coming back to his friend.
+
+'"He looks as if he wanted all the consolations philosophy could give
+him, poor boy!"
+
+ * * * * *
+
+'When Mr. Norreys had bought the Horace, and given an address where to
+send it, Harley (the second gentleman) asked the shopman if he knew the
+young man who had been reading Boethius.
+
+'"Only by sight. He has come here every day the last week, and spends
+hours at the stall. When once he fastens on a book, he reads it
+through."
+
+'"And never buys?" said Mr. Norreys.
+
+'"Sir," said the shopman, with a good-natured smile, "they who buy
+seldom read. The poor boy pays me twopence a day to read as long as he
+pleases. I would not take it, but he is proud."'
+
+[202:A] It was in one of these alleys or tributaries that a lawyer's
+clerk, returning from his office, carried home in triumph to Camden Town
+a copy of Marlowe's 'Tragical History of Doctor Faustus,' 1663, which he
+bought for 1s.
+
+[217:A] Concerning the Hande and Starre, Fleet Street, and the renowned
+Richard Tottell, 'printer by special Patentes of the bokes of the Common
+Lawe in the several Reigns of King Edw. VI. and of the quenes Marye and
+Elizabeth,' it may be pointed out that this house, 7, Fleet Street,
+exists as before, the only modern addition being the half-brick front
+which was placed there more than a hundred years ago. Jaggard, the
+bookseller, lived there after Tottell, and from thence he issued the
+first edition of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet,' actually printed in
+the rear (now Dick's Coffee-house), and the possibility of Shakespeare
+having often called to correct the proof-sheets is conjured up. The
+house was in turn occupied by many eminent law publishers and
+booksellers, and of late years by the late Mr. Henry Butterworth, who
+became himself the Queen's law publisher.
+
+[237:A] One of the reviewers of Nichols' 'Literary Anecdotes' says: 'How
+often have we seen him standing betwixt these, bidding "his friends
+good-morrow with a cheerful face," and pulling down his ruffles, already
+too long, till they covered his fingers. Davies had, even while in
+common conversation, as much of the old school of acting in his manner
+as his friend Gibson had upon the stage; though he is said not to have
+been so pompous as Berry, to whose parts he succeeded; and Berry, in
+this respect, was thought to have declined from Bridgewater.'
+
+[237:B] Now covered by Charing Cross Hospital. At the commencement of
+the third quarter of the sixteenth century, Thomas Colwell, a
+bookseller, had a shop at the sign of 'St. John the Evangelist,' in St.
+Martin's parish, near Charing-Cross, and a shop with the same sign in
+Fleet Street, near the Conduit. It must be remembered that at this
+period Holborn and Charing Cross were quite suburban villages, the
+former noteworthy as the thoroughfare from Newgate to Tyburn, and the
+latter as a sort of halfway place of stoppage between the City and
+Westminster.
+
+[241:A] Not quite so unprecedented as Mr. Dibdin thought. The _Grub
+Street Journal_ of February 3, 1731, contained an entire page devoted to
+the books advertisement of Tom Osborne, a much more remarkable feat, all
+things considered, than Thorpe's.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+WOMEN AS BOOK-COLLECTORS.
+
+
+IT seems a curiously contradictory fact that, although Englishwomen are
+on the whole greater readers than men, they are, as book-collectors or
+bibliophiles, an almost unknown quantity. In France this is not the
+case, and several books have been published there on the subject of _les
+femmes bibliophiles_. An analysis of their book-possessions, however,
+leads one to the conclusion that with them their sumptuously-bound
+volumes partake more of the nature of bijouterie than anything else.
+Many of the earlier of these bibliophiles were unendowed with any keen
+appreciation for intellectual pursuits, and they collected pretty books
+just as they would collect pretty articles of feminine decoration. They
+therefore form a little community which can scarcely be included in the
+higher category of intellectual book-collectors. It would be much easier
+to assert that Englishwomen differ from Frenchwomen in this respect than
+it would be to back up the assertion with material proof. Indeed, after
+all that could possibly be said in favour of our own countrywomen as
+book-collectors, we fear that it would not amount to very much. It is
+certain that our history does not afford any name of the first
+importance, certainly none which can be classed with Anne of Austria
+(wife of Louis XIII.), the Duchesse de Berry, Catherine de Medicis,
+Christina of Sweden, Diane de Poitiers, the Comtesse Du Barry, Marie
+Antoinette, the Marquise de Pompadour, or of at least a dozen others
+whose names immediately suggest themselves. The only English name, in
+fact, worthy to be classed with the foregoing is that of Queen
+Elizabeth, who, in addition to her passion for beautiful books, may also
+be regarded as a genuine book-lover and reader.
+
+There were, however, Englishwomen who collected books long before
+Elizabeth's time. In the year 1355, Elizabeth de Burgh, Lady of
+Clare--the foundress of Clare Hall, Cambridge--bequeathed to her
+foundation 'Deux bons antiphoners chexun ove un grayel (Gradule) en
+mesme le volum, 1 bone legende, 1 bone messale, bien note, 1 autre
+messale coverte de blank quir, 1 bone bible coverte de noir quir, 1
+hugueion [? Hugh de Voraeillis on the Decretals], 1 legende sanctorum, 1
+poire de decretals, 1 livre des questions, et xxii quaires d'un livre
+appella, De causa Dei contra Pelagianos.'
+
+About seventy years after Elizabeth de Burgh's bequest, we learn that in
+1424 the Countess of Westmoreland presented a petition to the Privy
+Council representing that the late King Henry had borrowed from her a
+book containing the Chronicles of Jerusalem and the Expedition of
+Godfrey of Boulogne, and praying that an order might be issued under the
+Privy Seal for the restoration of the said book. With much formality the
+petition was granted. But we might go back several hundred years prior
+to either of these dates, for the Abbess Eadburga not only transcribed
+books herself and kept several scholars for a similar purpose, but fed
+the bibliomaniacal zeal of Boniface, the Saxon missionary, by presenting
+him with a number of books. Appropriately enough, he presented the
+Abbess on one occasion with a silver pen.
+
+Two historic illuminated manuscripts, formerly the property of
+distinguished women, were sold from the Fountaine Collection at
+Christie's, in July, 1894. The more interesting item was Henry VIII.'s
+own copy of the 'Psalmes or Prayers taken out of Holye Scripture,'
+printed on vellum, by Thomas Berthelet, 1544. This book is of great
+historic interest. Shortly before his death he gave it to his daughter,
+Princess Mary (afterwards Queen Mary), who subsequently presented it to
+Queen Catherine Parr, with the following inscription: 'Madame, I shall
+desyer yor grace most humbly to accepte thys ritde hande and unworthy
+whose harte and servyce unfaynedly you shall be seur of duryng my lyf
+contynually. Your most humble dowghter and servant, Marye.' On the back
+of the leaf containing the foregoing inscription is written: 'Mors est
+ingressus quidam immortalis future quae tamen est maxime horribilis carni
+Catherina Regina K. P.' On a small piece of vellum inside the cover the
+King has written: 'Myne owne good daughter I pray you remember me most
+hartely wen you in your prayers do shew for grace, to be attayned
+assurydly to yor lovyng fader. Henry R.' This book contains quite a
+number of other inscriptions by Henry, Catherine, and others, and is, on
+the whole, of peculiarly striking interest. It was purchased by Mr.
+Quaritch for 610 guineas. A beautiful companion to the foregoing is a
+manuscript 'Horae' of the fifteenth century, on very pure vellum,
+consisting of 176 leaves (8-1/2 inches by 6 inches). This manuscript
+formerly belonged to Margaret, mother of King Henry VII., and has at the
+end this inscription, in her handwriting, addressed to Lady Shyrley, to
+whom she presented it:
+
+ 'My good Lady Shyrley pray for
+ Me that gevythe you thys booke,
+ And hertely pray you (Margaret)
+ Modyr to the kynge.'
+
+Margaret, Countess of Richmond and Derby, was the only daughter and heir
+of John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, and was not only distinguished for
+her piety and charity, but was a great patron of Caxton, whose
+successor, Wynkyn de Worde, styled himself 'Her printer.' This beautiful
+manuscript was probably written and illuminated by her command in the
+reign of her son, Henry VII. It realized L350.
+
+[Illustration: _Queen Elizabeth's Golden Manual of Prayers._
+
+Front Cover.]
+
+For all practical purposes, Queen Elizabeth may be regarded as the first
+distinguished _femme bibliophile_. Of this truculent and strong-minded
+personage much has been written, and it is scarcely likely that there is
+much unpublished material respecting her library. It is not necessary
+nor desirable to enter exhaustively into even so fascinating a topic. A
+few generalizations will not, however, be unwelcome. The books which she
+possessed before she ascended the throne are excessively rare, and even
+those owned by her after that event are by no means common. Elizabeth
+herself embroidered several books with her own hands, the most beautiful
+example of her work being a copy of the Epistles of St. Paul, now at the
+Bodleian. The black silk binding is covered with devices embroidered by
+the Princess during her sequestration at Woodstock, representing the
+Judgment of Solomon and the Brazen Serpent, and these have been
+reproduced by Dibdin in 'Bibliomania.' From an inventory published in
+_Archaeologia_ we learn that, in the sixteenth year of her reign, the
+Queen possessed a book of the Evangelists, of which the covers were
+decorated with a crucifix and with her arms in silver, weighing, with
+the wood corners, 112 ounces. Among the books which the notorious Libri
+'conveyed' were two which appear to have belonged to Elizabeth, first a
+volume containing Fenestella's 'De Magistratibus Sacerdotusque
+Romanorum' (1549), and another tract, which realized L5; and Jones's
+'Arte and Science of Preserving Bodie and Soul in Healthe, Wisdome, and
+Catholicke Religion' (1579), beautifully bound 'a petit fers,' which
+realized close on L20.
+
+[Illustration: _Queen Elizabeth's Golden Manual of Prayers._
+
+Back Cover.]
+
+The British Museum contains several books, including one or two very
+beautiful ones, which were formerly the Queen's, and among these perhaps
+the most notable is an imperfect copy of Coverdale's New Testament
+(_circa_ 1538). Upon the inside of the cover is the following manuscript
+note: 'This small book was once the property of Q. Elizabeth, and
+actually presented by her to A. Poynts, who was her maid of Honor. In it
+are a few lines of the Queen's own hand writing and signing. Likewise a
+small drawing of King Edward the 6th when very young [of Windsor Castle]
+and one of the Knights in his robes.' The 'few lines' of the Queen's are
+as follows: 'Amonge good thinges | I prove and finde, the quiet | life
+dothe muche abounde | and sure to the contentid | mynde, ther is no
+riches | may be founde | your lovinge | mistress Elizabeth.' An
+interesting point is raised in the _Library_ (ii. 65, 66), by Mr. W. G.
+Hardy, relative to the books of the Earl of Essex, which were believed
+to have become the property of Elizabeth after the unfortunate
+favourite's execution in 1601. The finest as well as the best known of
+the Queen's embroidered books, now in the British Museum, is Archbishop
+Parker's 'De Antiquitate Ecclesiae Britannicae,' 1572, presented by the
+author to Elizabeth, for whom also he had it specially bound. It is
+covered in green velvet. We give facsimiles of the two sides of the
+cover of the manual of prayers which the Queen is said to have carried
+about with her, attached by a gold chain to her girdle. It is bound in
+gold and enamelled, said to be the workmanship of George Heriot. The
+prayers were printed by A. Barker, 1574. The front side of the cover
+contains a representation of the raising of the serpent in the
+wilderness; whilst on the back is represented the judgment of Solomon.
+This book was for many years in the Duke of Sussex's collection; it was
+sold with the rest of the collection of the late George Field, at
+Christie's, June 13, 1893, for 1,220 guineas, to Mr. C. J. Wertheimer.
+
+[Illustration: Elizabeth P.]
+
+The Marquis of Salisbury's library at Hatfield contains a number of
+books which belonged to two distinguished ladies of the Elizabethan
+period. Lady M. Burghley's many book-treasures included a number of
+learned works which we do not usually associate with the women of the
+time. There were, for instance, Basil, 'Orationes,' 1556; Bodin, 'La
+Republique,' 1580; Erasmus, 'De Copia Verborum,' 1573; Fernelius,
+'Medecina,' 1554; Hemming, 'Commentarius in Ephesios,' 1574; Haddon,
+'Contra Osorium,' 1557; Jasparus, 'Encomium,' 1546; Valerius, 'Tabulae
+Dialectices,' 1573; Velcurio, 'Commentarius in Aristotelis,' 1573;
+Whitgift's 'Answer to Cartwright,' 1574, and several others. A few of
+the books which were once possessed by Anne Cecil (sister of Sir Robert
+Cecil), Countess of Oxford, are also at Hatfield, notably a 'Grammaire
+Francaise,' 1559, and an edition of Cicero 'Epitres Familieres.'
+
+[Illustration: _The Frontispiece to 'The Ladies' Library' of Steele._
+
+Engraved by L. Du Guernier.]
+
+During the eighteenth century, the taste for books was by no means
+uncommon among women, although only a bold man would declare that that
+period produced a genuine _femme bibliophile_. The idea of a lady's
+library was first suggested by Addison in the _Spectator_, No. 37. In
+No. 79 Steele takes up the thread of the subject, to which Addison
+returns in No. 92, and Steele again in No. 140. These papers created a
+want which Richard Steele, with a doubly benevolent object, essayed to
+fill. 'The Ladies' Library,' ostensibly 'written by a lady,' and
+'published by Mr. Steele,' was issued by Jacob Tonson in 1714. It was in
+three volumes, each of which had a separate dedication; the first is
+addressed to the Countess of Burlington, the second to Mrs. Bovey, a
+learned and very beautiful widow, by some supposed to be identical with
+Sir Roger de Coverley's obdurate _veuve_, whilst the third, in a strain
+of loyal and affectionate eulogy, is to Steele's own wife, who may be
+supposed to be depicted in Du Guernier's frontispiece in the first
+volume. The 'Ladies' Library' and the _Spectator_ papers assist us
+somewhat in forming an opinion as to the most popular books among the
+ladies of the earlier part of the last century. The library of the lady
+whom Addison visited is described as arranged in a very beautiful order.
+'At the end of the folios (which were finely bound and gilt) were great
+jars of china, placed one above the other, in a very noble piece of
+architecture. The quartos were separated from the octavos by a pile of
+smaller vessels, which rose in a delightful pyramid. The octavos were
+bounded by tea dishes of all shapes, colours and sizes. . . . That part
+of the library designed for the reception of plays and pamphlets was
+inclosed in a kind of square, consisting of one of the prettiest
+grotesque works that ever I saw, and made up of scaramouches, lions,
+monkeys, and a thousand odd figures in chinaware. In the midst of the
+room was a little Japan table, with a quire of gilt paper upon it, and
+on the paper a silver snuff-box fashioned in the shape of a little
+book.' On the upper shelves Addison noticed the presence of a number of
+other counterfeit volumes, all the classic authors, and a set of the
+Elzevir first editions in wood, only the titles meant to be read. Among
+the books Addison mentions are Virgil, Juvenal, Sir Isaac Newton's
+works, Locke on 'Human Understanding,' a spelling-book, a dictionary for
+the explanation of hard words, Sherlock on 'Death,' 'The Fifteen
+Comforts of Matrimony,' Father Malebranche's 'Search after Truth,' 'A
+Book of Novels' [? Mrs. Behn's], 'The Academy of Compliments,' 'Clelia,'
+'Advice to a Daughter,' 'The New Atalantis' (with key), a Prayer-book
+(with a bottle of Hungary water by the side of it), Dr. Sacheverel's
+speech, Fielding's Trial, Seneca's 'Morals,' Taylor's 'Holy Living and
+Dying,' and La Ferte's 'Instruction for Country Dances,' etc.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+ ELIZABETH PINDAR.
+
+ God's providence is mine
+ inheritance.
+
+ Elizabeth Pindar me jure
+ possidet.
+
+ Anno Dom.
+ 1608]
+
+The list is a quaint bit of Addisonian satire, almost worthy to rank by
+the side of Sir Roger de Coverley. Addison had no very elevated opinion
+of the intellectual gifts of his women contemporaries, as the
+juxtaposition of the Prayer-book with the bottle of Hungary waters (a
+popular stimulating perfume of the day) shows. The books above named
+were at that time to be found in nearly every gentleman's library, and
+that they should be found in the possession of women is not surprising.
+Addison's 'intellectual lady' and her library are a fiction, but a
+charming fiction withal. In spite of the literary glories of her reign,
+'Glorious Anna' can scarcely be regarded as a book-collector. Queen
+Caroline, the consort of George II., was an enthusiastic bibliophile.
+Her library was preserved until recently in a building adjoining the
+Green Park, called the Queen's Library, and subsequently the Duke of
+York's. An interior view of the building is given in Pyne's 'Royal
+Residences.' We give on page 267 a reproduction of one of the earliest
+English bookplates engraved for a lady. It was discovered a few years
+ago in a volume of title-pages collected by John Bagford, and now in the
+British Museum. Of Elizabeth Pindar as a book-collector, or, indeed, as
+anything else, we are without any record.
+
+[Illustration: _The Eshton Hall Library._]
+
+The present century has produced two of the most distinguished _femmes
+bibliophiles_ which this country has ever known. The earlier collector,
+Miss Richardson Currer (1785-1861), of Eshton Hall, in the Deanery of
+Craven, York, was the owner of an exceedingly rich library of books. Of
+these, two catalogues were printed. The first, in 1820, under the
+superintendence of Robert Triphook, extended to 308 pages; the second
+was drawn up by C. J. Stewart in 1833. That of the latter included four
+steel engravings of her library. This library was especially strong in
+British history, and it included a copy on vellum of the St. Albans
+reprint of Caxton's 'Chronicle' (wanting only the last leaf), which
+realized L365 at her sale; of Higden's 'Polychronicon,' printed by
+Caxton, 1482 (not quite perfect); one of the most perfect copies of
+Coverdale's Bible, 1535, which sold for L250; of Norden's 'Voyage
+d'Egypte,' on large paper, and many other fine books. It was also rich
+in natural science, topography, and antiquities. Dibdin describes her as
+'at the head of all the female collectors of Europe.' Miss Currer, who
+suffered from deafness, was an intimate friend of Richard Heber, and it
+was rumoured at one time that this distinguished bibliomaniac was
+engaged to be married to Miss Currer, but the event did not transpire.
+Miss Currer's books were sold at Sotheby's in July and August, 1862, and
+realized nearly L6,000, the 2,681 lots occupying ten days in selling.
+Miss Currer was great-niece of Dr. Richardson, whose correspondence was
+edited by Dawson Turner in 1835. Two of the views of Miss Currer's fine
+library in Stewart's catalogue are reproduced by Dibdin in his 'Literary
+Reminiscences.'
+
+Before passing on to the second famous lady book-collector--Mrs. John
+Rylands--a few more or less important names may be mentioned in
+connection with the subject. In August, 1835, Evans sold the 'valuable'
+library of the late Dowager Lady Elcho, but as her books were mixed with
+other properties, it is not now possible to distinguish one from the
+other. Lady Mark Sykes' musical library was sold at Puttick's in March,
+1847, and eleven months later Sotheby sold some valuable books and books
+of prints, the property of a Miss Hamlet. H.R.H. the Princess Elizabeth,
+Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg, and daughter of George III., was a
+confirmed book-collector, and her library, divided into 1,606 lots, came
+under the hammer at Sotheby's in April, 1863. It occupied four days in
+disposal, and realized L915 12s. 6d. The books, which were chiefly in
+elegant bindings, were for the most part illustrated works, illuminated
+manuscripts, and books dealing with a very wide variety of topics;
+whilst many of them had an extraneous value from the fact that they
+contained signatures and interesting notes of the Princess and other
+members of the Royal Family. The libraries of the late Lady Francis
+Vernon Harcourt (August, 1873); of the late Mrs. Ellis, of Bernard
+Street, Russell Square (November, 1871); and of the late Miss Beckles
+(December, 1868), have been dispersed at Sotheby's. Lady Morgan's
+library, comprising the principal works in French, English, and Italian
+literature, and many scarce and curious books relating to Irish
+history--many of the books had the owner's autograph--was sold at the
+same place in April, 1863, but the 396 lots only realized L70. The
+library of another literary woman, Miss Agnes Strickland, the historian
+of the Queens of England, was dispersed at the same place in May, 1876,
+when a few hundred books realized L60. Some very choice books (many of
+them enriched with the notes of H. T. Buckle) were included in the
+portion of the library of the late Mrs. Benzon, of 10, Kensington Palace
+Gardens, sold at Sotheby's on June 14, 1880, when 379 lots realized
+over L775. Some books from Mrs. Jameson's library were sold at Puttick's
+in October, 1882, the more important items being annotated or
+extra-illustrated copies of her own books. The collection formed by Miss
+Drummond, of Berkeley Square, Bristol, and sold at Sotheby's in May,
+1862 (1,339 lots realizing L1,316 6s.), was a remarkably choice library,
+the whole in elegant bindings, presenting a great variety of patterns,
+tooled in gold, with appropriate devices and other decorations. There
+were splendid 'Galleries,' and books of 'picturesque sceneries,'
+magnificent volumes on natural history, some beautiful Persian
+manuscripts, and the best works in standard literature. Mrs. Brassey, of
+Lower Seymour Street, had some good books, which were sold by Bates on
+December 23, 1814, and included 'The Golden Legend,' by Caxton, which
+realized 93 guineas.
+
+Mrs. John Rylands is the widow of the late Mr. John Rylands, of Longford
+Hall, near Manchester. Mrs. Rylands' career as a _femme bibliophile_ may
+be briefly summarised thus: In 1889 this lady formed the plan of
+erecting in Manchester a memorial to her late husband, which should
+embody one main purpose of his life, as carried out by him very
+unostentatiously, but with great delight, during the greater part of his
+career. To make the highest literature accessible to the people was with
+him a cherished aim, and it was accordingly resolved by his widow that
+the memorial should be in the form of a library. To this end Mrs.
+Rylands took into her confidence four gentlemen whose names are well
+known, and for whom the late Mr. Rylands had the greatest respect and
+admiration, namely, the Rev. Dr. S. G. Green, of London; the late Rev.
+Dr. MacFadyen, of Manchester; Mr. W. Carnelly and Mr. W. Linnell, both
+also of Manchester, with whose aid the preliminaries for carrying out
+her purpose were speedily arranged. The site in Deansgate, lying between
+Wood Street and Spinningfield, was purchased, and after visits to
+several great libraries and other public buildings, Mrs. Rylands
+instructed the architect of Mansfield College, Oxford, Mr. Basil
+Champneys, of London, to execute plans for a suitable structure, to bear
+the name of the John Rylands Library. About the same time she commenced
+the purchase of books, being aided in this by her friend, Mr. J. Arnold
+Green, son of the Rev. Dr. Green, who, putting himself in communication
+with various agents, collected a large number of standard books in
+English and foreign literatures, including early Bibles, first editions,
+and many other rare and valuable works, with several choice manuscripts
+and autographs. The number of volumes purchased reached many thousands,
+one of the acquisitions being the celebrated copy of the 'Biblia
+Pauperum,' once belonging to the Borghese Library in Rome, at the sale
+of which it fetched 15,800 francs. Up to this time a considerable amount
+had been spent. When the announcement was made in 1892 that Earl
+Spencer, the owner of the Althorp Library, was willing to dispose of
+that famous collection, Mrs. Rylands at once felt that its possession
+would be the crown of her whole scheme--accomplishing it with a
+completeness of which she never dreamed when first she formed her plans.
+Mr. Arnold Green accordingly at once communicated on her behalf with Mr.
+Railton, of Messrs. Sotheran and Co., a firm which had been largely
+employed by her in previous purchases of books. The result is that the
+Althorp Library passed into Mrs. Rylands' possession, the price paid
+being close on a quarter of a million sterling. The transaction is by
+far the largest of its kind which has ever taken place in this or any
+other country. It has been calculated that the Althorp Library cost its
+founder about L100,000, and that it should have more than doubled in
+value in less than a century is an extremely gratifying fact. It
+contains a large number of unique and excessively rare books, which
+nothing short of an upheaval in this country similar to the French
+Revolution could place on the market. Those who depend upon such a
+contingency to obtain a few of these splendid books are likely to wait
+for a very long time.
+
+But even with the striking examples of Miss Currer and Mrs. Rylands
+before us, the conclusion still forces itself upon one that the _femme
+bibliophile_ is an all but unknown quantity. The New Woman may develop
+into a genuine book-lover; it is certain that the old one will not. The
+Chinese article of belief that women have no souls has, after all,
+something in its favour.
+
+Bookstall-keepers have a deep contempt for women who patronize them by
+turning over their books without purchasing. It would not be possible to
+repeat all the hard things they say about the sex. In the words of one:
+'They hang around and read the books, and though I have a man to watch
+them, while he is driving away one another is reading a chapter. They
+can read a chapter in a minute.' 'Does that not interest them in the
+book, so that they buy it?' asked an interlocutor. 'No, sir; it don't.
+It only makes them go to the other stall and read the last chapter
+there. Not once in a blue moon, sir, does womenfolk buy a book. A penny
+weekly is what they buy, and before they fix on one they read half a
+dozen. You take my word for it, sir, it takes a woman half an hour to
+spend a penny at a bookstall.' A characteristic incident once happened
+to an old judge's clerk who had a stall a few years ago in Gray's Inn
+Road. A lady, with whom there were two or three children, after waiting
+about the pavement, at length suddenly became interested in the humble
+bookstall. Several pretty picture-books attracted the attention of the
+children, and they became clamorous to possess them. The stall-keeper,
+in the politest possible manner, offered the books at her own price. The
+reply was: 'Oh no, thanks. We are only looking over the books to kill
+time.' 'Much obliged to you, ma'am, for your kindness and
+consideration,' was the prompt reply.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+BOOK THIEVES, BORROWERS, AND KNOCK-OUTS.
+
+
+'FACILIS descensus Averni' might well be the motto for any article or
+chapter dealing with the above comprehensive 'avocations.' Once started
+on his career, the book-thief may be regarded as entirely lost. At the
+Middlesex Sessions a few years ago a genius of the name of Terry was
+sentenced to six years' imprisonment for stealing books. On inquiry it
+was found that this same person had already been in prison six times,
+two terms of eighteen months each, one term of five years' penal
+servitude, and another of seven years, all for stealing books.
+
+Each thief has his own special _modus operandi_, which he varies
+according to circumstances. There are those who do it without any
+adventitious aid, and those who cover their sin with various
+accessories. First, the ordinary book-thief, who watches his opportunity
+when the shopkeeper is not looking, and simply slips the book quickly
+under his coat and departs. This method is plain and simple in
+execution, but sometimes dangerous in practice. Then there is the man
+who wears an overcoat, the lining of the pocket of which he has
+previously removed, so that he can pass his hand right through while
+apparently only standing still looking on, with his hands quietly in his
+pocket, possibly with one hand openly touching something, whilst the
+other is earning his dinner.
+
+[Illustration: '_Earning his Dinner._']
+
+An amusing incident was once the experience of a London bookseller.
+While sitting behind his counter inside the shop, he was amazed one day
+at seeing a man running at a tremendous rate, and, momentarily
+slackening his speed to seize a book off the stall, he had disappeared
+before the astounded bookseller was able to get to the door. And it is
+remarkable that, though many people were about, no one seems to have
+noticed the thief take the book, though they saw him running. Another
+favourite device is to carry a newspaper in the hand, and when no one is
+looking deposit the paper on a carefully-selected book within the folds;
+or having an overcoat carried on the arm to quickly hide something
+under cover of it. This latter method requires, of course, a
+well-to-do-looking man, and obviously is chiefly confined to the
+stealers of the higher class of valuable books. It also requires, like
+every well-managed business, a certain amount of capital, for it is
+absolutely necessary--in order to lull suspicion--that small purchases
+should be made from time to time in the hunting-ground that has been
+chosen for the season.
+
+[Illustration: _The King's Library, British Museum._]
+
+Then there is the mean man who, having money, is yet lacking in the will
+to spend it. Such individuals in these days of disguising bad deeds
+under grand names are euphemistically designated kleptomaniacs. Most
+London booksellers have had experience of this class. It is a known fact
+that a literary man whose name is familiar to many readers was expelled
+from the reading-room of the British Museum for this sort of conduct,
+stealing small trifling things that could easily have been bought, and
+mutilating other books by cutting out passages which he was too lazy to
+transcribe, and too mean, although a well-to-do man, to employ an
+amanuensis.
+
+'Steal?' quoth ancient Pistol. 'Foh! a fico for the phrase. Convey the
+wise it call.' Had Pistol lived in these days he would have said,
+'Kleptomania the wise it call.' Some years ago there resided in the
+West End of London a Belgian gentleman well known in literary circles,
+and a man of good position to boot. He possessed a valuable library, and
+was a frequent visitor at shops where he could add to his collections.
+One dealer noticed that, whenever Monsieur Y. called upon him, one or
+two valuable books mysteriously disappeared, and he was not long before
+he arrived at the conclusion that his Belgian customer appropriated his
+wares without attending to the customary, but disagreeable, process of
+exchanging the coin of the realm for his bargains. Our friend the
+dealer, an honest but remarkably plain-spoken and fearless individual,
+made careful notes of all his losses and their prices.
+
+One day he stopped Monsieur Y. just as he was leaving the shop, and
+remarked that he might as well pay for the little volumes he had stowed
+away in the pockets of the capacious overcoat he almost invariably wore.
+Great was the assumed indignation of the Belgian bibliophile, who
+asserted that he had no books on him but those he had already accounted
+for. 'Come, come,' said the dealer, 'that won't do; I left you alone in
+the room upstairs, but I watched you through the door, and saw you
+pocket the books, of which the price is so much. Unless you pay for them
+I shall send for a policeman; and whilst I am on the topic you may as
+well settle for those other books you have taken from my shelves at
+various times.' Here he produced his list, with the prices all affixed,
+and a certain small sum added by way of interest. Hereupon Monsieur Y.
+stormed and raved, swore it was an attempt to extort money from him, and
+threatened legal proceedings. 'If,' said the dealer, 'you can empty your
+pockets now without producing any book of mine, except those you have
+paid for, I will withdraw my claim and apologize, otherwise I shall at
+once send my man' (whom he then called) 'for a policeman.' Whereupon
+Monsieur Y. paid the full claim, walked out of the shop, and never
+entered it again. But the catalogues were regularly sent to him, and as
+the dealer constantly had books that he required, he ordered what he
+wanted by post, so that in the long-run the bookseller really lost
+little or nothing by his boldness. The same bookseller complained that
+people often ordered his books but neglected to pay for them, whilst
+intending purchasers who meant to pay ready money, and called at the
+shop for the books, had to be sent away disconsolate, sometimes after
+having come long distances to secure the long-wished-for volume. 'But
+first come, first served, is my motto, and if six orders come for the
+same book, it goes to the man whose letter or card I first receive.' A
+sturdy John Bull sort of man this, with a great knowledge of books, who
+has had to fight a long uphill battle, and is perhaps one of the
+best-known men in the trade.
+
+An awkward incident for the thief happened once. A bookseller, the
+proprietor of two or three shops, was in one of them, when a person
+entered and offered for sale a couple of books. The proprietor
+recognised one of them as being his property, he having that morning
+sent it to the other of his shops, from which it had been apparently
+almost immediately removed. When questioned, the intending vendor
+pretended to be much insulted, and asserted the book had been in his
+possession for some considerable time, and even threatened the
+bookseller, when he insisted on detaining the book, with the police.
+This was rather unfortunate, for at that moment a constable passing by
+was called in, and, in spite of a great deal of bluster and many
+threats, the thief was marched off to the nearest police-station. The
+other book, it was found, had also been stolen that morning from another
+shop, and the result was four months' imprisonment.
+
+The remarkable fact is that book-thieves are nearly always well-to-do
+people; if hunger induced them to steal a book to get a dinner, they
+would come in the category of ordinary thieves. If they stole books
+because they wanted to read them, and were unable to pay for them, one
+might overlook their crime. One of the most remarkable illustrations of
+the past few years is that in which an ex-lieutenant in the Royal Scots
+Greys was implicated. The books belonged to a lady who had let her house
+to the prisoner's father. She left a number of books, which were in
+three bookcases. They were locked, and contained valuable books. She was
+informed (so runs the report) that several of the books were missing,
+and a few weeks after she saw a number of books, including Ruskin's
+'Stones of Venice' and 'Modern Painters,' which she identified as her
+property. The law was put into motion, and the case came into the
+courts. The value of the two books mentioned she estimated at L60, and
+the other books at L50. Mr. Reeves, bookseller, then of 196, Strand,
+deposed that he could identify the prisoner, and on June 21 he purchased
+five volumes of Ruskin's 'Modern Painters,' and gave a cheque for L16.
+He understood that the accused had come into possession of them through
+a death. On that occasion the prisoner asked the witness what he would
+give for three volumes of 'The Stones of Venice.' Witness offered him
+L9. On June 28 the prisoner brought the book, and finding it not to be
+in such good condition, witness offered him L7 10s. This was accepted,
+and witness handed a cheque to the prisoner for that amount. Witness
+bought other books from the prisoner for L3 2s. 6d. Mr. Reeves said that
+he sold 'Modern Painters' for L18, and 'The Stones of Venice' for L8
+10s.
+
+Here is another illustration, gleaned from the Greenwich Police Court: A
+person, forty-six, of ladylike appearance, and no occupation, was
+charged at Greenwich with stealing a book, valued 4d., from outside the
+shop of Charles Humphreys, 114, South Street. She was seen to take a
+book from a stall, place it in a novelette, and walk away. Prosecutor
+followed, stopped her, and said, 'I've got you now.' She cried out, 'Oh,
+for God's sake, don't, don't! Let me pay for it.' But he said, 'No, not
+for L5, as you are an old thief.' At her house he found over a hundred
+books bearing his private mark, but he could not swear that they had not
+been bought. Once he bought some books from the prisoner which she had
+stolen from his shop, but he did not know that when he bought them.
+Prisoner pleaded guilty to stealing one book, and on her behalf a
+solicitor produced a certificate from a medical man, stating that she
+was suffering from general weakness of system, loss of appetite,
+sleeplessness, and evident mental disorder. Those symptoms he attributed
+to causes which induced the magistrate to deal leniently, and a fine of
+L5 was imposed.
+
+[Illustration: '_Steals a book, places it in a novelette, and walks
+away._']
+
+About a couple of years ago, two maiden sisters, Grace and Blanche ----,
+were charged at Bow Street with theft. To all appearances they were
+highly respectable members of the community. Grace was seventy-four;
+Blanche had only seen sixty summers. They visited Shoolbred's,
+apparently wanting to buy some Prayer-books and Bibles. They looked at
+many, but none suited them. They left without purchasing anything, no
+suspicions being aroused on the part of the attendants. But Detective
+Butler and Constable 173 D, who had taken great interest in the old
+ladies' movements, saw Grace hand a Book of Common Prayer, a hymn-book,
+and ladies' companion to her sister. Shoolbred's manager identified the
+articles as the property of the firm, but declined to prosecute on
+account of the old ladies' ages. Grace admitted the theft, but said she
+did not know what she was doing. A small fine was inflicted.
+
+Even so astute a tradesman as Bernard Quaritch has been victimized by
+the book-thief. These are his own words: 'A little dark man, of about
+forty-five years of age, with a sallow complexion, apparently a Dutch or
+German Jew, speaking in broken English in an undertone, introduced
+himself, showing me a business card, "Wunderlich and Co." The following
+day the pretended Wunderlich selected books from my stock to the amount
+of L270, and said he would come again and select more. At the same time
+the little dark, sallow man saw, but refused to buy, a very sweet little
+"Livre d'Heures," with lovely miniatures in _camaieu-gris_, bound in
+black morocco, with silver clasp. The price of this lovely MS. was 50
+guineas. Since then this mysterious little dark man has disappeared, and
+my very sweet little "Livre d'Heures," with its lovely miniatures, has
+disappeared also.'
+
+In 1891 Messrs. Sotheran and Co. discovered that a number of rare books
+had been abstracted from their Strand shop, including a first edition of
+Burns's 'Poems,' 1786; Shakespeare's 'Poems,' 1640, first edition, with
+portrait by Marshall, and eleven extra leaves at the end; Heywood's
+'Thyestes of Seneca,' 1560; and Piers Plowman's 'Vision and Crede,'
+1561--all choice volumes. The Burns was valued at L30, and this was
+traced a month or two after its sudden disappearance to a bookbinder,
+who offered it to Mrs. Groves, who, however, wisely declined to lend
+money on it. Subsequently the book was sent to Mr. Pearson, Exmouth,
+who, knowing it had been stolen, at once communicated with the
+prosecutors. Two of the other books were traced to New York, and were
+returned to the firm at cost price. The enterprising bookbinder received
+twelve months' hard.
+
+Mr. Waller, the bookseller, formerly of Fleet Street, relates a rather
+amusing incident connected with Thackeray: 'I think it was a book of
+"Services" in four small volumes, two of which he already possessed, and
+one, completing the set, he saw in my window. He came in, said he wanted
+that book, and gleefully told how he had picked up the third a few
+minutes before in Holywell Street. He dived into his pocket to show me
+his precious "find." It was not there! Between Holywell Street and Fleet
+Street someone had relieved him of it, in the belief, apparently, that
+it was an ordinary pocket-book with valuables in it!'
+
+[Illustration: '_He had placed the book in his pocket. Someone had
+relieved him of it._']
+
+A by no means uncommon person is what may be described as the
+conscientious thief, or the man who steals one book and replaces it by
+another, which he considers to be of equal value. But a much cleverer
+dodge was that of a wily villain who selected a book from the stock of a
+firm of booksellers in the Strand, asking one member of the firm to
+charge it to him, and then selling it to the other partner at the
+opposite end of the shop a few minutes later! This can scarcely be
+described as book-stealing, for there is no proof that the 'book-lover'
+did not intend paying for the article ultimately. In this case the
+assumption was distinctly against his doing anything of the sort.
+
+It will be seen from the foregoing facts that the book-thief hesitates
+at no class of book. But would he draw the line at stealing a book which
+deals with thieves? The late Charles Reade appears to have thought that
+he would not, for he has inscribed not only his name, but the following
+somewhat plaintive request, 'Please not to steal this book; I value it,'
+in a volume which Mr. Menken once possessed. The book in question is
+entitled 'Inventaire general de L'Histoire des Larrons,' Rouen, 1657.
+This singular work gives at length the stratagems, tricks, and
+artifices, the thefts of and assassinations by thieves, with a full
+account of their most memorable exploits in France. One cannot help
+wondering if a copy of this extraordinary book has ever been stolen from
+a book-collector, and of the remorse which must have overtaken the thief
+when he discovered the character of his prize. That indeed would be a
+strange irony!
+
+But the book-thief is not by any means one of the numerous penalties of
+modern civilization. He has an antiquity which almost makes him
+respectable. Hearne, in his 'Johannes Glastoniensis,' states that Sir
+Henry Saville once wrote a warning letter to Sir Robert Cotton, who had
+offered some additions to the library of the founder of the Bodleian. An
+appointment had been made with Sir Robert to give Bodley an opportunity
+of inspecting the treasures on his shelves, and it was in anticipation
+of this that Saville thought it his duty to warn his friend in the
+following terms: 'And remember I give you faire warning that if you hold
+any booke so deare as that you would bee loath to have him out of your
+sight, set him aside beforehand.' On the authority of the above extract,
+Gough has charged Bodley with being a suspicious character--or, in other
+words, a thief; but the complete letter puts a very different complexion
+on the extract. He tars with the same brush Dr. Moore, Bishop of Ely,
+Dr. Rawlinson, and his friend Umfreville. In connection with the
+first-named, Gough repeats an anecdote which crops up every now and then
+as authentic, for these half-truths have an extraordinary vitality. The
+anecdote runs as follows: 'A gentleman calling on a friend who had a
+choice library, found him unusually busy in putting his best books out
+of sight; upon asking his view in this, he answered, "Don't you know
+that the Bishop of Ely dines with me to-day?"' There can be only one
+inference, of course. As a matter of fact, we do not believe that there
+is any truth in either rumour. So far as Dr. Moore, 'the Father of
+Black-letter Collectors,' is concerned, there can be no doubt that he
+had a fairly elastic conscience in the matter of book-collecting. He is
+said to have collected his library by plundering those of the clergy of
+his diocese, justifying himself by the cynical remark, _Quid illiterati
+cum libris?_ We do not vouch for the truth of this anecdote, any more
+than for the graver charge, but probably there is some foundation for
+it. In the Harleian MSS. there is an interesting account of the several
+libraries, public and private, which existed in London during the
+earlier part of the last century. From this source we learn that 'in the
+days of Edward VI., in the chapel adjoining to the Guildhall, called my
+Lord Maiors Chapell, was a library well furnisht, being all MSS. Stow
+says the Duke of Somerset borrowed them, with a design never to return
+them, but furnisht his own study in his pompous house in the Strand;
+they were five cartloads.'
+
+Horace Walpole expressed his opinion to the effect that virtuosi have
+been long remarked to have little conscience in their favourite
+pursuits. A man will steal a rarity, who would cut off his hand rather
+than take the money it is worth. Yet in fact the crime is the same. He
+tells us of a 'truly worthy clergyman, who collects coins and books. A
+friend of mine mentioning to him that he had several of the Strawberry
+Hill editions, this clergyman said, "Aye, but I can show you what it is
+not in Mr. Walpole's power to give you." He then produced a list of the
+pictures in the Devonshire, and other two collections in London, printed
+at my press. I was much surprised. It was, I think, about the year 1764,
+that, on reading the six volumes of "London and its Environs," I ordered
+my printer to throw off one copy for my own use. This printer was the
+very man who, after he had left my service, produced the noted copy of
+Wilkes's "Essay on Woman." He had stolen one copy of this list; and I
+must blame the reverend amateur for purchasing it of him, as it was like
+receiving stolen goods.'
+
+The number of book-thieves has increased with the extension of public
+(or free) libraries. Here, the accumulated ingenuity of the literary
+thief has an ample scope, and he is not the man to let an opportunity
+escape. Some of the tribe have a mania for old directories; but novels
+are the most popular. The clerical thief with a thirst for sermons and
+theological literature is a by no means infrequent customer--and truly
+the indictment of a thief of this description ought to bear the fatal
+endorsement continued almost up to our own times, _sus. per coll._--'let
+him be hanged by the neck.'
+
+At one time nearly all the volumes in the very useful Bohn's Library
+series were kept in the Reading-room of the British Museum, but they so
+frequently disappeared that the authorities decided upon their permanent
+sequestration to a less handy part of the building. Last year Mr. C.
+Trice Martin's new 'Record Interpreter' was so highly appreciated both
+at the Record Office and at the Reading-room, that the copy at each
+institution was stolen from the shelves within twenty-four hours of its
+being placed there.
+
+Women more or less respectably dressed are often objects of suspicion to
+public librarians; they are also a class infinitely more difficult to
+deal with than men, for, whilst the receptivity of their cloaks is
+infinite, their 'feelings' have to be considered. Whether guilty or
+innocent, the suspected party is bound to create a 'scene,' probably
+hysterics--and what is a public librarian, or, indeed, any other man, to
+do under such circumstances?
+
+Libri was unquestionably the most accomplished and wholesale book-thief
+that ever lived. As Inspector-General of French Libraries under Louis
+Philippe, he had special facilities for helping himself--his known
+thefts have been valued at L20,000. We mention him here because his
+collections were sold at Sotheby's in 1860. One of the most interesting
+illustrations of this man's depredations was exposed in 1868, when Lord
+Ashburnham issued a translation of the Pentateuch from a Latin MS. which
+had been purchased by a previous holder of the title from Libri, who
+sold it under the condition that it was not to be published for twenty
+years. It had been stolen in 1847 from the Lyons Library, and the clause
+in the agreement, therefore, is easily understood. Libri evidently was
+not one of those whom Jules Janin describes as 'people who don't think
+it thieving to steal a book unless you sell it afterwards.'
+
+Unfortunately, education has knocked all the virtue out of charms and
+incantation. Madame de Genlis is said to have fenced the greater part of
+her library with the following lines:
+
+ 'Imparibus meritis pendent tria corpora ramis;
+ Dismas, et Gesmas, media est Divina Potestas;
+ Alta petit Dismas, infelix infima Gesmas.
+ Nos et res nostras conservet Summa Potestas!--
+ Hos versus dicas, ne tu furto tua perdas.'
+
+Quite a long chapter could be made up of the doggerel rhymes frequently
+made use of in bygone days in which the prospective thief was warned off
+under penalties of a prison, or even of a worse end. Here is one:
+
+ 'Si quisquis furetur
+ This little Libellum
+ Per Phoebum, per Jovem,
+ I'll kill him--I'll fell him--
+ In ventrem illius
+ I'll stick my scalpellum,
+ And teach him to steal
+ My little Libellum.'
+
+And here is another:
+
+ 'Qui ce livre volera,
+ Pro suis criminibus
+ Au gibet il dansera,
+ Pedibus pendentibus.'
+
+A curious and interesting chapter in the history of book-stealing is
+furnished us by Mr. F. S. Ellis. 'Some thirty years since I was talking
+with Mr. Hunt, for many years Town Clerk of Ipswich, who was an ardent
+book-collector, and in the course of conversation he lamented how some
+ten years previously he had missed an opportunity of buying a first
+edition of "Paradise Lost" under the following circumstances. There was
+a sale in the neighbourhood of Ipswich, in which a number of books were
+included. These were all tied in bundles and catalogued simply as so
+many books in one lot. Going over one of these bundles, what was his
+surprise to find a first edition of "Paradise Lost," with the first
+title-page, and in the original sheepskin binding! He said nothing, but
+went round to the auctioneer's house and asked him if he would be
+willing to sell him a particular book out of the collection previous to
+auction. "Oh, by all means," said the auctioneer; "just point me out the
+volume and say what you are willing to give me for it, and you can take
+it out at once." What was Mr. Hunt's chagrin and disappointment, on
+again taking up the bundle, to find that the number of books was all
+right according to the catalogue, but Milton's "Paradise Lost" had
+disappeared. Someone with as keen an eye as the Town Clerk had also
+discovered the jewel, and had put in practice the theory that exchange
+is no robbery, and had substituted some other volume for the Milton
+without going through the formality of a consultation with the
+auctioneer. Not long after this, a "Paradise Lost," which I have every
+reason to believe was _the_ "Paradise Lost" described above, in the
+original sheepskin binding, and having the "first" title-page, was
+offered for sale to Mr. Simpson, who carried on an old-book business for
+Mr. Skeat, in King William Street, Strand. He purchased it for what in
+those days was considered a high price; but how much it was below what
+is now esteemed its value is witnessed by the fact that he offered it to
+the late Mr. Crossley, of Manchester, and after much haggling sold it to
+him for L12 12s. When Mr. Crossley had secured it, he quietly remarked,
+"And now let me tell you that if you find a dozen more copies in similar
+condition, I will give you the same price for every one." It remained in
+Mr. Crossley's library for many years, and at the sale of his books in
+1884 realized what was considered the very high price of L25. Eight
+years after it had advanced to L120.'
+
+The book-borrower is, perhaps, a greater curse than the thief, for he
+simulates a virtue to which the latter makes no pretension. The
+book-plate of a certain French collector bore this text from the parable
+of the Ten Virgins: 'Go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for
+yourselves.' 'Sir,' said a man of wit to an acquaintance who lamented
+the difficulty which he found in persuading his friends to return the
+volumes that he had lent them, 'Sir, your acquaintances find, I suppose,
+that it is much more easy to retain the books themselves than what is
+contained in them.' A certain wise physician took a gentle way of
+reminding the borrower who dog-eared or tore the pages of his books:
+pasted on the fly-leaf of each of his books is a printed tag, bearing
+this legend: 'Library of Galen, M.D. "And if a man borrow aught of his
+neighbour and it be hurt, he shall surely make it good," Exodus xxii.
+14.' A much more effective plan is that described some time ago in the
+_Graphic_ by Mr. Ashby Sterry. In all the books of a certain cunning
+bibliophile he had the price written in plain figures; when anyone asked
+him for the loan of a book he invariably replied, 'Yes, with pleasure,'
+and, looking in the volume, further added, 'I see the price of this work
+is L2 17s. 6d.'--or whatever the value might happen to be--'you may take
+it at this figure, which will, of course, be refunded when the volume is
+returned.' If a person really wished to read the volume he would of
+course be glad to leave this deposit; and if he did not return it he
+would not be altogether an unmitigated thief. Mr. John Ashton relates,
+in his volume on the 'Wit, Humour, and Satire of the Seventeenth
+Century,' a curious anecdote which may be here quoted: 'Master Mason, of
+Trinity Colledge, sent his pupil to another of the Fellows to borrow a
+Book of him, who told him, _I am loathe to lend my books out of my
+chamber, but if it please thy Tutor to come and read upon it in my
+chamber, he shall as long as he will._'
+
+When Harrison Ainsworth was a youth and living at Manchester, he
+contracted an enthusiastic admiration for Elia, to whom he sent some
+curious books on loan. One of these was a black-letter volume entitled
+'Syrinx or a sevenfold History, handled with a variety of pleasant and
+profitable both comical and tragical Arguments,' etc., by W. Warner,
+1597. Lamb replied, December 9, 1823: 'I do not mean to keep the book,
+for I suspect you are forming a curious collection, and I do not
+pretend to anything of the kind. I have not a black-letter book among
+mine, old Chaucer excepted, and am not bibliomanist enough to like
+black-letter. It is painful to read; therefore I must insist on
+returning it, at opportunity, not from contumacy and reluctance to be
+obliged, but because it must suit you better than me.' The copy of
+Warner's 'Syrinx' Ainsworth had borrowed from Dr. Hibbert-Wade, and
+therefore it was not the future novelist's book to give. Ignoring,
+however, his expressed determination to return it, Elia lent the book to
+another friend, who shortly after went to New York, and may have taken
+the Warner with him, much to Dr. Hibbert-Wade's annoyance, of which he
+did not, it is said, fail to let Harrison Ainsworth know. It appears,
+however, to have returned again--indeed, it is probable that the book
+never left England--for it is now in the Dyce Collection at South
+Kensington, with 'Mr. Charles Lamb' written on one of the fly-leaves,
+and Dyce's note, 'This rare book was given to me by Mr. Moxon after
+Lamb's death.'
+
+The ranks of London book-borrowers, as those of book-thieves, have
+included a number of men eminent or distinguished in some particular
+way. The Duke of Lauderdale was one of these. Evelyn tells us that he
+was a dangerous borrower of other men's books, as the diarist knew to
+his cost. Coleridge was a wholesale book-borrower, and the manner in
+which he annotated the books of his friends caused much strong and deep
+lamentation at the time. These 'annotated' books have now acquired a
+very distinct commercial and literary value.
+
+The _London Chronicle_ of December 3-5, 1767, contains a curious
+advertisement, headed 'Book-Missing.' It goes on, 'Whereas there is
+missing out of the late Dr. Chandler's Library the _fifth Volume of
+Cardinal Pool's Letters_, and it is presumed that the said volume of
+Letters was borrowed by some friend of the Doctor's; it is earnestly
+requested by the Widow and Executrix of the said Dr. Chandler that
+whoever is in possession of the said volume would be so kind as
+immediately to send it to Mr. Buckland, Bookseller, Paternoster Row,
+and the favour will be gratefully acknowledged.'
+
+When Sir Walter Scott lent a book, he put in its place a wooden block
+bearing the name of the borrower and the date of the loan. Charles Lamb,
+tired of lending his books, threatened to chain Wordsworth's poems to
+his shelves, adding, 'For of those who borrow, some read slow; some mean
+to read, but don't read; and some neither read nor mean to read, but
+borrow to give you an opinion of their sagacity. I must do my
+money-borrowing friends the justice to say that there is nothing of this
+caprice or wantonness of alienation in them. When they borrow money they
+never fail to make use of it.'
+
+Just as the difference between the book-thief and the book-borrower is
+of too slight a nature to warrant independent chapters, so the hero who
+indulges in the luxury of a 'knock-out' is more or less of a thief, and
+this company is, essentially, a very proper place in which to find him.
+A 'knock-out,' it may be briefly explained to the uninitiated, is a
+system by which two or more booksellers--or, for the matter of that, any
+other tradesmen--combine to procure certain books at a lower than normal
+auction value. An American paper stated, some time ago, and among many
+other remarkable things, that 'a private buyer cannot obtain a book by
+auction in London at any price.' The extreme foolishness of such a
+statement need not be enlarged upon in this place. That the knock-out
+system does exist in London no one but a fool would deny. That it does
+occur now and then at such places as Sotheby's, Christie's, Puttick and
+Simpson's and Hodgson's, is without any manner of doubt, but not to any
+extent worth mentioning. Where the system is in vogue is at sales held
+in private houses, and at auction-rooms where books are not generally
+sold. At such places books are usually knocked down at absurdly low
+figures, until the private person steps in, when the prices begin to go
+up with a bound; they then realize oftentimes figures far above those at
+which they may be acquired at the shops. After the private bidder has
+been excited into paying an excessive price for his lots, he realizes
+that he is doing a foolish thing, and resigns the game into the hands of
+the trade, when the prices again begin to assume their former very low
+levels. The knock-out books are taken away by their nominal purchaser,
+and in a convenient back parlour of some handy 'pub' they are put up
+again for competition among the clique, when all profits realized are
+thrown into a pool, and afterwards equally divided.
+
+'The two books you commissioned me to get were knocked down at L1 15s.
+and 10s. respectively,' said a bookseller to a well-known collector only
+the other day; 'and if you insist upon having them at these prices, plus
+the commission, you must have them. But as a matter of fact they cost me
+L1 over and above the total of L2 5s.' The reply to the collector's
+demand for an explanation was, 'Smith agreed to let me have these two
+books if I did not oppose his bidding for the Fielding.' It is scarcely
+necessary to say that the total cost, with the L1 thrown in, was much
+below the original commission, whilst the Fielding ran up to
+considerably over the price Smith intended to have given. By striking a
+balance, the two cronies each obtained what he wanted. An arrangement of
+this sort is nearly invariably the explanation of two extreme prices
+being paid for equally good copies of one book in a single season.
+
+In 1781 a portion of the library formed by Ralph Sheldon, of Weston,
+Warwickshire, chiefly in the third quarter of the seventeenth century,
+was sold at Christie's, but the auctioneer throughout appears to have
+been victimized by the knock-out system. One of the lots, comprising a
+large collection of scarce old plays in fifty-six volumes, quarto, was
+knocked down to one bookseller for L5 5s.; he then passed it on to
+another for L18, and the collection was sold on the spot to Henderson
+the actor for L31 10s. At this same sale the English Bible, 1537,
+realized 13s.; two copies of the Common Prayer Book, 1552, 8s.; the
+First Folio Shakespeare, with two other books, L2 4s.; the 'Legenda
+Aurea,' printed by Notary, 1503, 10s. 6d. It would not be difficult to
+extend this list of illustrations, but perhaps one example is as good as
+a hundred.
+
+We may, appropriately enough, conclude this brief but sufficiently
+lengthy notice of the knock-out system with an anecdote which shows
+that, in this case, a 'knock-out' would have been justifiable. At a
+certain famous book-sale a few years ago, a volume of no particular
+interest, except that it contained the autograph of the Earl of
+Derwentwater, was possibly worth L5. But the bidding was brisk, two of
+the dealers being evidently bent on having the prize. To the
+astonishment of everybody, the price went up to about 120 guineas, when
+one of the dealers gave in. Taking the other man aside, he said, 'Who
+have you been bidding for?' 'Mr. So-and-So.' 'So have I.' Another
+illustration of the unexpected and incomprehensibly sudden rise in the
+auction value of books is explained in the following extract of a letter
+from Horace Walpole: 'I cannot conclude my letter without telling you
+what an escape I had, at the sale of Dr. Mead's library, which goes
+extremely dear. In the catalogue I saw Winstanley's "Views of Audley
+End," which I concluded was a thin dirty folio, worth about fifteen
+shillings. As I thought it might be scarce, it might run to two or three
+guineas; however, I bid Graham _certainly_ buy it for me. He came the
+next morning in a great fright, said he did not know whether he had done
+right or very wrong; that he had gone as far as _nine and forty
+guineas_. I started in such a fright! Another bookseller had, luckily,
+as unlimited a commission, and bid fifty. I shall never give an
+unbounded commission again.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+SOME HUMOURS OF BOOK-CATALOGUES.
+
+
+AN interesting and curious pendant to Mr. H. B. Wheatley's 'Literary
+Blunders' might be made up of the errors which have occurred from time
+to time in booksellers' catalogues. These errors are sometimes
+grotesquely amusing, and are perhaps as often attributable to the
+ingenuity of the printer as to the ignorance of the cataloguer.
+Booksellers usually content themselves with seeing one proof of their
+catalogues, and as the variety of books dealt with is so great, it would
+need at least half a dozen careful revisions to secure anything like
+correctness. As a general rule, the catalogues of London booksellers are
+exceptionally free of blunders, provincial compilers (notably one or two
+in Birmingham) being far behind their Metropolitan rivals. The example
+of
+
+ 'Mill, John S., On Liberty,
+ " " On the Floss,'
+
+is almost too well known to again bear repeating; the same may be said
+of the instance in which Ruskin's 'Notes on the Construction of
+Sheepfolds' was catalogued as a book for farmers, and of that in which
+Swinburne's 'Under the Microscope' was classed among optical
+instruments. The cross-reference of
+
+ 'God: _see_ Fiske, J.,'
+
+is a gem of absent-mindedness. Here are four more gems which appeared in
+the catalogue of a public library:
+
+ 'Aristophanes: The Clouds of the Greek Text.'
+ 'Boy's Own Annual: Magazine of Gymnastics.'
+ 'Swedenborg: Conjugal Love and its Opposite.'
+ 'Tiziano (Titian), Vicelli Da Cadore.'
+
+The following is a good specimen of a bookseller's inspiration in
+reference to the entry 'Bible--2 vols., 12mo., _Edin._, 1811' in his
+catalogue: 'Sir Brunet and Dibdin in praise of this beautiful edition.
+As most nearly approaching unimaculateness a better copy than the
+present one could not be found.' This example is on a par with that in
+which an early Missal is catalogued as an 'extremely rare old printing
+and engraved work,' its author being 'Horae B. V. Mariae and usum
+Romanum,' whilst it is stated to be bound by 'Chamholfen Duru,' whoever
+he may be. Equally intelligent is another item from the same source,
+'Newcastle (Marguis de Methode, etc.), oeuvre auquel on apprende,' etc.
+Perhaps it was the cheapness--sixpence each--which prevented two items
+from having fuller descriptions:
+
+ 'Horace, the Poems of, very interesting.'
+ 'Jokely, very interesting, 12 months.'
+
+Perhaps '12 months' is the term of imprisonment which any bookseller
+deserves for publishing such absurdities. Another gem in the way of
+blunders is the following:
+
+ 'There's (Lord and Lady) Legends of the Library at Lilies,
+ 2 vols., 8vo., bds., 2s. 6d., 1832.'
+
+The book catalogued in this puzzling manner is by Lord and Lady Nugent,
+and is entitled 'Legends of the Library at Lilies [the Nugents'
+residence], by the Lord and Lady thereof.' A similar carelessness
+resulted in Sir Astley Cooper's 'Treatise on Dislocations,' 1822, being
+catalogued as follows: 'Bart (C. A.), a Treatise on Discolourations and
+Fractures of the Joints,' etc., and also of books by Sir James Y.
+Simpson, Bart., as by 'Bart (S.)' and 'Bart (J.).' The following entries
+speak for themselves:
+
+ 'Percy's Reliques of Ancient English Pottery.'
+ 'The New Wig Guide.'
+ 'The Rose and the Ring by R. Browing.'
+ 'Marryat's "Pirate and Three Butlers."'
+
+Under 'Devil, The,' we find the following entry: 'Le Deuil sou
+observation dans tous les Temps,' 1877; and under Numismatics the
+following delightful bull: 'Money, a comedy, a poor copy, 1s.'
+
+As an instance of official cataloguing, it would be difficult to beat
+the following description of a familiar classic which appeared in a list
+issued a few years ago (according to a writer in _Notes and Queries_) in
+a certain presidency of India, 'by order of the Right Hon. the Governor
+in Council':
+
+ 'Title--Commentarii (_sic_) De Bello Gallico in usum Scholarum,
+ Liber Tirtius (_sic_).
+ Author--Mr. C. J. Caesoris. Subject--Religion.'
+
+Nichols, in his 'Literary Anecdotes' (iv. 493), mentions that Dr.
+Taylor, who about the year 1732 was librarian at Cambridge, used to
+relate of himself that one day throwing books in heaps for the purpose
+of classing and arranging them, he put one among works on Mensuration,
+because his eye caught the word _height_ in the title-page, and another
+which had the word _salt_ conspicuous he threw among books on Chemistry
+or Cookery. But when he began a regular classification, it appeared that
+the former was 'Longinus on the Sublime,' and the other a 'Theological
+Discourse on the _Salt_ of the World, that good Christians ought to be
+seasoned with.' Thus, in a catalogue published about eighty years ago
+the 'Flowers of Ancient Literature' are found among books on Gardening
+and Botany, and Burton's 'Anatomy of Melancholy' is placed among works
+on Medicine and Surgery. Some blundering bibliographer has classed the
+'Fuggerarum Imagines,' the account of the once mighty Italian family,
+among botanical works, under the 'Resemblance of Ferns.' Dibdin states
+that he once saw the first Aldine Homer in a country bookseller's
+catalogue described as 'a beautiful copy of the _Koraun_.' The Rev. John
+Mitford sent to a Woodbridge bookseller for a copy of Shelley's
+'Prometheus Unbound,' and received the answer that no copy of
+'Prometheus' _in sheets_ could be obtained--a misconception which
+Bernard Barton promptly forwarded to London, to Charles Lamb's great
+content. We have heard of the following blunder, but have never actually
+seen it:
+
+ 'SHELLEY--Prometheus, unbound,' etc.
+ ' ---- ---- another copy, olive morocco,' etc.
+
+The nearest approach to it occurred a few years ago in a Glasgow
+auctioneer's catalogue: 'Lot 282, Sir Noel Paton's Illustrations,
+Shelley's _Prometheus_, unbound, 12 plates, N.D.' As a matter of fact,
+the copy was bound in cloth. 'Please send the ax relating to a justus
+pease' is a phrase which will be remembered by readers of 'Guy
+Mannering.' Only recently a post-card reached Messrs. Smith, Elder and
+Co. requesting the immediate despatch of a copy of 'Hard on Horace,'
+which was the inaccurate, or perhaps waggish, sender's rendering of the
+'Hawarden Horace.' This will be remembered with the request for 'The
+Crockit Minister,' by Stickett, and 'Sheep that Pass in the Night.' Some
+of the foregoing budget can scarcely be placed to the discredit of the
+cataloguer, but they are sufficiently _apropos_ to be included here.
+
+The following amusing entry occurs in the sale catalogue of the library
+of the late Mr. R. Montgomery, which was dispersed by auction at Antwerp
+the other day: 'Plain or Ringlets? by Alfred Tennyson, Poet Laureate,
+with illustrations by John Leech. London, s.d., 8{o} d. rel. dos et
+coins chagr. rouge, tete doree, figg. coloriees et noires.' Messrs.
+Longmans had a letter a few weeks ago asking for a copy of 'Chips from a
+German Workshop,' by Max Mueller, for review in a trade paper dealing
+with carpentering, etc.! This reminds one of the story of Edwardes, the
+Republican bookseller of a century ago, who put a Government spy to
+confusion by re-binding a Bible and giving it the seditious title, 'The
+Rights of Man.' Burke's 'Thoughts on the French Revolution' was
+advertised by him as 'The Gospel according to St. Burke.' Outside a
+certain bookseller's shop, Mr. R. C. Christie once saw a book in six
+duodecimo volumes, bound in dark antique calf, and lettered 'Calvini
+Opera.' Knowing of no edition of the works of Calvin in that form, Mr.
+Christie took down a volume, and found it was 'Faublas!' It was the
+original edition in thirteen parts, with the seventeen engravings, and
+was so lettered, no doubt, by its former owner to shelter it from
+indiscreet curiosity!
+
+The practice of giving books of poetry, novels, etc., what may be
+described as floricultural titles, has landed cataloguers into an
+astonishing number and variety of errors, some of which have been
+pointed out by Mr. B. Daydon Jackson in the _Bibliographer_. The chief
+sinners have been foreign bibliographers, who, not being able to examine
+the books which they catalogue, depend entirely upon the titles. The
+same error occurs frequently here in this country. An English trade
+journal included Dr. Garnett's selection from Coventry Patmore's poems,
+'Florilegium Amantis,' under 'Botany, Farming, and Gardening.' Two of
+Mayne Reid's novels, 'The Forest Exiles' and 'The Plant-Hunters,' have
+been included among scientific books, but in these cases the errors seem
+to have arisen from the misleadingly translated titles, the former in
+Italian ('Gli esuli nella foresta; cognizioni di scienza fiscia e
+naturale'), and the latter in French, 'Le Chasseur de Plantes.' The
+learned Pritzel included among botanical treatises 'The Lotus, or Faery
+Flower of the Poets.' In the earlier part of the century a story was in
+circulation relative to an erudite collector who was accustomed to boast
+of his discoveries in Venetian history from the perusal of a rare
+quarto, 'De Re Venatica.' A brother bibliographer one day lowered his
+pretensions by gravely informing him that the historical discoveries to
+which he laid claim had been anticipated by Mr. Beckford, who, towards
+the close of the last century, published them to the world under the
+analogous title of 'Thoughts on Hunting.'
+
+There is a good deal of amusement to be got sometimes out of even such
+an unpromising source as an auctioneer's catalogue, especially when it
+includes books. The list of a miscellaneous lot of things lately sold at
+a South London depository comes in this category. One of the items, for
+example, is entered as 'Dickin's works bound in half,' but who Mr.
+'Dickin' is, or was, or what the 'half' indicates, the reader is left to
+find out. 'Goldsmith lover' also seems a trifle confusing, until the lot
+is hunted up and the discovery made that Goldsmith's 'Works' is
+intended. Lytton's 'King John' suggests a work hitherto unknown to
+readers of the author of 'My Novel,' until examination proves it to be
+'King Arthur,' and 'McCauley's History of England' is rather suggestive
+of a scathing indictment of English misrule by an author from the
+'distressful country' than of the picturesque prose of the whilom Whig
+statesman and book-collector.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+SOME MODERN COLLECTORS.
+
+
+WE have already referred, in a preceding chapter, to the origin and
+early history of the Roxburghe Club, and also to the disrepute in which
+its too zealous members, Hazlewood and Dibdin, contrived to place it.
+The club still exists, and flourishes in a manner which renders it
+unique among book-clubs. A complete set of its privately-printed
+booklets is an almost impossible feat of book-collecting, and an
+expensive luxury in which but few can afford to indulge. The present
+constitution of the club, the members of which dine together once a
+year, is as follows: President: The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G.; S.A.R.
+le Duc D'Aumale; the Duke of Buccleuch, K.T.; the Duke of Devonshire,
+K.G.; the Marquis of Bute, K.T.; the Marquis of Lothian, K.T.; the
+Marquis of Bath; Earl Cowper, K.G.; Earl of Crawford; Earl of Powis;
+Earl of Rosebery; Earl of Cawdor; Lord Charles W. Brudenell Bruce; Lord
+Zouche; Lord Houghton; Lord Amherst of Hackney; the Lord Bishop of
+Peterborough; the Lord Bishop of Salisbury; the Right Hon. A. J.
+Balfour, M.P.; Sir William R. Anson, Bart.; Charles Butler, Esq.; Ingram
+Bywater, Esq.; Richard Copley Christie, Esq.; Charles I. Elton, Esq.;
+Sir John Evans, K.C.B.; George Briscoe Eyre, Esq.; Sir Augustus
+Wollaston Franks; Thomas Gaisford, Esq.; Henry Hucks Gibbs, Esq.
+(vice-president); Alban George Henry Gibbs, Esq.; A. H. Huth, Esq.
+(treasurer); Andrew Lang, Esq.; J. Wingfield Malcolm, Esq.; John Murray,
+Esq.; Edward James Stanley, Esq.; Simon Watson Taylor, Esq.; Sir Edward
+Maunde Thompson (principal librarian of the British Museum); Rev. Edward
+Tindal Turner, Esq.; V. Bates Van de Weyer, Esq.; and W. Aldis Wright,
+Esq.
+
+[Illustration: _The late Henry Huth, Book-collector._]
+
+The finest and most select, and perhaps the most extensive, collection
+of books owned by any member of the Roxburghe Club is the noble library
+of Mr. Huth, whose father, the late Henry Huth, founded it. A very
+interesting account of this library, from two points of view--Mr. F. S.
+Ellis's and Mr. A. H. Huth's--appears in Part II. of Quaritch's
+'Dictionary of English Book-collectors,' whilst the fullest account of
+all the rarities which it contains is comprised in the catalogue in five
+imperial octavo volumes. It is impossible to do justice to it in the
+brief space at our disposal. But a few rarities may be enumerated as
+showing its extremely varied nature. Nearly all the early printers are
+represented in the Huth Library--there are the Gutenberg and Fust and
+Schoeffer Bibles; the Balbi Catholicon, 1460; there are over seventy
+Aldines, including the rare Virgil of 1501, with the bookplate of
+Bilibald Pirkheimer. There are no less than a dozen fine examples of
+Caxton's press; the only known copy on vellum of the 'Fructus Temporum'
+of the St. Albans press; about fifty works from the press of Wynkyn de
+Worde, of which several are unique; and sixteen works printed by Richard
+Pynson. Of Shakespeare quartos the late Mr. Huth secured a very fine
+series at the Daniel sale in 1864, including 'Richard II.,' 1597; 'Henry
+V.,' 1600; 'Richard III.,' 1597; 'Romeo and Juliet,' 1599; 'Midsummer
+Night's Dream,' 1600; 'Merchant of Venice,' 1600; 'Merrie Wives of
+Windsor,' 1602; 'Othello,' 1622; 'Titus Andronicus,' 1611; and
+'Pericles,' 1609. The library is equally rich in the production of
+Elizabethan and Jacobean literature, many of the items being either
+unique or very nearly so; it is especially rich in first editions of the
+English poets from the earliest times down to Goldsmith, Keats, Shelley,
+etc. Indeed, the collection seems to contain the first or best editions
+of every English work of note; there are many fine manuscripts, and some
+highly interesting autographs. Mr. Ellis tells us that Mr. Huth always
+bought on his own judgment, without consultation and without hesitation,
+'and I believe it may be safely affirmed that it would be difficult to
+name any collector who made fewer errors in his selection. He was never
+known to bargain for a book or to endeavour to cheapen it. The price
+named, he would at once say 'Yea' or 'Nay' to it, and though it was
+supposed at the time that he paid high prices for his books, it may be
+confidently asserted that as a whole they are worth very much more than
+he paid for them, which, I think, could not have been much less
+altogether than L120,000.' Joseph Lilly is said to have sold to or
+purchased for Mr. Huth books to the value of over L40,000. Mr. Huth was
+born in 1815, and died in 1878. The library is, as we have said, now the
+property of his son, Mr. Alfred H. Huth, who has made a number of
+important additions to it, and who is as ardent and as genuine a
+bibliophile as his father.
+
+[Illustration: _Mr. Henry H. Gibbs, Book-collector._]
+
+Without approaching either in size or interest to that of Mr. Huth, the
+choice collection of books formed by Mr. Henry Hucks Gibbs, and lodged
+at his town-house at St. Dunstan's, Regent's Park, is full of attraction
+to the student of English literature. Early in the present century St.
+Dunstan's was inhabited by the Lord Steyne of Thackeray's 'Vanity Fair,'
+and it was here that the orgies took place which resulted in the
+sensational trial of Nicholas Suisse, the confidant of Lord Hertford.
+The library at St. Dunstan's is a lofty, well-lighted room of about 28
+feet by 20 feet, and the bookcases are made of Thuya wood from
+Australia, a wood which is exceedingly beautiful when polished. Mr.
+Gibbs's first book of note was purchased at Bright's sale in 1845, and
+was St. Augustine's 'De Arte Predicandi,' a volume of twenty-two leaves,
+and of well-known interest to students of early typography. Of Bibles
+there are over fifty examples, including Coverdale's, 1535, Matthew's,
+1537, Cromwell's, 1539, a very large copy, and Cranmer's, 1540. The fine
+series of Prayer-Books comprises forty-seven in English, from the time
+of Edward VI. (1549) to that of Queen Victoria, whilst thirty-five
+others are in foreign languages. There are nine Primers from the time of
+Henry VIII. to Elizabeth; and there are no fewer than thirty-one
+editions of the New Testament. Examples of some of the choicest known
+Books of Hours and Missals are also in this collection, whilst among the
+six editions of the 'Imitatio Christi' there is a sixteenth-century
+manuscript on two hundred and forty-seven folios of paper, written by
+Francis Montpoudie de Weert, for the use of Bruynix, Priest, Dean of
+Christianity. Among the _incunabula_ there is a very large copy of the
+'Chronicon Nurembergense,' 1495, and two Caxtons: first, the
+'Polychronicon' of Ralph Higden, 1482; and, secondly, the 'Golden
+Legend,' 1483, which latter was successively in the Towneley and the
+Glendening collections. The other more notable articles include fine
+copies of the four Folio Shakespeares, first editions of Milton's
+'Comus,' 'Lycidas,' 'Eikonoklastes,' 'Paradise Lost,' and 'Paradise
+Regained,' several Spensers, and very complete sets of the
+privately-printed books edited by the Rev. A. B. Grosart,
+Halliwell-Phillipps, H. Huth, E. Arber, and E. W. Ashbee. A very
+interesting _catalogue raisonne_ of Mr. Gibbs's choice library has been
+printed, to which the reader is referred for further particulars.
+
+[Illustration: _Mr. R. Copley Christie, Book-collector._]
+
+Just as the minds of no two men run in precisely similar grooves, so no
+two libraries are found to be identical. Many bear a very striking
+resemblance to one another, but in more than one respect they will be
+found to differ. The splendid library formed by Mr. R. Copley Christie,
+the president or past-president of quite a number of learned societies,
+is altogether unique, so far as this country is concerned, and his
+library in a garden--truly the _summum bonum_ of human desires!--at
+Ribsden, near Bagshot, is certainly one of the most remarkable which it
+has been our privilege to examine. Mr. Christie has not endeavoured to
+collect everything, but he has no rival in the specialities to which he
+has devoted his particular attention. He is the author of the only
+complete monograph on Etienne Dolet, which has been translated into
+French, and of which M. Goblet, when Minister of Public Instruction,
+caused 250 copies to be purchased for distribution among the public
+libraries of France. Of the eighty-four books (many of which are now
+lost) printed by Dolet, there are three collections worthy of the name,
+and the relative value of these will be seen when we state that Mr.
+Christie possesses copies of forty-four, the Bibliotheque Nationale
+thirty, and the British Museum twenty-five. Mr. Christie's collection of
+the editions of Horace is probably the finest in existence outside one
+or two public libraries; he has about 800 volumes, and among these are
+translations into nearly every European language. He has upwards of 300
+Aldines, nearly forty of which are _editiones principes_. The works of
+the early French printers generally are objects of special interest; he
+has, for example, about 400 volumes printed by Sebastian Gryphius, at
+Lyons, from 1528 to 1556. Mr. Christie's library is also very rich in
+works of or relating to Pomponatius, Hortensio Landi, Postel, Ramus, J.
+Sturm, Scioppius, Giulio Camillo, and particularly Giordano Bruno.
+
+A considerable number of the members of the Roxburghe Club come in the
+category of book-lovers rather than book-collectors. The Earl of
+Rosebery is understood to possess many valuable books and manuscripts
+relating to Scottish literature, particularly in reference to Robert
+Burns; but beyond this he has no fixed rule regarding additions to his
+library, 'except his course of reading for the moment.' The father of
+the present Lord Zouche formed a small but valuable library, which is
+now at Parham Park, Steyning, Sussex; it consists of some rare Syriac,
+Greek, Coptic, Bulgarian, and other manuscripts, of a Biblical nature,
+some of which are now on loan to the British Museum. In addition to
+these, there are a good many early printed books, first editions, and so
+forth, and also an extensive reference library, to which the present
+Lord Zouche has made some important additions. The extensive library of
+the Marquis of Bath, at Longleat, Warminster, has been formed at
+different times and by different persons; and what the present holder of
+the title has added has been bought without any method on various
+subjects in which his Grace happened to take an interest at the time.
+Sir John Evans's library is for the most part comprised of
+archaeological, numismatical, and geological publications, with a certain
+number of old volumes 'which, though of intrinsic interest, cannot be
+regarded as bibliographical treasures.' Both Sir William Reynell Anson
+and the Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, M.P., possess good working libraries,
+but disclaim the possession of what are known as 'collector's' books.
+The present Marquis of Bute possesses several extensive libraries of
+books at his various seats, and chiefly composed of works relating to
+Scottish history, to liturgical, philological, and archaeological
+subjects. The first Marquis of Bute formed an excellent collection of
+Spanish, Italian, and French classics, of books of memoirs, and of works
+relating to the English Reformation. The third Marquis formed another
+library, chiefly of a historical character, an exceedingly important
+portion of it being an extensive series of books and pamphlets relating
+to the Franco-Prussian War and the Commune. The Duke of Buccleuch has
+also several fine libraries at his various seats, the chief collections
+being at Dalkeith and Bowhill, Selkirk; his Grace keeps very few books
+in London. The books at Dalkeith have been catalogued by Mr. A. H.
+Bullen, who proposes to print some notes on the subject.
+
+The Duke of Devonshire's library at Chatsworth is one of the most varied
+and extensive in the kingdom. An admirable catalogue of it was printed
+in four volumes in 1879, and its value as a bibliographical compilation
+may be estimated by the fact that the only copy which occurred in the
+market during the past eight years fetched L10. The library has been
+formed by the taste and learning of several generations of the Cavendish
+family, from the middle of the sixteenth century to the present day. The
+rarest book which it contains is the 'Liber Veritatis,' or collection
+of original designs of Claude Lorraine. The greatest additions were
+made to the library by William Spencer, sixth Duke, who, indeed, may be
+called its founder in its present form. This nobleman, on the advice of
+Tom Payne, offered L20,000 for the purchase of Count McCarthy's
+celebrated collection. The offer was declined, but the Duke was a
+purchaser to the extent of L10,000 of the choicer portions of the
+library of Thomas Dampier, Bishop of Ely, composed, for the most part,
+of Greek and Latin classics. The Duke bought largely at the Stanley,
+Horn Tooke, Towneley, Edwards, and Roxburghe sales. The library
+possesses the unique collection of plays formed by John Philip Kemble,
+and for which L2,000 were paid in 1821. The chief features of the
+library comprise a fine series of the editions of the Bible and of
+Boccaccio; there are also twenty-three works of Caxton, the most
+extensive in private hands, now that the Althorp collection has, or is
+about to, become public property. There are two dozen books from the
+press of Wynkyn de Worde, and no less than 200 editions of Cicero,
+including a magnificent copy of the _editio princeps_.
+
+The libraries of two members of the Roxburghe Club have been dispersed
+by auction during the last few years--the Earl of Crawford's, in 1887
+and 1889, to which reference has already been made; and Mr. Thomas
+Gaisford's, in 1890. The former has still a considerable number of
+important books, to which he is constantly adding; whilst his eldest son
+is worthily sustaining the reputation of the family for its love of rare
+and beautiful books. Mr. Gaisford has also a very large library, but he
+himself describes the books as of no special interest.
+
+The Marquis of Salisbury possesses, at Hatfield, a fine library, which,
+like that of the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth, is rather the
+accumulation of centuries than the formation of any particular head of
+the house. Many of the oldest and rarest books were at one time the
+properties of either Lord Burghley, Sir Robert Cecil, or of some other
+distinguished member of the family. We may mention a few of the
+_incunabula_: AEneas Silvius, 'Epistolae,' 1496; St. Augustine, 'De
+Civitate Dei,' 1477; a copy of the magnificently-printed edition of
+Aulus Gellius, 'Noctes Atticae,' Jenson, 1477, a very rare work; Cicero,
+'Ad Atticum,' 1470, also printed by Jenson; an example of the _editio
+princeps_ Homer, Florence, 1488; Juvenal, 'Satyrae,' 1474; the very rare
+second edition of Lactantius, 'Opera,' printed at Rome by Sweynheym and
+Parmartz, 1468; Livy, 'Historiarum Romanorum,' printed by Zarothus,
+1480; Pomponius Mela, 'Cosmographia,' 1482; Ruffus, 'Opera,' 1472. Lord
+Salisbury's library includes several books which once belonged to Roger
+Ascham, notably a copy of Aristophanes, 'Comodiae,' 1532; Aristotle,
+'Opera,' 1531; Peter Martyr, 'Tractatio et Disputatio de Sacramento
+Eucharistiae,' etc., 1549, one of the only two copies of which we have
+any record, the other example being in the Lambeth Library; and a large
+number of tracts of the time of Henry VIII. Of about 200 books which
+belonged to Sir Robert Cecil, we may mention two editions of Aristotle,
+'Ethica,' 1572 and 1575; Baret, 'An Alvearie, or triple Dictionarie,' in
+English, Latin, and French, 1573; French Bible, 1546; Bodin, 'La
+Demonomanie des Sorciers,' 1580; Brache, 'Epistolarium Astronomicorum,'
+1596; 'Astronomiae Instauratae,' 1602, and 'De Mundi AEtherei,' 1603; two
+editions of Cicero, 'Rhetorica,' 1552, 1562; Henning's 'Theatrum
+Genealogicum,' 1598; Galen, 'De Alimentis,' 1570; three editions of
+'Natura Brevium,' one of 1566, and two of 1580; Ubaldino, 'Lo Stata
+Della Tre Corti,' 1594. The books of Lord Burghley include Aristotle,
+'Ethica,' 1535; 'Opera,' 1539; 'Politica,' 1543; Ashley, 'Mariner's
+Mirror,' 1586; Basilius, 'Homiliae,' 1528, and 'Opera,' 1551; Beda,
+'Historia Ecclesiastica'; St. Chrysostom, 'Opera,' 1536; Cyrillus,
+'Opera,' 1528; Demosthenes, 'Orationes,' 1528. The edition of
+Dioscorides, 'Opera,' 1529, belonged, respectively, to Lord Burghley and
+Sir John Cheke.
+
+The library of Mr. John Murray, the eminent publisher, of Albemarle
+Street, is a small one, but every item is either excessively rare or
+unique. Its formation was begun by Mr. Murray's grandfather, whilst his
+father made considerable additions. Naturally, it is very strong in
+manuscripts and first editions of Byron. It contains, for example, not
+only the original manuscript of 'The Waltz,' but the several
+proof-sheets up to a very fine copy of the perfect book. There are also
+the manuscript of the four cantos of 'Childe Harold' and the various
+proof corrections. There are also first editions of Goldsmith's
+'Traveller,' 'The Deserted Village,' 'The Haunch of Venison,' and 'The
+Captivity,' with the receipt for the ten guineas which Goldsmith
+received for it from Dodsley. Mr. Murray possesses the entire manuscript
+of Sir Walter Scott's 'Abbot.' This was originally minus three leaves.
+One of these leaves occurred in the market a few years ago, and passed
+into the possession of an American collector for L17 10s.; a second was
+secured, also at an auction, for L6 by Mr. Murray, so that the
+manuscript is only now wanting two leaves. The very interesting
+commonplace book of Robert Burns was given by Mr. Murray's grandfather
+to J. G. Lockhart, who left it to his son-in-law, Mr. Hope-Scott, from
+whom it again passed into the possession of the late Mr. John Murray.
+The manuscript 'Journal' of Thomas Gray's travels in England, for the
+most part unpublished, is also in Albemarle Street, as is also the
+manuscript of Washington Irving's 'Abbotsford and Newstead Abbey.' The
+first edition of Pope's 'Dunciad,' successively in the possession of
+Malone, Elwin and Peter Cunningham; Pope's own copy of Sir Richard
+Blackmore's 'Paraphrase of Job,' 1700, with numerous suggested improved
+readings in Pope's own handwriting; the _Quarterly Review_ article of
+Southey on Nelson, with the extensive elaborations from which the
+printed edition of the book was set up; a fine copy of the First Folio
+Shakespeare, 1623; a very fine copy of the _editio princeps_ St.
+Augustine, 'De Civitate Dei,' Rome, 1468; the _editio princeps_ Homer,
+Florence, 1488; a good copy of the first edition of Shakespeare's
+'Midsummer-Night's Dreame,' James Roberts, 1600; a copy of the Prince
+Consort's 'Speeches,' presented to Mr. John Murray, with an autograph
+letter from the Queen--these are a few of the many notable books of
+which Mr. Murray is the fortunate owner. But among the more interesting
+of the manuscripts are the volumes of notes made at various times and on
+divers occasions by the late John Murray in his travels in North
+Germany, France, Switzerland, and South Germany, and from which the
+celebrated guide-books were printed--practically every word in the first
+and early editions of these widely-known books was written by the
+compiler.
+
+New Lodge, Windsor Forest, the residence of Colonel Victor Bates Van de
+Weyer, contains a collection of books of a unique character, collected
+at vast trouble and expense by his father, the late M. Sylvain Van de
+Weyer, one of the founders of the Belgian monarchy, and for many years
+Ambassador to the Court of St. James's. M. S. Van de Weyer, who was born
+in 1802, and died in 1874, stood in the front rank of modern
+bibliophiles, and the magnitude of his collections may be estimated from
+the fact that, with town and country house full to overflowing, he had
+30,000 volumes in the Pantechnicon when it was burnt down. He was an
+indefatigable and discriminating reader as well as a munificent
+purchaser. The library is rich in rare editions beautifully bound by men
+whose names rank first in the art of bibliopegy. There is a wonderful
+collection of fables, and a most complete library of _ana_. The
+presentation copies of books are numerous and interesting, bearing as
+they do the autographs of individuals famous in politics, literature,
+and art. The present owner, who succeeded his father as a member of the
+Roxburghe Club, has had the books in the library catalogued, and the
+welfare of this noble collection is well thought of.
+
+Both Lord Houghton and Lord Amherst of Hackney possess fine libraries of
+rare and interesting books. That of the latter includes a Caxton, 'The
+Laste Siege and Conquest of Jherusalem,' 1481; Henry VIII.'s copy of
+Erasmus, 'Dialogi,' 1528; the same King's copy of Whytforde's 'The Boke
+called the Pype or Toune of the Lyfe of Perfection,' 1532; Grolier's
+copies of Stoplerinus, 'Elucidatio fabricae usuque Astrolabii,' 1524, and
+of 'Prognosticatio Johannis Liechtenbergers,' 1526; Maioli's copy of
+'Clitophonis Narratio Amatoria,' Lyons, 1544; books bound by Nicholas
+Eve; early English bindings; and many others. Mr. C. I. Elton, Q.C.,
+M.P., has a fine library, of which a _catalogue raisonne_ has been drawn
+up and printed. Mr. Charles Butler and Mr. Ingram Bywater possess a
+number of interesting and rare books. Many of the more notable specimens
+of the bindings in the libraries of the three last-mentioned gentlemen
+were exhibited at the Burlington Fine Arts Club in 1891, and are
+described in the catalogue.
+
+Mr. Andrew Lang is not only a distinguished bibliophile, but a prolific
+writer on the subject of books. He is understood to have an extensive
+library of an exceedingly miscellaneous character. He has an especial
+liking for books which bear the traces of former distinguished owners.
+He himself has pointed out that, 'as a rule, tidy and self-respecting
+people do not even write their names on their fly-leaves, still less do
+they scribble marginalia. Collectors love a clean book, but a book
+scrawled on may have other merits. Thackeray's countless caricatures add
+a delight to his old school books; the comments of Scott are always to
+the purpose; but how few books once owned by great authors come into the
+general market. Where is Dr. Johnson's library, which must bear traces
+of his buttered toast? Sir Mark Sykes used to record the date and place
+of purchase, with the price--an excellent habit. The selling value of a
+book may be lowered even by a written owner's name, but many a book,
+otherwise worthless, is redeemed by an interesting note. Even the
+uninteresting notes gradually acquire an antiquarian value, if
+contemporary with the author. They represent the mind of a dead age, and
+perhaps the common scribbler is not unaware of this; otherwise he is,
+indeed, without excuse. For the great owners of the past, certainly, we
+regret that they were so sparing in marginalia. But this should hardly
+be considered as an excuse for the petty owners of the present, with
+"their most observing thumb."' Mr. Lang is the lucky owner of a copy of
+Stoddart's poem, 'The Death Wake' (1831), that singular romantic or
+necromantic volume, which wise collectors will purchase when they can.
+It is of extreme rarity, and the poetry is no less rare, in the French
+manner of 1830. On this specimen Aytoun has written marginalia. Where
+the hero's love of arms and dread of death are mentioned, Aytoun has
+written 'A rum cove for a Hussar,' and he has added designs of skeletons
+and a sonnet to the 'wormy author.' 'A curse! a curse!' shrieks the
+poet. 'Certainly, but why and wherefore?' says Aytoun. There is nothing
+very precious in his banter; still it is diverting to follow in the
+footsteps of the author of 'Ta Phairshon.' Mr. Lang also possesses John
+Wilkes' copy of the second edition of 'Theocritus, Bion and Moschus,' in
+French, with Eisen's plates; he has Leon Gambetta's copy of the 'Journee
+Chretienne,' Collet's copy of his friend Crashaw's 'Steps to the
+Temple,' and a copy of Montaigne, with the autograph of Drummond of
+Hawthornden.
+
+[Illustration: _The late Frederick Locker-Lampson._
+
+From a Portrait by Mr. Du Maurier.]
+
+The late Frederick Locker-Lampson, whose lamented death occurred whilst
+the earlier pages of this book--in which he took much interest--were
+passing through the press, was an ideal book-collector. He cared only
+for books which were in the most perfect condition. The unique character
+of the Rowfant library, its great literary and commercial value, and its
+wide interest, may be studied at length in its admirable catalogue,
+which of itself is a valuable work of reference. Mr. Locker, for it is
+by this name, and as the author of 'London Lyrics,' that he will be best
+remembered, devoted his attention almost exclusively to English
+literature, although of late years he had devoted as much attention as
+his frail health would allow to the formation of a section of rare books
+in French literature. It would be impossible to describe in this place
+all the many book rarities at Rowfant; we must be content, therefore,
+with indicating a few of the more interesting ones: Alexander Pope's own
+copy of Chapman's translation of Homer, 1611; one of the largest known
+copies of the First Folio Shakespeare, 1623; an extensive series of the
+first or early quarto editions of Shakespeare's plays, about fifty in
+number--including the spurious plays--many of which were at one
+time in the collections of Steevens, George Daniel, Tite, or
+Halliwell-Phillipps. The library is rich in other writers of the
+Elizabethan period--of Nash, Dekker, Greene, Gabriel Harvey. There are
+also a long series of the first editions of Dryden; the earliest issues
+of the first complete edition of 'Pilgrim's Progress'; of 'Robinson
+Crusoe' (the three parts); of 'Gulliver's Travels,' besides about a
+score of other _editiones principes_ of Swift, Pope, Goldsmith,
+Fielding, Richardson, Johnson, Gay, Gray, Lamb, Byron, Shelley,
+Wordsworth, Thackeray, Dickens and many others. The two early printed
+books of especial interest are the 'De Senectute,' printed by Caxton,
+1481, and Barbour's 'Actis and Lyfe of the maist Victorious Conquerour,
+Robert Bruce, King of Scotland,' printed at Edinburgh by Robert Lepruik
+in 1571. The room in which the books are kept is virtually a huge safe;
+it was at one time a small ordinary room, and it has been converted into
+a fireproof library, with brick walls within brick walls; the floor of
+concrete, nearly two feet thick, and a huge iron door, complete an
+ingenious and effective protection against the most destructive of all
+enemies of books--fire.
+
+[Illustration: _Portrait Bookplate of Mr. Joseph Knight._]
+
+The library of Mr. Joseph Knight, the editor of _Notes and Queries_,
+more nearly resembles a select and orderly bookseller's premises than a
+private individual's. It seems almost impossible to believe that the
+comparatively small house in Camden Square could contain between 12,000
+and 13,000 volumes, and yet such is undoubtedly the case. Every room is
+crowded, and all the sides of the staircases are crowded with books
+from top to bottom. Mr. Knight's library is essentially a working one,
+but it is also something more. It is rich in editions of Froissart's
+'Chronicles'; in editions of Rabelais--notably the excessively rare one
+printed by Michel le Noir, 1505; in Elzevir editions it includes a very
+extensive series; the series of the 'Restif de la Bretonne' includes
+about 200 volumes, being one of the few complete sets in London. A few
+of Mr. Knight's greatest rarities have come to him at very cheap
+rates--_e.g._, the 'Apologie pour Herodote,' 1566, without any of the
+_cartons_, or cancels, upon which the Genevese authorities insisted.
+This little volume, of which there are very few copies known, cost Mr.
+Knight 16s., neither buyer nor seller knowing its value at the time of
+the transfer. Another 'bargain' is the fine copy of Baudelaire, 'Les
+Fleurs de Mal,' 1857, which was fished out of a fourpenny box in High
+Street, Marylebone! Mr. Knight's collection of French plays and of works
+relating to the French stage is, like that of the English
+dramatists--ancient and modern--exceedingly extensive. He possesses,
+also, a few good Aldines, a number of Bodonis, and some books of Le
+Gason.
+
+Mr. Gladstone is, of course, a book-collector, as well as an omnivorous
+reader. The Grand Old Book-hunter's literary tastes cover almost every
+conceivable phase of intellectual study. His library contains about
+30,000 volumes, to which theology contributes about one-fourth. The
+works are arranged by Mr. Gladstone himself into divisions and sections.
+For many years he was an inveterate bookstaller, a practice which of
+late years has brought with it a certain amount of inconvenience. After
+attending Mr. H. M. Stanley's wedding, for example, in 1890, Mr.
+Gladstone went on one of his second-hand book expeditions, this time to
+Garratt's, in Southampton Row. The right hon. gentleman walked with his
+customary elasticity, and was followed to the shop by a large crowd of
+admirers, chiefly consisting of working men, whose enthusiasm was kept
+in order by three policemen. Outside the bookseller's several hundred
+people gathered, and they were not disappointed in their wish to see
+the Grand Old Man, for Mr. Garratt's shop does not boast of a back-door
+through which fame can escape its penalties. On coming out, Mr.
+Gladstone, looking, as a working man standing on the kerb expressed it,
+'as straight as a new nail,' received quite an ovation, the people
+waving their hats and cheering vigorously as he drove away in a cab. Mr.
+Gladstone's marked catalogues are a familiar and a peculiarly welcome
+feature with second-hand booksellers, who proudly expose them in their
+windows. A bookseller who exhibited one of these catalogues before the
+Old Man retired from the Premiership was accosted by a strong Tory with
+the remark: 'I see you've got a list marked by Gladstone's initials in
+the window;' and then, whispering fiercely in the bookseller's ear, he
+added, 'Does he pay you?' We give a facsimile of one of Mr. Menken's
+catalogues with an order for books from Mr. Gladstone.
+
+[Illustration: '_An Order from Mr. Gladstone._']
+
+Mr. Henry Spencer Ashbee, of Bedford Square, has a small but charming
+library, nearly every volume being beautifully bound. The books are, for
+the most part, modern, and chiefly French. There are, for example,
+Sainte-Beuve's 'Livre d'Amour,' which was suppressed after a few copies
+were struck off, with the author's own corrections; the Fortsas
+'Catalogue,' the cruel joke of M. Renier Chalon; first editions of 'The
+English Spy,' an exceptionally fine copy; Coryat's 'Crambe, or, his
+Colwork,' 1611; Roger's 'Poems' and 'Italy'; a number of books
+illustrated by Chodowiecki, the Cruikshank of Germany; practically all
+the books published by M. Octave Uzanne and Paul Lacroix in the finest
+possible states. Mr. Ashbee possesses several extra-illustrated or
+grangerized books of exceptional interest--the nine volumes of Nichols'
+'Literary Anecdotes' are extended to thirty-four, there being upwards of
+5,000 additional portraits, views, and so forth. Mr. Ashbee's library
+comprises several thousand volumes, the binding alone of which must have
+cost a small fortune.
+
+[Illustration: _Portrait Bookplate of Mr. H. S. Ashbee._]
+
+[Illustration: _Mr. T. J. Wise, Book-collector._]
+
+The libraries of Mr. Thomas J. Wise and Mr. Walter Slater may be
+bracketed together, partly because they have been formed side by side.
+They differ in many respects, however. Mr. Wise's is a small but choice
+collection of books, autographs, and manuscripts of modern writers. He
+possesses, for the most part, in first editions of the finest quality,
+practically everything written by Matthew Arnold, William Blake, Robert
+Browning and Mrs. Browning, Byron, Coleridge, Shelley, George Eliot,
+Leigh Hunt, Charles Lamb, Landor, Meredith, William Morris, John Ruskin,
+Swinburne, and Tennyson. Of Shelley, for example, Mr. Wise has a
+collection of 400 books and pamphlets by or concerning him. There is
+only one other collection comparable to it, and it is that possessed by
+Mr. Buxton Forman. Of Byron Mr. Wise has everything, including 'The
+Waltz,' 'Poems on Various Occasions,' and all the other excessively
+rare publications of this prolific poet, the only exception, indeed,
+being 'The Curse of Minerva,' 1812. Mr. Wise's collection of Ruskiniana
+is practically complete, and includes a number of privately-printed
+pamphlets issued to a few personal friends. Mr. Walter Slater's books
+and manuscripts include a unique series of both Dante G. Rossetti and
+Walter Savage Landor. Of the former, it contains the manuscript of
+three-fourths of the 'House of Life' series of sonnets, the manuscript
+of 'St. Agnes,' and the whole of the extant manuscript of 'The King's
+Tragedy'; these manuscripts usually include not only the 'copy' as it
+was sent to the printer, but usually the first and second drafts. The
+series of Landor books and pamphlets is quite complete, from his first
+book of poems, 'Moral Epistles,' issued in 1795, and the equally
+excessively rare 'Poems from the Arabic and Persian,' issued at Warwick
+in 1800, to 'Savonarola,' in Italian, 1860. Mr. Slater has a complete
+series of the first editions of the curious works of Mrs. Behn.
+
+[Illustration: _Mr. Clement Shorter's Bookplate._]
+
+Mr. Clement K. Shorter, the editor of the _Illustrated London News_, the
+_Sketch_, and several other publications, is a book-collector who, like
+Mr. Wise and Mr. Slater, has pitched his 'tent' on the northern heights
+of London. Mr. Shorter has an unusually complete set of the works of
+Thomas Hardy, George Meredith, Sir Walter Scott, Charlotte
+Bronte--besides the 'Cottage Poems' of old Mr. Bronte--and Matthew
+Arnold. Of the last named there are copies of the very limited editions
+of 'Geist's Grave,' 'St. Brandran,' 'Home Rule for Ireland,' and 'Alaric
+at Rome.' Mr. Shorter's Ruskin treasures include a volume of the plates
+of 'Modern Painters,' on India paper, bound up in vellum. There are also
+several first editions of the earlier works of Carlyle, and William
+Watson's 'Lachrymae Musarum,' on vellum, with the original manuscript
+bound up with it. Mr. Shorter has many interesting manuscripts and books
+by Oliver Wendell Holmes, R. L. Stevenson, and A. C. Swinburne, with
+autographs or notes by their respective authors. Mr. Richard le
+Gallienne, the well-known author, has for many years been a confirmed
+book-hunter, and has come across some rare and interesting finds. Mr.
+Henry Norman, the traveller and assistant editor of the _Daily
+Chronicle_, has a number of choice and rare books, chiefly first
+editions of American authors--J. Russell Lowell, Longfellow, O. W.
+Holmes, Emerson, Walt Whitman, and Whittier--nearly all of whom were
+personal friends of Mr. Norman's. Mr. Norman has gone to the
+extravagance of two sets of the first editions of Thomas Hardy's books,
+whilst of George Meredith there is one complete set.
+
+[Illustration: _Mr. A. Birrell, Book-collector._]
+
+The House of Commons contains several men who have very excellent
+libraries and excellent judgments of books. Mr. Leonard Courtney has
+been guilty of bookstalling a good many times in his successful career,
+and is, perhaps, an exception to the general rule that good political
+economists usually make poor book-hunters. Mr. Courtney possesses a good
+many uncommon books, which he has picked up from time to time. Mr.
+Augustine Birrell, Q.C., the author of 'Obiter Dicta,' and son-in-law of
+the late Frederick Locker-Lampson, has a good library of from 5,000 to
+6,000 books. Among these may be noticed the first edition of Gray's
+'Elegy,' picked up at Hodgson's for 3s. 6d.; first edition of Keats'
+'Endymion,' purchased off a stall in the Euston Road for 2s. 6d.; first
+edition of 'Wuthering Heights'; and an extensive series of books
+relating to or by Dryden, Pope, Swift, and others of that period, as
+well as a number of presentation copies of books by Matthew Arnold,
+Browning, and Tennyson, etc. Mr. T. R. Buchanan, M.P., who was for many
+years librarian of All Souls' College, Oxford, has a small but select
+library of books which are, for the most part, remarkable on account of
+the beauty or rarity of their bindings. It is especially strong in fine
+specimens of early English and Scotch bindings; there are a few examples
+from De Thou's library, and a few characteristic specimens of Italian
+and Flemish bindings of the best periods. The books themselves are
+principally editions of the classics; but the section of Bibles printed
+in England and Scotland is a full one. There are also many volumes with
+a personal interest; for example, the copy of Locke's 'Essay concerning
+the Human Understanding' was once Coleridge's, and contains a note by
+him to this effect: 'This is, perhaps, the most admirable of Locke's
+works; read it, Southey,' etc.; and the copy of the 'Libri Carolini,'
+1549, was Scaliger's.
+
+Captain R. S. Holford, of Dorchester House, Park Lane, has a choice
+library of beautiful and rare books, formed by his father, the late H.
+S. Holford. For many years its chief treasure was the only known first
+edition of 'Pilgrim's Progress,' 1678, which was valued at L50; during
+the last few years, however, four other copies have turned up, without,
+however, lessening the commercial value of the Holford copy, which would
+probably fetch two or three times the amount at which it was valued
+thirty years ago. The facsimile of the first edition issued a few years
+ago was made from Mr. Holford's copy. A few other treasures of Captain
+Holford's library may be briefly mentioned as follows: A
+fifteenth-century manuscript of Livy's 'Historia,' on vellum, in a
+Venetian binding, with the arms of Aragon; Cardinal Hippolyto d'Este's
+copy of Rhinghier, 'Cento Giuochi Liberali, et d' Ingegno,' Bologna,
+1551; Grolier's copy of Pliny, 'Epistolae,' etc., Venice, 1518; of
+Valerius Maximus, Venice, 1534; and of 'Epitomes des Roys de France,'
+Lyons, 1546; the Maioli copy of Homer, 'Odyssea,' Paris, 1538; Du
+Bellay's 'Memoirs,' 1572, with the arms of Henri de Bourbon, Prince de
+Conde; and the copy of 'Liber Psalmorum Davidis,' 1546, bound by
+Nicholas Eve for De Thou.
+
+[Illustration: _Facsimile of Title-page, 'Pilgrim's Progress,' First
+Edition._]
+
+Dr. W. H. Corfield, Mr. C. E. H. Chadwyck-Healey, Q.C., Sir Julian
+Goldsmid, M.P., Mr. C. F. Murray, Mr. George Salting, Mr. Samuel
+Sandars, Mr. H. Yates Thompson, Mr. H. Virtue Tebbs, and Mr. T. Foster
+Shattock, are understood to possess choice libraries of books noted
+chiefly for the beauty or rarity of their bindings. M. John Gennadius,
+late Greek Minister at the Court of St. James's, possessed one of the
+finest libraries formed during recent years. This collection was
+destined to supplement and ornament the National Library of Greece,
+founded at Athens by his Excellency's father, on the very morrow of her
+liberation. Fate, however, ordered otherwise, and these beautiful books
+were, consequently, dispersed at Sotheby's, from March 28 to April 9,
+the eleven days' sale of 3,222 lots realizing L5,466. The library of Mr.
+W. Christie-Miller, of Britwell Court, Maidenhead, is understood to
+include many choice books, particularly early printed works, but no
+particulars of it are available.
+
+Holland House Library is one of great historic value and interest. It is
+fully described by the Princess Marie Liechtenstein, in her monograph on
+the place. Macaulay has described the appearance of the library in his
+famous essay on Lord Holland. It is rather a collection formed by a
+statesman and a literary man than by a bibliophile; there are over
+10,000 volumes, many of which are privately printed books, presentation
+copies; there is a large collection of historical works relating to
+Italy, Portugal, and France; Spanish literature, a memento of the taste
+of the third Lord Holland, is well represented; the collection of
+Elzevirs is very fine, as is also that of the Greek and Latin classics,
+and the highly curious collection of various copies of Charles James
+Fox's 'James II.,' which belonged to different celebrities, is housed
+here.
+
+Mr. C. J. Toovey inherited from his father, the late James Toovey, a
+fine library of exceptionally choice books; it is rich in monuments of
+the Early English printers, one of its gems being a fine copy of the
+'Boke of St. Albans'; Aldines probably form one of its largest sections,
+whilst in bindings by the great masters of the French school of
+bibliopegic art the library has very few equals. Many of these were
+purchased by the late Mr. Toovey in Paris, long before the present rage
+for them had commenced, so that, as an investment, they will doubtless
+yield a handsome profit if they ever come into the market. The series of
+Walton's 'Angler' includes the first edition, with a presentation
+inscription by the author; there is also the largest known First Folio
+edition of Shakespeare, to which reference has already been made.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+INDEX.
+
+
+ ADDISON, JOSEPH, 39, 108, 265, 267
+
+ Advocates, Library of the College of, 116
+
+ Ainsworth, W. Harrison, 83, 288, 289
+
+ Alchorne, S., 109
+
+ Alcuin, 2, 3, 139
+
+ Alde, John, 183
+
+ Aldersgate Street, 39
+
+ Aldine editions, 129-131, 300, 304
+
+ Aldus, 129
+
+ Alfred, 3
+
+ Allen, Thomas, 31
+
+ Almon, J., 250
+
+ Althorp Library, the, 50, _et seq._
+
+ America, book trade with, 189
+
+ America, tracts on, 90
+
+ Amherst of Hackney, Lord, 309
+
+ Anacreon, Stephen edition, 129
+
+ Anderson, Adam, 219
+
+ Anderson, G. B., 94
+
+ Anderson, John, 193
+
+ Anglesey, Earl of, 27, 101 _note_
+
+ Angling books, Francis's, 93
+
+ Anson, Sir W. R., 305
+
+ 'Anthologia Graeca' (1494), 130
+
+ 'Apologie pour Herodote,' 314
+
+ Arch, J. and A., 186
+
+ Archaica Club, 79
+
+ Archer, Sir Anthony, 16
+
+ 'Aristophanes' (1498), 129
+
+ Aristotle (1495-98), 130
+
+ Arthur, Thomas, 230
+
+ Arundel, Henry, Earl of, 15, 16, 18
+
+ Ascham, Roger, 307
+
+ Ascham's 'Toxophilus,' 120
+
+ Ashbee, Mr. H. S., 315
+
+ Ashburnham, Lord, 126, 285
+
+ Ashmole, Elias, 18
+
+ Askew, Dr. A., 41
+
+ Askew Sale, the, 128, _et seq._
+
+ Asperne, James, 186
+
+ Athelstan, 3
+
+ 'Atticus,' 46
+
+ Auctions, book, 98, _et seq._, 210
+
+ Aulus Gellius, 'Noctes,' 307
+
+ Aylesford, Earl of, 89, 117
+
+
+ Bacon, Francis, 19
+
+ Bacon, Roger, 6
+
+ Bagford, John, 30, 31, 204, 268
+
+ Bagster, S., 235
+
+ Bain, James, 240
+
+ Baker, Mr. E. E., 91
+
+ Baker, H., 249
+
+ Baker, Samuel, 100 _note_, 102, 103, 223
+
+ Baker, Thomas, 34
+
+ 'Balbi Catholicon,' the, 127, 300
+
+ Baldwin and Cradock, 210
+
+ Bale, John, 13
+
+ Bale's 'Image of Both Churches,' 196
+
+ Balfour, Mr. A. J., 305
+
+ Ballads, 74
+
+ Ballard, T. and E., 103
+
+ Ballards of Little Britain, 173
+
+ Banks, Dr., 219
+
+ Bannatyne Club, the, 62 _note_
+
+ Baptist Library at Bristol, 138
+
+ Barbican, the, 176, 177
+
+ Barclay's 'Ship of Fools,' 120, 121
+
+ Barnard, Sir John, 238
+
+ Barnfield's 'Encomion of Lady Pecunia,' 41
+
+ 'Baroccio,' 69
+
+ Barrett, Thomas, 35
+
+ Barton, Bernard, 76, 296
+
+ Bassett, Thomas, 219
+
+ Batemans of Little Britain, 171
+
+ Bates, Dr., 39
+
+ Bath, Marquis of, 304, 305
+
+ Bathoe, Sam., 103
+
+ Bathoe, W., 234
+
+ Baudelaire, 'Les Fleurs de Mal,' 314
+
+ Bauduyn (Piers), stationer, 10
+
+ Baylis, Alderman, 223
+
+ Baynes, W., 211
+
+ Beauclerk, Topham, 55 and _note_, 111
+
+ Beckett-Denison, C., 117
+
+ Becket, Thomas, 176 _note_, 236
+
+ Beckford, Peter, 49, 297, 298
+
+ Beckford, William, 48-50, 256
+
+ Bede, the Venerable, 3
+
+ Bedford, Francis, 87
+
+ Bedford, John, Duke of, 9, 17
+
+ Bedford Missal, the, 9, 109
+
+ Bedford Street, Strand, 241
+
+ Beet, Thomas, 251
+
+ Bell and Sons, George, 244
+
+ Benedict Biscop, 2, 3
+
+ Bennett, T., 187
+
+ Bentham, W., 61
+
+ Bentley, Dr. R., 116, 195, 196
+
+ Benzon, Mrs., 270
+
+ Berkeley, Earl of, 25
+
+ Bernard, Dr. Francis, 34, 132
+
+ Bernard, Sir Thomas, 71
+
+ Berthelet, Thomas, 261
+
+ Bibles and New Testaments, 136-140, 212, 261, 262, 285, 291, 302, 306
+ 'Biblia Pauperum,' 272
+ Coverdale's (1535), 72, 89, 138, 263, 268, 302
+ Cranmer's (1540 and 1553), 72, 302
+ Cromwell's (1539), 302
+ Douay (1663), 120
+ Eliot's Indian, 119
+ Fust and Schoeffer (1462), 126, 300
+ German, 95
+ Graeca Septuaginta, 192 _note_
+ Gutenberg (or Mazarin) (1455), 58, 72, 89, 90, 114, 125, 126, 255,
+ 300
+ Hayes (1674), 21
+ Matthew's (1537), 72, 302
+ Tyndale's (1525-1526, 1533), 89, 137, 138
+ St. Jerome's MS., 140
+
+ Bibliomania, the decay of, 69
+
+ Bibliomaniac, A, 78
+
+ Bibliomaniac, the 'Library' of a, 200
+
+ Bibliophile, A, 78
+
+ Bibliophobia, 108
+
+ Bindley, James, 43, 66, 108, 109
+
+ Birrell, Mr. A., 145, 319
+
+ Bishopsgate Churchyard, 161
+
+ Black-letter books, 136
+
+ Black-letter booksellers, the, 236
+
+ Black-letter collectors, 'Father' of, 27 _note_
+
+ Black-letter mania, 59
+
+ Blackwell's 'Herbal,' 105
+
+ Blake, W., 93
+
+ Blandford, Marquis of, 61 _note_, 109, 124
+
+ Block book, 89
+
+ Bloomfield, R., 154
+
+ Boccaccio, the Valdarfer, 52, 61, 93, 123-125
+
+ Boccaccio, 'Les Illustres Malheureux,' 50
+
+ Bodleian, the, 23, 67
+
+ Bodley, Sir T., 22, 283
+
+ Boethius, 'Consolation of Philosophy,' 4
+
+ Bohn, H. G., 50, 243, 244, 255
+
+ Bohn, James, 243
+
+ Bohn, J. H., 243, 244
+
+ 'Boke of St. Albans,' 136, 322
+
+ Bolland, Sir W., 61, 69
+
+ Bonaparte, Prince L. L., 95, 96, 254
+
+ Bonaventure's 'Life of Christ,' 9
+
+ Bond Street, 249, _et seq._
+
+ Book auctions and sales, 98, _et seq._
+
+ Book-borrowers, 274, _et seq._
+
+ Book catalogues, some humours of, 293-298
+
+ Booker, John, 18
+
+ Book-ghouls, 160
+
+ Book-hunting, early, 1
+
+ Book-marking, Lamb's notion of, 76
+
+ Book-pluralists, 46
+
+ Books and their prices, 118, _et seq._
+
+ 'Booksellers,' the, a poem, 193
+
+ Booksellers' Row. _See_ Holywell Street
+
+ Bookstalls and bookstalling, 149-167
+
+ Book-thieves, 274, _et seq._
+
+ Boone, T. and W., 246, 250
+
+ Booth, Lionel, 116
+
+ Boswell, James, 108, 229
+
+ Boucher, Jonathan, 70
+
+ Bourne, Zacharius, 100
+
+ Bovey, Mrs., 265
+
+ Bowles, Rev. J., 220
+
+ Bowyer, Jonah, 216
+
+ Bowyer, William, 216
+
+ Boydell, Alderman, 251
+
+ Bozier's Court, 201
+
+ Brabourne, Lord, 93, 106
+
+ Bradbury and Evans, 116
+
+ Brand, Rev. John, 112, 179, 190, 207
+
+ Brassey, Mrs., 271
+
+ Bremner, David, 241
+
+ Bridges, John, 34, 121, 122
+
+ Bright, B. H., 108, 143 _note_, 302
+
+ Brindley, J., 249
+
+ Bristol, Earl of, 26, 31
+
+ British Museum copies of the classics, 128-131, 139, 166
+
+ British Museum, 276
+
+ Britten, Mr. James, 151
+
+ Britton, Thomas, 172, 173
+
+ Broadly, John, 109
+
+ Brooke, Lord Warwick, 100
+
+ Brown, Mr. J., 200
+
+ Brown, 'Old,' 157
+
+ Bruck, Cudworth, 193
+
+ Bruscambille on 'Long Noses,' 152
+
+ Bryant, W., 112
+
+ Brydges, Sir Egerton, 47, 59
+
+ Buccleuch, Duke of, 90, 305
+
+ Buchanan, Mr. T. R., 319
+
+ Buckley, Samuel, 174
+
+ Buckley, W. E., 94
+
+ Bull and Auvache, 206
+
+ Bumstead, G., 245
+
+ Bunyan, John, 183
+
+ Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress,' 145, 146, 312, 320, 321
+
+ Burbidge, Prebendary E., 18
+
+ Burdett-Coutts, Baroness, 141, 142
+
+ Burgess, F., 95
+
+ Burghley, Lady M., 264
+
+ Burghley, Lord, 306
+
+ Burlington, Countess of, 265
+
+ Burnet, Bishop, 234
+
+ Burnet, Rev. Gilbert, 232
+
+ Burney, Dr., 238
+
+ Burns, R., 281, 304, 308
+
+ Burton, Robert, 23
+
+ Butcher Row, 223-225
+
+ Bute, Marquis of, 305
+
+ Butler, Mr. Charles, 310
+
+ Butler's 'Hudibras,' 219
+
+ Butterworth, Henry, 217 _note_
+
+ Byng, Mr., 144
+
+ Byron, Lord, 109, 316
+
+ Byron's 'Childe Harold,' 308
+
+ Byron's 'English Bards,' 85
+
+ Byron's 'Waltz,' 308
+
+ Bywater, Mr. Ingram, 310
+
+
+ Cadell, Thomas, 235
+
+ Cadell and Davis, 235
+
+ Caesar's (Sir Julius) Travelling Library, 22, 23, 110
+
+ Caesar's 'Commentaries,' 55
+
+ Caldecott, Thomas, 68
+
+ Camden, W., 21
+
+ Campbell, Mr. Dykes, 106
+
+ Canonbury Tower, 72 and _note_, 73
+
+ Carbery, Lord, 31
+
+ Caroline, Queen, 268
+
+ Casaubon, Dr. M., 25
+
+ Cashel, Bishop of, 255
+
+ Cassell and Co., 116
+
+ Castell, Dr., 100
+
+ Catalogues. _See_ Book Catalogues
+
+ Cater, W., 193
+
+ Caviceo, 'Dialogue,' etc., 93
+
+ Cawthorn and Hutt, 208
+
+ Caxton, W., 12, 30, 60, 61, 72, 109, 111, 132, 135, 190, 247, 248,
+ 262, 268, 300, 306
+ 'Arthur, King,' 133
+ 'Book called Cathon,' 132, 133 (_bis_)
+ 'Book of Chivalry,' 136
+ 'Book of Good Manners,' 33
+ 'Chastising of God's Children,' 13, 132
+ 'Christine of Pisa,' 89
+ Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales,' 136
+ 'Chronicles of England,' 90, 132, 133
+ Cicero ('De Senectute'), 'Of Old Age,' 89, 132, 133, 313
+ 'Dictes and Sayings,' 90, 132
+ 'Doctrinal of Sapience,' 132, 133
+ 'Faits d'Armes et de Chevalerie,' 13
+ 'Game and Playe of Chesse,' 90, 132, 133, 135
+ 'Godfrey of Bulloigne,' 13, 33, 132
+ 'Golden Legend,' 13, 93, 133, 271, 303
+ Gower's 'Confessio Amantis,' 133
+ Higden's 'Description of Britayne,' 90
+ Higden's 'Polychronicon,' 89, 303
+ 'Historyes of Troy,' 132 (_bis_)
+ 'History of Blanchardyn and Eglantine,' 133
+ 'History of Jason,' 132, 133 (_bis_)
+ 'Life of St. Katherine,' 220, 221
+ Lydgate's 'Life of our Lady,' 220
+ 'Lives of the Fathers,' 220
+ 'Mirrour of the World,' 90, 95, 133
+ 'Royal Book, or Book for a King,' 90
+ Russell's 'Propositio,' 134
+ 'Siege and Conquest of Jerusalem,' 309
+ 'Troylus and Creside,' 133
+ Virgil's 'AEneid,' 13, 133
+
+ Caxton Head Catalogues, 204
+
+ Caxton, the highest paid for a, 133
+
+ Caxtons, the Althorp, 133
+
+ Cecil, Sir Robert, 306
+
+ Chadwyck-Healey, Mr. E. H., 320
+
+ Chained books at Hereford
+
+ Chalmers, George, 69, 70
+
+ Champernoun, Mr., 57
+
+ Chandler, Dr., 289
+
+ Chapman, Henry, 235
+
+ Charing Cross, 235-246
+
+ Charing Cross Road, 258
+
+ Charles I.'s Prayer-Book, 87
+
+ Charles II., 21
+
+ Charlotte, Queen, as a book-hunter, 215
+
+ Charnock, Dr. S., 100
+
+ Cheapside, 184, 185
+
+ Chetham Library, the, 118
+
+ Child, Alderman, 56
+
+ Chiswell, R., 33, 100, 213
+
+ Chodowiecki, 316
+
+ Christ Church (Canterbury), Books at, 7, 9
+
+ Christ's Hospital, Newgate Street, 8
+
+ Christie, James, 100 _note_, 103, 117, 291
+
+ Christie, Manson and Woods, 117
+
+ Christie, Mr. R. C., 297, 303
+
+ 'Chronicon Nurembergense,' 303
+
+ Churchill, A. and J., 210
+
+ Cicero, 306. _See_ also Caxton
+
+ Cicero, 'Ad Atticum,' 307
+
+ Circulating Library, the first, 234
+
+ Clare Hall, Cambridge, 260
+
+ Clare Market, 232
+
+ Clarendon, Earl of, 117
+
+ Clarke, W., 135, 251
+
+ Classics, their market value, 127-131
+
+ Claude's 'Liber Veritatis,' 305
+
+ Clavell, Robert, 214
+
+ Clement's Inn Passage, 225, 226
+
+ Clovio, Giulio, 57
+
+ Cochrane, J. G., 113, 221
+
+ Cock, auctioneer, 103
+
+ Cockaine, Sir Aston, 36
+
+ Coke, Sir Edward, 25
+
+ Colebrook Row, Islington, 76, 77
+
+ Coleridge, S. T., 76-78, 289, 320
+
+ Collier's 'Ecclesiastical Library,' 16
+
+ Collier, John Payne, 74-76, 230
+
+ Collins, Mr. Victor, 95, 96
+
+ Collins, W., 185
+
+ Columbus letter, the, 94
+
+ Comerford, James, 86
+
+ Compton, 113
+
+ Conant, N., 221
+
+ Conway, Lord, 24
+
+ Conyers, George, 216
+
+ Cooke, R. F., 94
+
+ Cook, Sir Robert, 25
+
+ Cooper, Mr. A. E., 258
+
+ Cooper, William, 99, 100
+
+ Copinger, Dr., 97
+
+ Corfield, Dr. W. H., 320
+
+ Corney, Bolton, 71
+
+ Cornhill, 184-186
+
+ Cosens, F. W., 93
+
+ Cosin, Dr., 24, 26
+
+ Cotton, Charles, 36
+
+ Cotton, Sir Robert, 21, 22, 283
+
+ Courtney, Mr. Leonard, 319
+
+ Cowper, W., 215
+
+ Coxhead, J., 196
+
+ Cracherode, C. M., 64-66, 238
+
+ Craig, J. T. Gibson, 88, 89
+
+ Cranmer, Archbishop, 16, 18
+
+ Crawford, Earl of, 88, 89, 126, 306
+
+ Crawford, W. H., 93
+
+ Crockford's, 226
+
+ Crofts, Rev. Thos., 111
+
+ Croker, Thomas C., 81, 82
+
+ Crossley, James, 287
+
+ Crowinshield, Edward, 115
+
+ Crowley, Robert, 191
+
+ Crozier, of the Little Turnstile, 202, 203
+
+ Cruden, Alexander, 185
+
+ Cruikshankiana, 90
+
+ Cunning bookseller, the, 250
+
+ Curll, Edmund, 219
+
+ Currer, Miss R., 268-270
+
+
+ Dalrymple, Alex., 56
+
+ Dampier, Dean, 238, 306
+
+ Daniell, Mr. E., 106
+
+ Daniel, G., 72-74, 141-143, 143 _note_
+
+ Daniel's, 'Delia,' 87
+
+ Dante, the Landino edition, 93
+
+ Darton and Hodge, 116
+
+ Darton, W., 196-198
+
+ Davies, Tom, 237
+
+ Davis, Arthur, 28
+
+ Davis, Charles, 187, 197
+
+ Davis, Lockyer, 199, 236
+
+ Davis, W., 199
+
+ Day and Son, 116
+
+ Day's circulating library, 208
+
+ Debrett, J., 250
+
+ De Bury, Richard, 7
+
+ Dee, Dr., 18
+
+ Defoe, Daniel, 156
+
+ Delafaye, Charles, 219
+
+ Denbigh, Lord, 31
+
+ Denham, Henry, 210
+
+ Denis, John, 181
+
+ Dent, J., 61, 62, 68, 69
+
+ Derby, Lord, 31
+
+ Dering, Sir Edward, 115
+
+ Derwentwater, Earl of, 292
+
+ Devonshire, Dukes of, 61 _note_, 124, 133, 141, 142, 173, 305, 306
+
+ Dibdin, T. F., 57, 61, 63, 64, 109
+
+ Dickens, Charles, 83, 86
+
+ Digby, Sir Kenelm, 26, 31, 100, 120
+
+ Dilke, C. W., 64, 202, 203
+
+ Dilly, C. and E., 183, 184
+
+ Dimsdale sale, the, 108
+
+ Diodorus Siculus (1539), 130
+
+ D'Israeli, Isaac, 71
+
+ Dobell, Mr. B., 106, 258
+
+ Dobson, Mr. Austin, 45
+
+ Dodsley, James, 251
+
+ Dodsley, R., 251
+
+ Dolben, Sir John E., 56
+
+ Dolet, Etienne, 304
+
+ Dorset, Earl of, 170
+
+ Douce, Francis, 67
+
+ Drake, Sir Francis, 19
+
+ Dramatic library of F. Burgess, 95
+
+ Dramatic library of F. Marshall, 93
+
+ Drama, works on the, 68, 291, 306
+
+ Drayton, M., 84, 158
+
+ Droeshout portrait of Shakespeare, 91
+
+ Drummond of Hawthornden, 311
+
+ Drummond, Miss, 271
+
+ Drummond's 'Forth Fasting,' 86
+
+ Drury, H. J. T., 70
+
+ Dryden, John, 35
+
+ Duck Lane, 175, 176
+
+ Duck, Stephen, 219
+
+ Duerdin, J., 115
+
+ Duke Street, Little Britain, 175, 176
+
+ Dulwich College Library, 204
+
+ Dunmore, John, 213
+
+ Dunton, John, 100-102
+
+ Dutens, Rev. L., 117
+
+ Dyce, Alexander, 47, 83-85, 289
+
+ Dyson, H., 35
+
+
+ Eadburga, Abbess, 260
+
+ East End, book-hunting in, 155, _et seq._
+
+ _Editiones Principes_, 128-131
+
+ Edmonds, Sir Clement, 211
+
+ Edward I., 3
+
+ Edward IV., 10, 33
+
+ Edward VI., 13
+
+ Edwards, E., 7, 31
+
+ Edwards, James, 117, 249
+
+ Egbert, 2
+
+ Egerton, T. and J., 113, 236
+
+ 'Eikon Basilike,' 101 _note_
+
+ Elcho, the Dowager Lady, 270
+
+ Eliot's Indian Bible, 119
+
+ Elizabethan literature, 301
+
+ Elizabeth de Burgh, 260
+
+ Elizabeth (Princess), of Hesse-Homburg, 270
+
+ Elizabeth, Queen, 17, 18, 260, 262-264
+
+ Ellis, Mr. F. S., 35, 245, 246, 286, 300, 301
+
+ Ellis, Mr. G. I., 106, 246
+
+ Elmsley, Peter, 238, 240
+
+ Elton, Mr. C. I., 310
+
+ Elyot's 'Castell of Helth,' 166
+
+ Erasmus' 'Enchiridion Militis Christiani,' 119
+
+ Eshton Hall Library, the, 268-270
+
+ Essex, Earl of, 264
+
+ Eton College Library, 17
+
+ Euripides (1503), 129
+
+ Evans, R. H., 109, 110
+
+ Evans, Sir John, 305
+
+ Evans, Thomas, 110, 216
+
+ Evelyn, John, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 37, 212
+
+ Evelyn, Sir, 250
+
+ Exeter 'Change, 105, 154, 155
+
+ Extra-illustrating, 165
+
+
+ Fabyan's 'Chronicle,' 120
+
+ Fagel Collection, 111
+
+ Fairfax, Bryan, 56
+
+ Farmer, Dr. R., 41, 112
+
+ Farnese, Cardinal, 57
+
+ Farringdon Road, 158, 159
+
+ Fathers, the, 120
+
+ Faulder, R., 250
+
+ Felton, John, 23, 24
+
+ Fenestella, 'De Magistratibus,' 263
+
+ Fielding, Henry, 44, 45, 94, 108, 196
+
+ 'Finds,' some book, 149, 150, 229, 230
+
+ Finsbury Square, 178, 179-183
+
+ Fire, the great, 212, 213
+
+ Flatman's 'Poems,' 85
+
+ Fleet Street, 216-223
+
+ Fleetwood, Bishop, 17
+
+ Fletcher, J. and F., 114
+
+ Flexney, W., 194
+
+ Folkes, Martin, 108
+
+ Fonthill, 49
+
+ Foote, Samuel, 163
+
+ Ford, K. J., 183
+
+ Forster, John, 83-85, 202, 203
+
+ 'Fortsas Catalogue,' the, 315
+
+ Foss, Henry, 239
+
+ Foster, Birket, Mr., 94
+
+ Fountaine Collection, the, 261
+
+ Fox's 'Reign of James II.,' 86
+
+ Fox, William, 193
+
+ Francis, Francis, 93
+
+ Franklin, B., 175, 250
+
+ Freebairn's sale, 38, 240
+
+ Freeling, Francis, 61
+
+ Freeling, Henry, 61
+
+ French Revolution, 58, 67
+
+ Fresnile, John, 8
+
+ Froissart's 'Chronicles,' 314
+
+ 'Fructus Temporum,' 300
+
+ Fuller's 'Church History,' 14
+
+ Fuller's 'David's Hainous Sinne,' 151
+
+ Funnibus, L., 147
+
+
+ Gainsborough, Earl of, 117
+
+ Gaisford, Mr. Thomas, 93, 306
+
+ Galwey, Mr. J., 234
+
+ Gambetta, Leon, 311
+
+ Gardner, H. L., 236
+
+ Garnett, Dr. R., 166
+
+ Garrick, D., 85
+
+ Garth, Samuel, 176
+
+ Gataker, Dr. Thos., 100
+
+ Genlis, Madame de, 286
+
+ Gennadius, M. J., 320-322
+
+ George and Sons, E., 187-189
+
+ George III., 53, 54, 130, 135, 141
+
+ Gibbon, E., 44, 240
+
+ Gibbs, Mr. H. H., 301, 302
+
+ Gifford, Dr., 139, 140
+
+ Gilbert and Field, 186, 187
+
+ Gilbert, S. and T., 187
+
+ Gilliflower, M., 248
+
+ Gladding, R., 187, 188
+
+ Gladstone, W. E., 86, 95, 254, 314, 315
+
+ Glashier, George, 202
+
+ Glasse's 'Art of Cookery,' 150
+
+ Gloucester, Humphrey, Duke of, 9, 10
+
+ Goldsmid, Sir Julian, 320
+
+ Goldsmith, Oliver, 44
+
+ Goldsmith's 'The Haunch of Venison,' 308
+
+ Goldsmith's 'The Deserted Village,' 308
+
+ Goldsmith's 'Traveller,' 308
+
+ Goldsmith's 'Vicar of Wakefield,' 94, 146
+
+ Gomme, Mr. G. L., 151
+
+ Goodhugh, W., 206
+
+ Gordon, Sir Robert, 113
+
+ Gosford, Earl of, 114
+
+ Gosset, Dr. Isaac, 70
+
+ Gough, R., 67, 103
+
+ Gower, Lord, 61, 62
+
+ Grafton, Duke of, 109
+
+ Grafton, R., 74
+
+ Grangerizing, 165, 316
+
+ Gravelot's print of Westminster Hall, 247, 248
+
+ Gray, Mr. H., 114
+
+ Gray's Inn Gate and Road, 191, 192, 273
+
+ Gray's MSS., 81, 146, 308
+
+ Gray, T., 84, 85, 319
+
+ Green, Mr. J. Arnold, 272
+
+ Greenhill, Rev. W., 100
+
+ Grenville, Thos., 69, 75, 238
+
+ Greville, C. F., 117
+
+ Griffith, W., 216
+
+ Griffiths, Ralph, 210
+
+ Grolier, 65, 309
+
+ Grose, Francis, 238
+
+ _Grub Street Journal_, 241 _note_
+
+ Gryphius, S., 304
+
+ Guilford, Earl of, 109
+
+ Guilford, Francis, Baron, 31
+
+ Gulston, Joseph, 113
+
+ Guy de Beauchamp, 6
+
+ Guy, Thomas, 184
+
+ Gwillim's 'Display of Heraldry,' 156
+
+ Gyles, Fletcher, 123
+
+
+ Hailstone, Edward, 93
+
+ Halifax, Lord, 31
+
+ Hall, Virtue, and Co., 116
+
+ Halliwell-Phillipps, J. O., 71, 74, 90-92
+
+ Hamilton, Dukes of, 48, 50
+
+ Hamilton, Sir W., 117
+
+ Hammers, auctioneers, 100 and _note_
+
+ Hannay's 'Nightingale,' 70
+
+ Hanrott, 71
+
+ Harcourt, Lady F. V., 270
+
+ Harding and Lepard, 183
+
+ Harding's 'Chronicle,' 121
+
+ Hardouyn, G., 17
+
+ Hardwicke, Lord Chancellor, 89
+
+ Hardy, Sir William, 88
+
+ Harleian Library, The, 192
+
+ Harley, Earl of Oxford, 31, 34, 38
+
+ Hartley, L. L., 87, 114
+
+ Harvey, Gabriel, 19
+
+ Harvey, Mr. F., 165
+
+ Harwood, Dr., 128-131
+
+ Hatchards, 252-254
+
+ Hawkins, Rev. W. B. L., 117
+
+ Hawkins, Sir John, 193, 238
+
+ Hawtrey, Dr., 71
+
+ Hayes, John, 193, 199
+
+ Hayes, Samuel, 199
+
+ Hazlewood, Joseph, 61, 63, 64
+
+ Hazlitt MSS., The, 94
+
+ Hazlitt, William, 77
+
+ Hearle of Holywell Street, 228
+
+ Hearne, Thomas, 27 _note_, 34, 35, 122, 283
+
+ Heath, Benjamin, 122, 123
+
+ Heathcote, Robert, 68
+
+ Heber, Richard, 45-48, 61, 62, 108, 110, 268
+
+ Heber, Thomas C., 61
+
+ Heliconia Club, 79
+
+ Henderson, the actor, 291
+
+ Henry, Prince, 20, 21
+
+ Henry IV., 9
+
+ Henry V., 9, 260
+
+ Henry VI., 9, 10
+
+ Henry VII., 12, 13
+
+ Henry VIII., 13, 17, 261, 309
+
+ Herbert, Isaac, 199
+
+ Heriot, George, 264
+
+ Herodotus (1502), 129
+
+ Heydinger, C., 236
+
+ Hibbert-Wade, Dr., 289
+
+ Highest price paid for a book, 126
+
+ Hill, Mr. H. R., 231
+
+ Hill, Thomas, 78-80, 110
+
+ Hindley, Mr. C., 106, 231
+
+ Hoare, Richard, 28
+
+ Hodge, Mr. E. Grose, 105, 106
+
+ Hodgson and Co., 116, 146, 162-164
+
+ Hogarth, W., 234
+
+ Holborn, 191-208
+
+ Holford, Captain, 146, 320
+
+ Holgate, W., 71
+
+ Holinshed's 'Chronicle,' 33
+
+ Holland's 'Heroeologia,' 118
+
+ Holland House Library, 322
+
+ Holland, Lord, 86, 322
+
+ Hollingbury Copse, 91
+
+ Holywell Street, 153, 154, 215, 227-231
+
+ Homer, the _editio princeps_ (1488), 119, 128
+
+ Homer, 120, 311
+
+ Homer, the Foulis edition, 129
+
+ Hone, W., 216
+
+ Hood, Tom, 184
+
+ Hookham, T., 250
+
+ Hopetoun, Earl of, 126
+
+ Hopetoun House Library, 90
+
+ Horace, _editio princeps_, 130
+
+ Horae, 261
+
+ Horne's 'Orion,' 229
+
+ Horsfield, R., 214, 215
+
+ Hotten, J. C., 115
+
+ Houghton, Earl of, 309
+
+ Hume, David, 44, 230
+
+ Hunter, Mr., 130
+
+ Hunt, Leigh, 149
+
+ Hutchinson, Joshua H., 94
+
+ Huth, Mr. A. H., 301
+
+ Huth, H., 254, 300, 301
+
+ Hutt, Charles, 225
+
+ Hutt, Mr. F. H., 225
+
+ Hutton, George, 204
+
+
+ 'Imitatio Christi,' the, 96, 97, 302
+
+ Ina, King of the West Saxons, 3
+
+ Inglis, C. B., 108
+
+ Irving (Washington), 'Abbotsford,' 308
+
+ Islington, cattle market at, 164
+
+ Isocrates (1493), 129
+
+ Isted, G., 61
+
+
+ Jackson, Mr. B. Daydon, 297
+
+ Jackson, 17
+
+ Jackson, Andrew, 232
+
+ Jacobean literature, 301
+
+ James, Haughton, 68
+
+ James I., 20
+
+ James II., 20
+
+ Jameson, Mrs., 271
+
+ Janin, Jules, 286
+
+ Jarvis (J. W.) and Son, 194, 245
+
+ Jeffrey, Edward, 113
+
+ Jerrold, Douglas, 71
+
+ Jersey, Earl of, 56, 133
+
+ Johnson, Dr., 23, 44, 117, 237
+
+ Johnson and Osborne, 192 and _note_
+
+ Johnson, Joseph, 214, 215
+
+ John of Boston, 8, 9
+
+ Johnston, William, 215, 216
+
+ Jolley, Thomas, 143 _note_
+
+ Jones and Co., 180
+
+ Jones, Owen, 116
+
+ Jones, Richard, 191
+
+ Jonson, Ben, 19, 84
+
+ Juvenal and Persius (1469), 131
+
+
+ Keats, John, 94, 179, 319
+
+ Kempis, Thomas a, 96, 97
+
+ Kettlewell, Robert, 199
+
+ Kidner, Thomas, 100
+
+ King, John, 178
+
+ King, Thomas, 111-113, 178
+
+ King and Lochee, 56, 112
+
+ King of Mansfield Street, 239
+
+ Kirton, Joshua, 212
+
+ Knaptons, the, 214
+
+ Knight, Charles, 116
+
+ Knight, J. P., 117
+
+ Knight, Mr. Joseph, 313, 314
+
+ Knock-outs, 121, 164, 290-292
+
+
+ Lackington, George, 182, 183
+
+ Lackington, James, 179-183, 245
+
+ Lactantius, 'Opera,' 307
+
+ 'Ladies' Library,' the, 265-267
+
+ Lakelands Library, 93
+
+ Lamb, Charles, 76-78, 176, 177, 207, 288-290, 296
+
+ Lamb's 'Beauty and the Beast,' 150
+
+ Lambeth Library, 5, 6
+
+ Landor, Walter Savage, 317
+
+ Lang, Mr. Andrew, 310
+
+ Lang, R., 61
+
+ Langford, auctioneer, 103, 111, 139
+
+ Lansdowne, Marquis of, 58, 108, 111
+
+ Lant, R., 210
+
+ Larking, John W., 94
+
+ Larrons, 'L'Histoire des,' 282
+
+ Laud, Archbishop, 23
+
+ Lauderdale, Duke of, 27, 28, 289
+
+ Law books, printers of, 217
+
+ Lawler, Mr. John, 99, 100, 102, 119, 258
+
+ Lawrence, E. H., 94
+
+ Lazarus, Mrs., 231
+
+ Leacroft, S., 236
+
+ Le Gallienne, Mr. R., 318
+
+ 'Legenda Aurea' (1503), 291
+
+ Leigh, George, 103, 104
+
+ Leighton, Mr., 106
+
+ Leland, John, 15
+
+ Lemoine, Henry, 161
+
+ 'Leontes,' 66
+
+ Lepruik, Robert, 313
+
+ Lever, Charles, 83
+
+ Lewis, L. A., 223
+
+ Libraries and book-thieves, 284, 285
+
+ Library, the Sunderland, 36-38
+
+ Libri Collection, the, 114, 263, 285
+
+ Lilly, John, 18
+
+ Lilly, Joseph, 74, 244, 245, 301
+
+ Lintot, B., 219
+
+ Lisburne, Lord, 129
+
+ Little Britain, 33, 99, 167-175
+
+ Littleton's 'Tenures,' 217
+
+ Liverpool, Earl of, 117
+
+ Livy, the Sweynheim and Pannartz, 69
+
+ Localities, some book-hunting, 166
+
+ Locke, John, 85, 320
+
+ Locker-Lampson, F., 106, 311-313
+
+ Lodge's 'Rosalynd,' 86
+
+ London House, Aldersgate Street, 39
+
+ Longman and Co., 80, 210
+
+ Longueville, Lord, 31
+
+ Lovelace's 'Lucasta,' 145
+
+ Lowndes, W., 235
+
+ Lowndes's 'Bibliographer's Manual,' 244
+
+ Low, Sampson, and Co., 116, 208
+
+ Loyalty, the 'repository' of, 250
+
+ Ludgate Hill, 215
+
+ Lumley, Lord, 16, 21
+
+ Luttrell, N., 22
+
+ Lydgate's 'Bochas,' 232
+
+ Lydgate's 'Hystory, Sege, and Destruccion of Troye,' 9
+
+ Lysons, D. and S., 110
+
+ Lytton, Lord, 150
+
+
+ Macaulay, Lord, 71, 149, 202, 228, 229
+
+ Mackenzie, J. Mansfield, 90
+
+ Mackinlay, I., 241
+
+ Macpherson, F., 195
+
+ Macready, W., 117
+
+ Maddison, John, 112
+
+ Magdalen College, 29, 30
+
+ Maitland, Lord, 27
+
+ Malone, E., 41, 43, 67, 108, 238
+
+ Manley, Richard, 215
+
+ Mann, John, 122
+
+ Mansion House, the old, 185, 186
+
+ Manson, J. P., 207
+
+ Manton, Dr. Thomas, 100
+
+ Manuscript, the textual value of a, 128
+
+ Markland, J. H., 61
+
+ Marlowe's 'Doctor Faustus,' 202 _note_
+
+ Marlowe's 'Tragedie of Richard, Duke of York,' 70
+
+ Marriot, Richard, 218
+
+ Marsh, Charles, 232
+
+ Marshall, Frank, 93
+
+ Martial's 'Epigrammata,' 132
+
+ Martyr (Peter), 'De Sacramento Eucharistiae,' 307
+
+ Mary of Este, 17
+
+ Mary, Queen, 261
+
+ Mason, George, 53
+
+ Mather, Increase, 151
+
+ Mathews, J., 234
+
+ Mathias, 'Pursuits of Literature,' 238
+
+ Matthew of Westminster, 'Flores,' 17
+
+ Matthews, Charles, 74
+
+ Maty, Dr. M., 220
+
+ Mawman, Joseph, 184
+
+ Maximilian, Emperor, 115
+
+ Mayhew, Henry, 161
+
+ Mazarin Bible. _See_ Bible
+
+ Mazzoni, G., 201
+
+ McCarthy, Count, 108
+
+ Mead, Dr. R., 40, 105, 127, 292
+
+ Menken, Mr. E., 205, 206, 282, 315
+
+ Mews Gate, the, 238-240
+
+ Middle Row, Holborn, 194-196
+
+ Middleton, Conyers, 223
+
+ Millan, J., 235
+
+ Millar, Andrew, 235
+
+ Millington, E., 100 _note_, 101 and _note_, 170
+
+ Milton, J., 81, 95
+
+ Milton's 'Comus,' 303
+
+ Milton's 'Eikonoklastes,' 303
+
+ Milton's 'Lycidas,' 303
+
+ Milton's 'Paradise Lost,' 41, 120, 145, 170, 232, 286, 287, 303
+
+ Milton's 'Paradise Regained,' 303
+
+ Mitre Tavern, the, 116, 222
+
+ Modern Collectors (Some), 299-322
+
+ Molini, Mr., 106, 245
+
+ Molini, Peter, 249
+
+ Monasteries, the dissolution of, 13, _et seq._
+
+ Moore, Dr. John, 27 and _note_, 30, 283
+
+ Moore, Tom, 81
+
+ Moorfields, 168, 177-179
+
+ More, Sir Thos., 15, 96, 97
+
+ Morgan, Lady, 270
+
+ Morpeth, Lord, 61
+
+ Moxon and Co., 116
+
+ MSS., the Hamilton, 50
+
+ Muggletonian tracts, 228
+
+ Murray, J., ambassador, 250
+
+ Murray, John of Sacomb, 137, 138
+
+ Murray, Mr. C. F., 320
+
+ Murray, Mr. John, 307, 308
+
+ Musgrave, Dr. S., 250
+
+ Musaeus (1494), 130
+
+ 'My Novel,' extract from, 201
+
+
+ Napoleon I., 107
+
+ Napoleon of booksellers, the, 256
+
+ Nash, Tom, 19, 20
+
+ Neligan, Dr., 106
+
+ Nelson, Viscount, 117
+
+ Newbery, John, 213
+
+ New Cut, the, 157
+
+ Newton, Isaac, 85
+
+ Newton, W., 174
+
+ Nicholas de Lira, 8
+
+ Nicol, George, 59, 110, 124, 126, 251, 252
+
+ Noble, Francis, 194
+
+ Noble, Theophilus, 225, 226
+
+ Norgate, Mr. F., 110
+
+ Norman, Mr. Hy., 318
+
+ Nornaville and Fell, 250
+
+ North, Francis, 170
+
+ North, Dr. John, 31, 32
+
+ North, Roger, 32, 170
+
+ Notary, Julian, 211, 291
+
+ _Notes and Queries_, 88
+
+ Nourse, John, 236
+
+ Novimagus, Society of, 83
+
+
+ Ogilby, David, 196
+
+ Oldys, W., 192, 237
+
+ Orange Street, Red Lion Square, 202
+
+ 'Orlando,' 57
+
+ Osborne, Tom, 34, 55, 191-193, 241 _note_
+
+ Ossian's 'Poems,' 229, 230
+
+ Osterley Park Library, 56
+
+ Otridge, W., 236
+
+ Ottley, W. Y., 71
+
+ Ouvry, Frederick, 86, 87
+
+ Ovid (1471), 131
+
+ Oxford, Anne Cecil, Countess of, 265
+
+ Oxford, Books at, 7, 9
+
+ Oxford, Edward, Earl of, 52, 122, 124, 139, 173, 192, 193
+
+ Oxford Street, 199-202
+
+
+ Pall Mall, 113, 249, 251
+
+ Pamphlets, Dr. Johnson on, 23
+
+ Pamphlet shops, 155
+
+ Papillon, David, 55, 56
+
+ Parker, Archbishop, 'De Antiquitate,' 264
+
+ Parker, Archbishop, 17, 19
+
+ Parker, Mr. R. J., 205
+
+ Parker, John, 249
+
+ Parker, Samuel, 251
+
+ Parr, Catherine, 261
+
+ Parr, Dr., 244
+
+ Parsons the Jesuit, 119
+
+ Passavant, Speyr, 140
+
+ 'Pastissier Francois,' Le, 229
+
+ Paternoster Row, 209, _et seq._
+
+ Paterson, S., 23, 55 _note_, 103, 110, 111
+
+ Patmore, Thomas, 16
+
+ 'Paul Pry,' 78
+
+ Payne, James, 241
+
+ Payne, John, and Foss, 239
+
+ Payne, Thomas, 110, 237-240, 252, 306
+
+ Peacham's 'Compleat Gentleman,' 24
+
+ Peacham's 'Valley of Varietie,' 46
+
+ Pellet, Thomas, 105, 155
+
+ Pembroke, Lord, 31, 173
+
+ Penn, W., 115
+
+ Pepys, Samuel, 25, 29, 120, 212, 248
+
+ Perkins, Frederick, 92
+
+ Perkins, Henry, 71, 126, 256
+
+ Perry, James, 66, 74, 80, 126, 133
+
+ Petheram, John, 194
+
+ Phelps, J. D., 61
+
+ Phillipps, Sir Thomas, 87, 242
+
+ Piccadilly, 249, _et seq._
+
+ Pickering, Basil M., 255
+
+ Pickering, W., 253
+
+ Pickering and Chatto, 194, 255
+
+ 'Piers Plowman's Vision,' 120, 191
+
+ Piggott, J. H. Smyth, 71
+
+ 'Pilgrim's Progress.' _See_ Bunyan
+
+ Pindar, Elizabeth, 267, 268
+
+ Pinelli, M., 111, 249
+
+ Pitt, Moses, 100
+
+ Plato, 130
+
+ Pliny, 'Historia Naturalis,' 131
+
+ Poetry, old English, 145
+
+ Poet's Gallery, the, 116, 222
+
+ Ponder, Nathaniel, 183
+
+ 'Pontevallo,' 69
+
+ Ponton, T., 61
+
+ Pope, Alexander, 44, 151, 230, 308, 311
+
+ Porson, 238
+
+ Pote, J., 236
+
+ Poultry, the, 183
+
+ Powell, W., 217
+
+ Praed, W. M., 250
+
+ Prayer Books, 87, 302
+
+ Price, the highest paid for a book, 126
+
+ Price's 'Historiae Britannicae,' 120, 121
+
+ Pridden, John, 215
+
+ Prince, J. H., 194
+
+ 'Prospero,' 67
+
+ Psalmorum Codex, 126, 127
+
+ Pulteney, Sir James, 117
+
+ Purcell, of Red Lion Passage, 165
+
+ Purcell's 'Orpheus Britannicus,' 35
+
+ Purchas, 'His Pilgrims,' 118, 120, 234
+
+ Puritan divines, books of, 119
+
+ Puttenham's 'Art of English Poesie,' 145
+
+ Puttick and Simpson, 112, 113-115
+
+ Pye, John, stationer, 10
+
+ Pynson, R., 217, 218, 301
+
+
+ Quakers, the bibliographer of, 189
+
+ Quaritch, Mr. B., 106, 253, 255-258, 261, 280
+
+ Queensberry, Duke of, 108
+
+
+ Rabelais, Francois, 314
+
+ Railton, Mr., 106
+
+ Raleigh's 'Prerogative of Parliaments,' 119
+
+ Ramirez, Jose F., 115
+
+ Rastell's 'Pastyme of the People,' 207
+
+ Ratcliffe, John, 132
+
+ Rawlinson, T. and R., 39, 40, 122, 136, 213, 283
+
+ Reade, Charles, 282
+
+ Reader, Mr. A., 202
+
+ Redman, R., 217, 218
+
+ Reed, Isaac, 42, 112, 145
+
+ Reeves and Turner, 226
+
+ Reeves, Mr. W., 106, 227
+
+ Rewiczki, Count, 51
+
+ Reynolds, Sir J., 113
+
+ Richard of Peterborough, 4
+
+ Richard III., 10
+
+ Richardson's 'Remarks on Paradise Lost,' 170
+
+ Richmond, Margaret, Countess of, 261
+
+ Ridgway, James, 250
+
+ Ridler, W., 230
+
+ 'Rig,' a bookseller's, 101
+
+ Rikke, R., 208
+
+ Rimbault, E. F., 194
+
+ Rimell, Mr. J., 106, 206
+
+ Ritson, Joseph, 108
+
+ Rivington and Cochrane, 241
+
+ Rivington, F. C., 213
+
+ Robins, 113
+
+ 'Robinson Crusoe,' 89
+
+ Robinson, George, 216
+
+ Robinson's 'Handefull of Pleasant Delites,' 145
+
+ Robson, James, 249, 250
+
+ Robson, Mr., 106
+
+ Roche, Mr. J., 106, 206
+
+ Rodd, Thomas, 74, 75, 242
+
+ Rogers, Samuel, 80-82, 87
+
+ Roper, Abel, 219
+
+ Rosebery, Earl of, 304
+
+ Rossetti, D. G., 317
+
+ Rowfant Library, the, 311
+
+ Rowlandson, Thomas, 108
+
+ Rowsell, Joel, 245
+
+ Roxburghe Club, the, 61-64, 299, _et seq._
+
+ Roxburghe, John, Duke of, 52, 53, 124, 141
+
+ Rubric posts, 176 and _note_, 237
+
+ Ruskin, Mr. John, 279
+
+ Rylands, Mrs., 50, 146, 270, 271, 272
+
+ Rymer's 'Foedera,' 8
+
+
+ Sacheverell, Dr. Henry, 251
+
+ Sala, Mr. G. A., 150, 157
+
+ Sainte-Beuve's 'Livre d'Amour,' 315
+
+ Salisbury, Mr. J., 211
+
+ Salisbury, Marquis of, 264, 306
+
+ Salkeld, Mr. John, 202, 203
+
+ Salmon, Dr., 31
+
+ Salting, Mr. G., 320
+
+ Sancho, W., 240
+
+ Sandars, Mr. S., 320
+
+ Sandell and Smith, 187
+
+ Sanderson, Bishop, 171
+
+ Saunders, Robert, 116
+
+ Savage, 'Author to Let,' 239
+
+ Saville, Sir Henry, 25, 283
+
+ Scarborough, Sir Charles, 37
+
+ Scotland Yard, 113
+
+ Scott, Dr. John, 194
+
+ Scott, R., 120, 173
+
+ Scott's, Sir Walter, MSS., 87, 89, 290, 308
+
+ Scott's 'Vision of Don Roderick,' 150
+
+ Scotus Erigena, 3
+
+ Scriptorium, 2
+
+ Seile, Henry, 24
+
+ Selden, John, 23, 30
+
+ Selsey, Lord, 133
+
+ Seneca, 'Tragoediae' (1475), 131
+
+ Severne, F. E., 57
+
+ Sewell, John, 176 _note_, 186
+
+ Shakespeare, W., 19, 70, 72, 74, 75, 91, 92, 93, 141-143
+ First Folio (1623), 42, 72, 87, 92, 95, 114, 141, 222, 291, 303,
+ 311, 322
+ Second Folio (1632), 42, 75, 87, 95, 120, 141-143, 221, 303
+ Third Folio (1664), 42, 87, 95, 141-143, 303
+ Fourth Folio (1685), 42, 87, 95, 141-143, 221, 303
+ Quarto editions, 72, 90, 92, 93, 311
+ 'Hamlet,' 143
+ '2 Henry IV.,' 92, 143
+ 'Henry V.,' 92, 143, 301
+ 'Henry VI.,' 143
+ 'Lear,' 95, 143, 211
+ 'Love's Labour Lost,' 93, 143
+ 'Merchant of Venice,' 92, 93 (_bis_), 95, 143, 211, 301
+ 'Merry Wives of Windsor,' 93, 143, 211, 301
+ 'Midsummer Night's Dream,' 70, 95, 143, 308
+ 'Much Ado About Nothing,' 93, 143
+ 'Othello,' 143, 301
+ 'Pericles,' 143, 301
+ 'Poems,' 93, 143
+ 'Rape of Lucrece,' 69, 93, 143, 211
+ 'Richard II.,' 143, 211, 301
+ 'Richard III.,' 143, 211, 301
+ 'Romeo and Juliet,' 92, 143, 217 _note_, 301
+ 'Sonnets,' 70, 143 and _note_
+ 'Titus Andronicus,' 301
+ 'Troilus and Cressida,' 143, 211
+ 'Venus and Adonis,' 143 and _note_, 211
+
+ Shandy, Mr., 152
+
+ Shattock, Mr. T. F., 320
+
+ Shelburne, Earl of, 111
+
+ Sheldon, Ralph, 291
+
+ Shelley, P. B., 316
+
+ Shelley's copy of Ossian's Poems, 229
+
+ Shenstone, W., 237
+
+ Sheridan, R. B., 85
+
+ Sherley's 'Wits New Dyall,' 167
+
+ Shoreditch, 155
+
+ Shorter, Mr. C. K., 317, 318
+
+ Shropshire, Walter, 251
+
+ Sidney's 'Arcadia,' 89
+
+ Silius Italicus, 131
+
+ Simpson, Mr. W., 114
+
+ Singer, S. W., 71
+
+ Skeat, of King William Street, 287
+
+ Slater, Mr. J. H., 150
+
+ Slater, Mr. Walter, 316, 317
+
+ Sloane, Sir Hans, 30, 31, 172
+
+ Smith, Horace, 78, 80
+
+ Smith's, Captain John, 'History of Virginia,' 20
+
+ Smith, Joseph, English Consul, 41, 250
+
+ Smith, Joseph, bookseller, 187
+
+ Smith, or Smyth, Richard, 32, 33
+
+ Smollett, Tobias, 44
+
+ Smyth, Sir Thomas, 119
+
+ Snowden, Mr. G. S., 106
+
+ 'Snuffy Davy,' 135
+
+ Soho, 207
+
+ Solly, Edward, 46, 88, 202
+
+ Somers, Lord, 31, 172
+
+ Somerset, Duke of, 284
+
+ Sophocles (1502), 129
+
+ Sotheby, John, 103, 104
+
+ Sotheby, Samuel, 103, 104
+
+ Sotheby, S. Leigh, 104, 105
+
+ Sotheby, Wilkinson, and Hodge, 103-108, and _passim_
+
+ Sotheran and Co., Messrs., 97, 233, 246, 272, 281
+
+ Sotheran, Mr. H., 106
+
+ Southampton Row, 314
+
+ Southey, Robert, 76, 308
+
+ _Spectator_, the, 175, 265
+
+ Spelman, Edward, 250
+
+ Spelman, Sir Henry, 21
+
+ Spence, Joseph, 220
+
+ Spencer, Earl, 50-52, 53, 61, 109, 124, 238, 272
+
+ Spencer, W. T., 205
+
+ Spenser's 'Faerie Queene,' 87, 145
+
+ Spenser, E., 35
+
+ Spon, of Cheapside, 184
+
+ St. Albans, Abbot of, 7
+
+ St. Albans, books printed at, 136, 137, 268, 301
+
+ St. Alban's Tavern, 61
+
+ St. Augustine, 'De Arte Predicandi,' 302
+
+ St. Augustine, 'De Civitate Dei,' 307, 308
+
+ St. Bernard's Seal, 43
+
+ St. Dunstan, 3
+
+ St. Francis, 6
+
+ St. Paul's Cathedral, 4
+
+ St. Paul's Churchyard, 153, 168, 208-216
+
+ Stanley, Colonel, 110, 239
+
+ Staple Inn, 42
+
+ Stapleton, A. G., 252
+
+ Stark, J. M., 245
+
+ Steele, Richard, 84, 265
+
+ Steevens, George, 42, 112, 220, 238
+
+ Stephens, J., 224
+
+ Sterne, L., 236
+
+ Stevens, Henry, 106, 115
+
+ Stewart, Charles J., 245, 268
+
+ Stewart, founder of Puttick's, 112, 114
+
+ Stibbs, E. W., 106, 200
+
+ Stock, Mr. Elliot, 96, 187
+
+ Stormont, Lord, 238
+
+ Stow's 'Survey,' 8
+
+ Strand, the, 153, 223-235
+
+ Strange, John, 111
+
+ Strickland, Agnes, 270
+
+ Suckling and Galloway, 234
+
+ Sullivan, Sir E., 92, 93
+
+ Sunderland Library sale, 114, 256
+
+ Sunderland, Earl of, 31, 36, 52, 124, 173
+
+ Sunderlin, Lord, 68
+
+ Sussex, Duke of, 109, 126, 264
+
+ Sutton, Henry, 210
+
+ Swift, Jonathan, 85, 172, 176
+
+ Swift, MS. of Scott's 'Life' of, 87
+
+ Sydenham Tusculum, Hill's, 79
+
+ Sydney, Sir Robert, 142
+
+ Sykes, Lady Mark, 270
+
+ Sykes, Sir M. M., 58, 61 _note_, 110, 310
+
+ Syston Park Library, 126
+
+
+ Talleyrand, Prince, 108
+
+ Taylor, Watson, 133
+
+ Taylor, William, 210
+
+ Tebbs, Mr. H. V., 320
+
+ Tegg, Thomas, 186
+
+ Temple Bar, 223
+
+ 'Temple of the Muses,' the, 182
+
+ Tenison, Archbishop, 39
+
+ Testament. _See_ Bible
+
+ Thackeray, W. M., 83
+
+ Theodore, Archbishop of Canterbury, 3
+
+ Theocritus (1495), 130
+
+ Thompson, Mr. H. Yates, 320
+
+ Thoms, W. J., 88, 156, 202, 228
+
+ Thoresby, Ralph, 178, 238
+
+ Thorpe, Thomas, 64 and _note_, 241, 242, 250
+
+ Thorold, Sir John, 126
+
+ Thurlow, Lord, 112
+
+ Tilt, Charles, 221, 253
+
+ Tisdale, John, 191
+
+ Tite, Sir William, 74, 256
+
+ Tobin, Sir J., 109
+
+ Tomes, H., 191
+
+ 'Tom Folio,' 39
+
+ Tom's Coffee-house, 102
+
+ Tonson, Jacob, 35, 192, 219, 234
+
+ Tooke, Benjamin, 219
+
+ Tooke, John Horne, 54, 112
+
+ Toovey, B., 249
+
+ Toovey, J., 106, 142, 253-255, 322
+
+ Tottell, R., 217 and _note_
+
+ Towneley, J., 57, 61, 110, 239
+
+ Townsend, Marquis of, 108
+
+ Tradescant, Mrs., 18
+
+ Tregaskis, Mr. and Mrs., 204, 205
+
+ Triphook, R., 183, 268
+
+ Truelove, E., 200
+
+ Turberville's 'Epitaphs,' 210
+
+ Turnbull, Mr. E., 201, 202
+
+ Turner, Dawson, 114
+
+ Turner, R. S., 89
+
+ Turnstiles, Holborn, 202-204
+
+ Tunstall, James, 219
+
+ Tusser's 'Good Husbandry,' 232
+
+ Tyndale, John, 16
+
+ Tyndale's 'Practyse of Prelates,' 119
+
+ Tyrill, Sir T., 26
+
+ Tyson, Dr. E., 176
+
+ Tyssen, Samuel, 108, 111
+
+
+ Udal, Nicholas, 74
+
+ Upcott, W., 27, 70
+
+ Usher, Archbishop, 26
+
+ Usher, Bishop, 212
+
+ Utterson, E. V., 61
+
+ Uvedale, Robert, 236
+
+
+ Vaillant, Paul, 240
+
+ Valdarfer Boccaccio, the, 52, 61, 93, 123-125
+
+ Valerius Maximus (1471), 131
+
+ Valesius, 25
+
+ Van de Weyer, Col. V. W. Bates, 309
+
+ Verard, Antoine, 13
+
+ Vernor and Hood, 184
+
+ Vespucci, 'Mundus Novus,' 94
+
+ Vossius, Isaac 25
+
+
+ Wakefield, 238
+
+ Walford, Cornelius, 88, 151, 152
+
+ Walford, Mr. E., 106
+
+ Walker, John, 112, 113
+
+ Wallden, a Carmelite Friar, 8
+
+ Waller, Mr. John, 281
+
+ Walpole, Horace, 284, 292
+
+ Walter, John, of the _Times_, 235
+
+ Walton Hall library, 93
+
+ Walton, Izaak, 35, 36, 85, 171
+
+ Walton's 'Compleat Angler,' 144, 145, 218, 234, 322
+
+ Wanley, Humfrey, 34, 38, 122
+
+ Ward, Mr. W., 106
+
+ Wardour Street, 206
+
+ Warde, Roger, 191
+
+ Ware, Richard, 215
+
+ Warner's 'Syrinx' (1597), 288
+
+ Warwick, Earl of, 106
+
+ Waterton, E., 96, 97
+
+ Watson, Dr. T., 100
+
+ Weskett, 'On Insurances,' 152
+
+ Wesley, Charles, 35
+
+ Wesley and Sons, 234
+
+ West, James, 59, 60, 111, 179
+
+ Westell, Mr. J., 106, 200, 201
+
+ Westminster Hall, 247-249
+
+ Westmoreland, Countess of, 9, 260
+
+ Wheare's 'Method and Order of Reading Histories,' 85
+
+ Wheatley, Benjamin, 69, 114
+
+ Wheatley, Mr. H. B., 100 _note_, 293
+
+ Wheldon, John, 211
+
+ Whethamstede, 10
+
+ Whiston, John, 103, 219
+
+ Whitechapel, 155, 187, 188
+
+ White, Benjamin (Sr. and Jr.), 219-221
+
+ White, Gilbert, 221
+
+ White, John, 221
+
+ White, Joseph, 194
+
+ White Knights Library, 109
+
+ Whittington, Sir Richard, 8
+
+ Whytforde's 'Lyfe of Perfection,' 309
+
+ Wilbraham, R., 61
+
+ Wilcox, Thomas, 103
+
+ Wilkes, John, 54, 55, 108, 183, 311
+
+ Wilkinson, John, 105
+
+ Williams, Dr. David, 39
+
+ Willis, G., 246
+
+ Willoughby, Lord, 31, 193
+
+ Willoughby, Sir H., 84
+
+ Wills, John, 219
+
+ Wilson's 'Art of Logic,' 74
+
+ Wimpole Library, the, 89, 90
+
+ Winchelsea, Earl of, 173
+
+ Wingrave, F., 236
+
+ Winstanley's 'Views of Audley End,' 292
+
+ Wise, Mr. T. J., 316, 317
+
+ Wodhull, Michael, 57, 58, 128
+
+ Women as book-collectors, 259-273
+
+ Women as book-thieves, 279-280, 285
+
+ Wood, Anthony a, 8, 21, 32
+
+ Wordsworth, W., 76, 78
+
+ Worsley, Dr. B., 100, 213
+
+ Wulfseg, Bishop of London, 3
+
+ Wyndham, 238
+
+ Wynkyn de Worde, 54, 111, 119, 216, 301, 306
+
+
+ Yates's 'Castell of Courtesie,' 222
+
+ York, Duke of, 108
+
+
+ Zouche, Lord, 304
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+_Elliot Stock, Paternoster Row, London._
+
+
+[Illustration:
+
+ '_Must I, as a wit with learned air,
+ Like Doctor Dewlap, to Tom Payne's repair?_']
+
+
+
+
+_Uniform with 'The Book-Hunter in London.'_
+
+
+THE BOOK-HUNTER IN PARIS.
+
+BEING
+
+Studies Among the Bookstalls of the Quays.
+
+By OCTAVE UZANNE.
+
+WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY AUGUSTINE BIRRELL,
+AUTHOR OF 'OBITER DICTA,' 'RES JUDICATAE,' ETC.
+
+_AND 144 CHARACTERISTIC ILLUSTRATIONS INTERSPERSED IN THE TEXT_.
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+EVERY bibliophile who by chance finds himself in Paris, whether on
+urgent affairs or on pleasure intent, invariably manages to visit that
+richest of hunting-grounds, the book-lined quays, where, perhaps, more
+unexpected treasures have been picked up than in any other city of
+Europe. It is of this happy hunting-ground and those who haunt it--the
+book-hunters and the bookstall-keepers; the books they buy and the books
+they sell; whence they come and whither they go; the finds, the losses,
+the disappointments, and red-letter days--that M. Uzanne writes in this
+attractive volume, in that felicitous and suggestive manner which has
+made him so well known in present-day literature.
+
+
+Opinions of the Press on 'The Book-Hunter in Paris.'
+
+'A very interesting book. Mr. Birrell's introduction is a pleasant and
+useful explanation of the volume, which is presented in a form fully
+deserving of its literary merits.'--_Times._
+
+'M. Uzanne's chapters are full of curious information, which will have
+special attraction for those English book-hunters to whom Paris is
+unknown. The style is agreeably anecdotic, and the numerous woodcuts are
+quaint and graphic.'--_Globe._
+
+'With real regret we lay down so charmingly written a volume, and it is
+with no small satisfaction that we note the publisher's announcement
+that a companion volume on "The Book-Hunter in London" will shortly be
+issued.'--_St. James's Budget._
+
+'M. Uzanne's book is delightful, with never a heavy touch, but crammed
+with quaint traditions, humorous characteristics, charming
+gossip.'--_Graphic._
+
+'M. Uzanne sets forth with a good deal of pathos, happily leavened with
+humour, the history, past and present, of the stall-keepers and the
+quays of the Seine, in whose trays many a notable _trouvaille_ has been
+made in other times.'--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+'The interest of the book is heightened by the characteristic vignettes
+which are interwoven with the text on almost every other page.'--_The
+Standard._
+
+'Lightly does he carry his learning and brightly does he sketch the
+bookmen and their riverside market. Of present interest to all
+book-lovers are his piquant contrasts of the old order and the
+new.'--_Saturday Review._
+
+'To collectors the book will appeal with special force, but the general
+reader, if he be gifted with ordinary intelligence, will also enjoy it.
+It is not dry; in fact, to use the familiar expression, it is "as
+interesting as a novel."'--_Publishers' Circular._
+
+'The book is full of stories of the characteristics of the fraternity,
+anecdotes, and biographical sketches of past stall-keepers and their
+most famous patrons.'--_Daily Graphic._
+
+'Everybody knows M. Uzanne's pleasant, garrulous style--how he takes his
+readers into his confidence, how he spins phrases lovingly, and always
+keeps you in good spirits. He was just the man to write such a
+book.'--_Bookman._
+
+'The work is always learned, and (what is not so easy) always light.
+Everybody who is the least of a book-hunter ought to read it at once, or
+rather, ought to hunt for it first; and then, to show that it is a
+better sort of book than many that are hunted, read it.'--_Scotsman._
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
+
+
+Characters superscripted in the original are inclosed in {} brackets.
+
+Variations in spelling have been left as in the original. Examples
+include the following:
+
+ Crede Creede
+ Creside Cressida
+ Faerie Faerie
+ Magliabecchi Magliabechi
+ Polychronicon Policronicon
+ Schoeffer's Schoeffer Schoeffer with an oe ligature
+ Sweynheim Sweynheym
+ Troilus Troylus
+ Zarothum Zarothus
+
+The following words used an oe ligature in the original:
+
+ d'oeuvre
+ Foedera
+ Oeconomiques
+ oeuvre Oeuvres
+ Phoebum
+ Phoenix
+ Schoeffer
+ Tragoedie
+
+The following words appear with and without hyphens. They have been left
+as in the original.
+
+ book-buyer bookbuyer
+ book-buying bookbuying
+ book-case bookcase
+ book-plate bookplate
+ book-selling bookselling
+ Coffee-house Coffeehouse
+ sale-room saleroom
+ waste-paper wastepaper
+
+The following corrections have been made to the text:
+
+ page xiv: Purcell (p. 165)[original has 164]
+
+ page xv: necessarily a learned man.[original is missing
+ period]
+
+ page 24: 1 Peers pennylesse supplication[original has
+ supplicati[=o] to indicate there wasn't room for the final n]
+
+ [=o] is equivalent to o with a macron over it
+
+ page 33: the '[opening quote is missing in original]Godfrey of
+ Bulloigne' selling for 18s.
+
+ page 40: early age of forty-four[original has fourty-four]
+
+ page 74: duplicate of my wooden leg."[original has extraneous
+ single quote]
+
+ page 81: the MSS. of Gray, in their perfect
+ calligraphy[original has caligraphy]
+
+ page 142: Rowfant[original has Rowfont] Library
+
+ page 146: where a sale of books was in progress[original has
+ progess]
+
+ page 147: on the Banks of Lake Liman, near Geneva,"[ending
+ quotation mark missing in original]
+
+ page 194: For Billingsgate, quit Flexney, and be wise.'[ending
+ quotation mark missing in original]
+
+ page 232: like another Magliabecchi,[removed extraneous
+ quotation mark after Magliabecchi]
+
+ page 260: Countess of Westmoreland[original has Westmorland]
+
+ page 264: We give facsimiles[original has facsimilies]
+
+ page 294: '[quotation mark missing in original]Jokely, very
+ interesting
+
+ page 295: 'The Rose and the Ring by R. Browing.'[original has
+ comma]
+
+ page 303: catalogue raisonne[original has raisonnee]
+
+ page 310: 'The Death Wake' (1831),[original has period]
+
+ page 322: Princess Marie Liechtenstein[original has
+ Leichtenstein]
+
+ page 323: Arch, J. and A.[original has J.]
+
+ page 323: Bannatyne[original has Bannantyne] Club, the
+
+ page 324: under Bibles and New Testaments--
+
+ Fust and Schoeffer (1462) was out of alphabetical order in
+ the original
+ in the Gutenberg sub-entry, the pages numbers were out of
+ order in the original
+
+ page 324: Brooke[original has Brook], Lord Warwick, 100
+
+ page 325: under Caxton--
+
+ 'Book of Good Manners,'[comma missing in original]
+ Godfrey of Bulloigne[original has Bulloyne]
+ Higden's 'Polychronicon[original has Polycronicon]
+ History of Blanchardyn[original has Blanchardin]
+ 'Troylus and Creside,'[ending quote missing in original and
+ spelling is Cressid]
+ Virgil's 'AEneid'[original has AEnid]
+
+ page 326: Drummond's 'Forth[original has Fourth] Fasting,' 86
+
+ page 327: Finsbury Square, 177, 179-183[removed extraneous
+ period]
+
+ page 327: Glashier,[comma missing in original] George, 202
+
+ page 327: Guilford[original has Guildford], Earl of
+
+ page 327: Guilford[original has Guildford], Francis, Baron
+
+ page 328: Johnson, Joseph[original has John], 214, 215
+
+ page 328: Johnston[original has Johnstone], William
+
+ page 328: Kempis, Thomas a[original has a]
+
+ page 330: Nornaville[original has Nornanville] and Fell
+
+ page 330: Nourse[original has Nowise], John, 236
+
+ page 331: Rewiczki[original has Rewicski], Count
+
+ page 331: Loyalty[original has Royalty--entry has been moved
+ to maintain alphabetical order], the 'repository' of, 250
+
+ page 332: Stibbs[original has Stibbes], E. W.
+
+ page 332: Thackeray, W. M., 83[out of alphabetical order in
+ original]
+
+ page 332: Tyndale[original has Tyndall], John, 16
+
+ page 332: Tyson, Dr. E., 176[out of alphabetical order in
+ original]
+
+ page 333: Verard[original has Verard], Antoine
+
+ page 333: entries for Walford, Cornelius, Walford, Mr. E.,
+ Walker, John, Warde, Roger, and Ward, Mr. W., were out of
+ alphabetical order in the original
+
+ page 333: Weskett,[comma missing in original] 'On Insurances,'
+ 151
+
+In the index on page 328, there is an entry for Thomas a Kempis. His
+name is not mentioned in the book, but he is the author of "Imitatio
+Christi" which is discussed in the text on the referenced pages.
+
+In the index, many of the page references were incorrect. Corrections
+have been made as indicated in the following table.
+
+ Original Correct
+ Entry Page # Page #
+
+ Aldine editions, 128-131 129-131
+ Aldus, 128 129
+ Alfred, 2 3
+ Anacreon, Stephen edition, 128 129
+ Anthologia Graeca' (1494), 129 130
+ Archaica Club, 78 79
+ 'Aristophanes' (1498), 128 129
+ Aristotle (1495-98), 129 130
+ Askew Sale, the, 127, et seq. 128, et seq.
+
+ Bannatyne Club, the, 62 62 note
+ Baptist Library at Bristol, 137 138
+ Barbican, the, 175, 176 176, 177
+ Batemans of Little Britain, 170 171
+ Becket, Thomas, 175 note 176 note
+ Bernard, Dr. Francis, 131 132
+ Bibles and New Testaments
+ Coverdale's (1535), 113 138
+ Graeca Septuaginta, 192 192 note
+ St. Jerome's MS., 139, 140 140
+ Bishopsgate Churchyard, 160 161
+ Black-letter books, 135 136
+ Blandford, Marquis of, 61 61 note
+ Bloomfield, R., 153 154
+ 'Boke of St. Albans,' 135, 136 136
+ Book-ghouls, 159 160
+ Bookstalls and bookstalling, 148-166 149-167
+ Brabourne, Lord, 106 107
+ Britten, Mr. James, 150 151
+ Britton, Thomas, 171, 172 172, 173
+ Brown, 'Old,' 156 157
+ Bruscambille on 'Long Noses,' 151 152
+ Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress,' 144, 145 145, 146
+ Burdett-Coutts, Baroness, 140, 141 141, 142
+ Butterworth, Henry, 217 217 note
+
+
+ Campbell, Mr. Dykes, 106 107
+ Caxton, W. 131 132
+ 'Arthur, King,' 132 133
+ 'Book called Cathon,' 131, 132 132, 133
+ 'Book of Chivalry,' 135 136
+ 'Chastising of God's Children,' 131 132
+ Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales,' 135 136
+ 'Chronicles of England,' 131, 132 132, 133
+ Cicero ('De Senectute'), 'Of Old
+ Age,' 90, 131, 132 132, 133
+ 'Dictes and Sayings,' 131 132
+ 'Doctrinal of Sapience,' 131, 132 132, 133
+ 'Game and Playe of Chesse,' 131, 132, 134 132, 133, 135
+ 'Godfrey of Bulloigne,' 131 132
+ 'Golden Legend,' 132 133
+ Gower's 'Confessio Amantis,' 132 133
+ Higden's 'Description of
+ Britayn' 132 ?
+ Higden's 'Polychronicon,' 80 89
+ 'Historyes of Troy,' 131 132
+ 'History of Blanchardyn and
+ Eglantine,' 132 133
+ 'History of Jason,' 131, 132 132, 133
+ 'Mirrour of the World,' 132 133
+ Russell's 'Propositio,' 133 134
+ 'Troylus and Creside,' 132 133
+ Virgil's 'AEneid,' 132 133
+ Caxton, the highest paid for a, 132 133
+ Caxtons, the Althorp, 133 134
+ Chained books at Hereford, 274 ?
+ Chandler, Dr., 287 289
+ Clarke, W., 134 135
+
+ Daniel, G., 140-142 141-143
+ Daniell, Mr. E., 106 107
+ Day's circulating library, 207, 208 208
+ Defoe, Daniel, 155 156
+ Devonshire, Dukes of, } 61, 132 61 note, 133
+ } 140, 141, 172 141, 142, 173
+ Diodorus Siculus (1539), 129 130
+ Dobell, Mr. B., 106 107
+ Dorset, Earl of, 169 170
+ Drayton, M., 157 158
+ Duck Lane, 174, 175 175, 176
+ Duke Street, Little Britain, 174, 175 175, 176
+
+ East End, book-hunting in, 154, et seq. 155, et seq.
+ Editiones Principes, 127-131 128-131
+ Ellis, Mr. G. I., 106 107
+ Elyot's 'Castell of Helth,' 165 166
+ Euripides (1503), 128 129
+ Exeter 'Change, 153, 154 154, 155
+ Extra-illustrating, 164 165
+
+ Farringdon Road, 157, 158 158, 159
+ Finsbury Square, 177 178
+ Foote, Samuel, 162 163
+ Franklin, B., 174 175
+ Fuller's 'David's Hainous Sinne,' 150 151
+ Funnibus, L., 146 147
+
+ Garnett, Dr. R., 165 166
+ Garth, Samuel, 175 176
+ George III., 129, 134, 140 130, 135, 141
+ Gifford, Dr., 138, 139 139, 140
+ Glasse's 'Art of Cookery,' 149 150
+ Goldsmith's 'Vicar of Wakefield,' 145 146
+ Gomme, Mr. G. L., 150 151
+ Grangerizing, 164 165
+ Gray's MSS., 145 146
+ Gwillim's 'Display of Heraldry,' 155 156
+
+ Harleian Library, The, 193 192
+ Harvey, Mr. F., 164 165
+ Harwood, Dr., 127-130 128-131
+ Hatchards, 253, 254 252-254
+ Heliconia Club, 78 79
+ Herodotus (1502), 128 129
+ Hindley, Mr. C., 106 107
+ Hodge, Mr. E. Grose, 106 107
+ Hodgson and Co., 145, 161-163 146, 162-164
+ Holford, Captain, 145 146
+ Holywell Street, 152, 153 153, 154
+ Homer, the Foulis edition, 128 129
+ Horace, editio princeps, 129 130
+ Hunter, Mr., 129 130
+ Hunt, Leigh, 148 149
+
+ Islington, cattle market at, 163 164
+ Isocrates (1493), 128 129
+
+ Jeffrey, Edward, 112 113
+ Jersey, Earl of, 132 133
+ Johnson, Dr., 257 237
+ Jolley, Thomas, 142 note 143 note
+ Juvenal and Persius (1469), 130 131
+
+ King, John, 177 178
+ King, Thomas, 177 178
+ Knock-outs, 163 164
+
+ Lamb, Charles, 175, 176 176, 177
+ Lamb's 'Beauty and the Beast,' 149 150
+ Langford, auctioneer, 138 139
+ Leighton, Mr., 106 107
+ Lemoine, Henry, 160 161
+ Lisburne, Lord, 128 129
+ Locker-Lampson, F., 106 107
+ London House, Aldersgate Street, 40 39
+ Longman and Co., 79, 80 80
+ Lovelace's 'Lucasta,' 144 145
+ Lytton, Lord, 149 150
+
+ Macaulay, Lord, 148 149
+ Manuscript, the textual value
+ of a, 127 128
+ Martial's 'Epigrammata,' 131 132
+ Mather, Increase, 150 151
+ Mayhew, Henry, 160 161
+ Millington, E. 169 170
+ Milton's 'Paradise Lost,' 144, 169 145, 170
+ Molini, Mr., 106 107
+ Moorfields, 167, 176-179 168, 177-179
+ Murray, John of Sacomb, 137, 138 138, 139
+ Musaeus (1494), 129 130
+
+ Neligan, Dr., 106 107
+ New Cut, the, 156, 157 157
+ Newton, W., 173 174
+ Nicol, George, 127 126
+ North, Francis, 169 170
+ North, Roger, 169 170
+ Novimagus, Society of, 82 83
+
+ Ovid (1471), 130 131
+ Oxford, Edward, Earl of, 138, 172 139, 173
+
+ Pamphlet shops, 154 155
+ Passavant, Speyr, 139 140
+ Pellet, Thomas, 154 155
+ Pembroke, Lord, 172 173
+ Pepys, Samuel, 249 248
+ Perry, James, 132 133
+ Plato, 129 130
+ Pliny, 'Historia Naturalis,' 130 131
+ Poetry, old English, 144 145
+ Pope, Alexander, 150 151
+ Purcell, of Red Lion Passage, 164 165
+ Puttenham's 'Art of English
+ Poesie,' 144 145
+
+ Quaritch, Mr. B., 106, 281 107, 280
+
+ Railton, Mr., 106 107
+ Ratcliffe, John, 131 132
+ Rawlinson, T. and R., 135 136
+ Reed, Isaac, 144 145
+ Reeves, Mr. W., 106 107
+ Richardson's 'Remarks on Paradise
+ Lost,' 169 170
+ Rimell, Mr. J., 106 107
+ Robinson's 'Handefull of Pleasant
+ Delites,' 144 145
+ Robson, Mr., 106 107
+ Roche, Mr. J., 106 107
+ Rogers, Samuel, 79-82 80-82
+ Roxburghe, John, Duke of, 140 141
+ Rubric posts, 175 176
+ Rylands, Mrs., 145 146
+
+ Sacheverell, Dr. Henry, 257 251
+ Sala, Mr. G. A., 149, 156 150, 157
+ Salisbury, Mr. J., 209, 211 211
+ Sanderson, Bishop, 170 171
+ Scott, R., 172 173
+ Scott's 'Vision of Don Roderick,' 149 150
+ Scriptorium, 1, 2 2
+ Selsey, Lord, 132 133
+ Seneca, 'Tragoediae' (1475), 130 131
+ Sewell, John, 175 176 note
+ Shakespeare, W., 140-142 141-143
+ First Folio (1623), 140 141
+ Second Folio (1632), 140-142 141-143
+ Third Folio (1664), 140-142 141-143
+ Fourth Folio (1685), 140-142 141-143
+ Quarto editions
+ 'Hamlet,' 142 143
+ '2 Henry IV.,' 142 143
+ 'Henry V.,' 142 143
+ 'Henry VI.,' 142 143
+ 'Lear,' 142 143
+ 'Love's Labour Lost,' 142 143
+ 'Merchant of Venice,' 142 143
+ 'Merry Wives of Windsor, 142 143
+ 'Midsummer Night's Dream' 142 143
+ 'Much Ado About Nothing,' 142 143
+ 'Othello,' 142 143
+ 'Pericles,' 142 143
+ 'Poems,' 142 143
+ 'Rape of Lucrece,' 142 143
+ 'Richard II.,' 142 143
+ 'Richard III.,' 142 143
+ 'Romeo and Juliet,' 142 143
+ 'Sonnets,' 142, 143 note 143 and note
+ 'Troilus and Cressida,' 142 143
+ 'Venus and Adonis,' 142, 143 note 143 and note
+ Shandy, Mr., 151 152
+ Sherley's 'Wits New Dyall,' 166 167
+ Shoreditch, 154 155
+ Silius Italicus, 130 131
+ Slater, Mr. J. H., 149 150
+ Sloane, Sir Hans, 171 172
+ 'Snuffy Davy,' 134 135
+ Solly, Edward, 47 46
+ Somers, Lord, 171 172
+ Snowden, Mr. G. S., 106 107
+ Sophocles (1502), 128 129
+ Sotheran, Mr. H., 106 107
+ Spectator, the, 174 175
+ Spenser's 'Faerie Queene,' 144 145
+ St. Albans, books printed at, 135, 136 136, 137
+ St. Paul's Churchyard, 152 153
+ Stevens, Henry, 106 107
+ Staple Inn, 43 42
+ Stibbs, E. W., 106 107
+ Strand, the, 152 153
+ Sunderland, Earl of, 172 173
+ Swift, Jonathan, 171, 175 172, 176
+ Sydenham Tusculum, Hill's, 78 79
+ Sydney, Sir Robert, 141 142
+ Sykes, Sir M. M., 61 61 note
+
+ Taylor, Watson, 132 133
+ Theocritus (1495), 129 130
+ Thoms, W. J., 155, 156 156
+ Thoresby, Ralph, 177 178
+ Toovey, J., 106, 141, 145 107, 142
+ Tyson, Dr. E., 175 176
+
+ Valerius Maximus (1471), 130 131
+ Verard, Antoine, 12 13
+
+ Walford, Mr. E., 106 107
+ Walton, Izaak, 170 171
+ Walton's 'Compleat Angler,' 143, 144 144, 145
+ Walford, Cornelius, 150, 151 151, 152
+ Walker, John, 114 113
+ Ward, Mr. W., 106 107
+ Warwick, Earl of, 106 107
+ Weskett, 'On Insurances,' 151 152
+ Westell, Mr. J., 106 107
+ Whitechapel, 154 155
+ Winchelsea, Earl of, 172 173
+ Women as book-thieves, 278-280 279-280
+ Wynkyn de Worde, 118 111
+
+Ellipsis are represented as in the original.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Book-Hunter in London, by William Roberts
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOOK-HUNTER IN LONDON ***
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