Purchased by Mores.

Nos. 361 to 367. Upwards of thirty _scarce Theological Tracts_, in Latin and English 1 5 0

Nos. 746 to 784. A fine collection of early English Translations, in black letter, with some good foreign editions of the classics. Not exceeding, in the whole 10 10 0

Nos. 837, 838. Two copies of the _first edition_ of Bacon's Essays, 1597! 0 0 6

The reader will just glance at No. 970, in the catalogue, en passant, to

Nos. 1082 (1 2s.) and 1091 (12s.); but more particularly to

No. 1173. Caxton's _Boke of Tulle of olde age_, &c. 1481.

Purchased by the late Mr. T. Payne 8 8 0

No. 1174. CAXTON'S _Boke which is sayd or called Cathon_, &c. 1483. 5 0 0

Purchased by Alchorn.

No. 1256. CAXTON'S _Doctrinal of Sapyence_, 1489 6 6 0

Purchased by Alchorn.

No. 1257. CAXTON'S _Cordyal_, 1479 6 12 6

No. 1258. WYNKYN DE WORDE'S _Ocharde of Syon_, &c. 1519. 1 13 0

I will, however, only add that there were upwards of 150 articles of _Old Plays_, mostly in quarto. See page 73. Of _Antiquities_, _Chronicles_, and _Topography_, it would be difficult to pitch upon the rarest volumes. The collection, including very few MSS., contained 3641 articles, or probably nearly 7000 volumes. The Catalogue is uncommon.]

[Footnote 46: I am now arrived, pursuing my chronological arrangement, at a very important period in the annals of book-sales. The name and collection of Dr. ASKEW are so well known in the bibliographical world that the reader need not be detained with laboured commendations on either: in the present place, however, it would be a cruel disappointment not to say a word or two by way of _preface_ or _prologue_.

Dr. ANTHONY ASKEW had eminently distinguished himself by a refined taste, a sound knowledge, and an indefatigable research relating to every thing connected with Grecian and Roman literature. It was to be expected, even during his life, as he was possessed of sufficient means to gratify himself with what was rare, curious, and beautiful in literature and the fine arts, that the public would, one day, be benefited by such pursuits: especially as he had expressed a wish that his treasures might be unreservedly submitted to sale, after his decease. In this wish the Doctor was not singular. Many eminent collectors had indulged it before him: and, to my knowledge, many modern ones still indulge it. Accordingly on the death of Dr.

Askew, in 1774, appeared, in the ensuing year, a catalogue of his books for sale, by Messrs. Baker and Leigh, under the following title:

"BIBLIOTHECA ASKEVIANA, sive Catalogus Librorum Rarissimorum ANTONII ASKEW, M.D., quorum Auctio fiet apud S. Baker et G.

Leigh, in Vico dicto _York Street, Covent Garden_, Londini.

_Die Lunae_, 13 _Februarii_, MDCCLXXV, et in undeviginti sequentes dies." A few copies were struck off on large paper.

We are told by the compiler of the catalogue that it was thought unnecessary to say much with respect to this Library of the late Dr. Anthony Askew, as the Collector and Collection were so well known in almost all parts of Europe.

Afterwards it is observed that "The books in general are in very fine condition, many of them bound in morocco, and Russia leather, with gilt leaves." "To give a particular account," continues the Compiler, "of the _many scarce editions_ of books in this Catalogue would be almost endless, therefore the _first editions_ of the Classics, and some _extremely rare books_ are chiefly noticed. The catalogue, without any doubt, contains the best, rarest, and most valuable collection of GREEK and LATIN BOOKS that were ever sold in England." This account is not overcharged. The collection, in regard to Greek and Roman literature, was _unique_ in its day.

The late worthy and learned Mr. M. CRACHERODE, whose library now forms one of the most splendid acquisitions of the British Museum, and whose _bequest_ of it will immortalize his memory, was also among the "Emptores literarii" at this renowned sale. He had enriched his collection with many _Exemplar Askevianum_; and, in his latter days, used to elevate his hands and eyes, and exclaim against the prices _now_ offered for EDITIONES PRINCIPES!

The fact is, Dr. Askew's sale has been considered a sort of _aera_ in bibliography. Since that period, rare and curious books in Greek and Latin literature have been greedily sought after, and obtained at most extravagant prices. It is very well for a veteran in bibliography, as was Mr.

Cracherode, or as are Mr. Wodhull and Dr. Gosset, whose collections were formed in the days of Gaignat, Askew, Duke de la Valliere, and Lamoignon--it is very well for such gentlemen to declaim against _modern prices_! But what is to be done? Books grow scarcer every day, and the love of literature, and of possessing rare and interesting works, increases in an equal ratio. Hungry bibliographers meet, at sales, with well furnished purses, and are resolved upon sumptuous fare. Thus the hammer _vibrates_, after a bidding of _Forty pounds_, where formerly it used regularly to _fall_ at _Four_!

But we lose sight of Dr. Askew's _rare editions_, and _large paper copies_. The following, gentle Reader, is but an imperfect specimen!

No. 168. Chaucer's Works, by PYNSON, no date 7 17_s._ 6_d._

No. 172. Cicero of Old Age, by Caxton, 1481 13 13 0

No. 518. Gilles' (Nicole) Annales, &c. de France. Paris, fol. 1520. 2 tom. SUR VELIN 31 10 6

No. 647. aeginetae (Pauli) Praecepta Salubria. Paris, quarto, 1510. ON VELLUM 11 0 0

No. 666. aesopi Fabulae. EDIT. PRIN. _circ._ 1480 6 6 0

No. 684. Boccacio, la Teseide _Ferar._ 1475. PRIMA EDIZIONE 85 0 0

No. 1433. Catullus Tibullus, et Propertius, Aldi. 8vo. 1502.

IN MEMBRANA 17 10 0

This copy was purchased by the late Mr. M.C. Cracherode, and is now, with his library, in the British Museum. It is a beautiful book, but cannot be compared with Lord Spencer's Aldine VELLUM Virgil, of the same size.

No. 1576. Durandi Rationale, &c. 1459. IN MEMBRANA 61 0 0

The beginning of the 1st chapter was wanting. Lord Spencer has a perfect copy of this rare book on spotless VELLUM!

No. 2656. Platonis Opera, apud Aldum. 2 vol. fol. 1513.

_Edit. Prin._ ON VELLUM 55 13 0

Purchased by the late Dr. W. Hunter; and is at this moment, in his Museum at _Glasgow_. The reader who has not seen them can have no idea of the beauty of these vellum leaves. The ink is of the finest lustre, and the whole typographical arrangement may be considered a master-piece of printing.

Lord Oxford told Dr. Mead that he gave 100 guineas for this very copy.]

After this melancholy event, one would have thought that future _Virtuosi_ would have barricadoed their doors, and fumigated their chambers, to keep out such a pest;--but how few are they who profit by experience, even when dearly obtained! The subsequent history of the disease is a striking proof of the truth of this remark; for the madness of book-collecting rather increased--and the work of death still went on. In the year 1776 died John Ratcliffe[47] another, and a very singular, instance of the fatality of the BIBLIOMANIA. If he had contented himself with his former occupation, and frequented the butter and cheese, instead of the book, market--if he could have _fancied himself_ in a brown peruke, and Russian apron, instead of an embroidered waistcoat, velvet breeches, and flowing perriwig, he might, perhaps, have enjoyed greater longevity; but, infatuated by the Caxtons and Wynkyn De Wordes of Fletewode and of West, he fell into the snare; and the more he struggled to disentangle himself, the more certainly did he become a prey to the disease.

[Footnote 47: BIBLIOTHECA RATCLIFFIANA; or, "A Catalogue of the elegant and truly valuable Library of JOHN RATCLIFFE, Esq. late of Bermondsey, deceased. The whole collected with great judgment and expense, during the last thirty years of his life: comprehending a large and most choice collection of the rare old English _black-letter_, in fine preservation, and in elegant bindings, printed by CAXTON, LETTOU, MACHLINIA, the anonymous St. Albans Schoolmaster, Wynkyn de Worde, Pynson, Berthelet, Grafton, Day, Newberie, Marshe, Jugge, Whytchurch, Wyer, Rastell, Coplande, and the rest of the _Old English Typographers_: several missals and MSS., and two Pedigrees on vellum, finely illuminated." The title page then sets forth a specimen of these black-lettered gems; among which our eyes are dazzled with a galaxy of Caxtons, Wynkyn de Wordes, Pynsons, &c. &c. The sale took place on March 27, 1776.

If ever there was a _unique_ collection, this was one--the very essence of Old Divinity, Poetry, Romances, and Chronicles! The articles were only 1675 in number, but their intrinsic value amply compensated for their paucity.

The following is but an inadequate specimen.

No. 1315. Horace's Arte of Poetrie, Pistles and Satyres, by Drant. 1567, _first English edition_ 0 16_s._ 6_d._

No. 1321. The Sheparde's Calender, 1579. Whetstone's Castle of Delight, 1576 1 2 0

No. 1392. The Pastyme of the People, printed by Rastell.

Curious wood cuts. A copy of this book is not now to be procured. I have known 40 offered for it, and rejected with disdain 7 7 0

No. 1403. Barclay's Shyp of Folys, printed by Pynson, 1508, _first edit._ fine copy 2 10 0

No. 1426. The Doctrinal of Sapyence, printed by CAXTON, 1489 8 8 0

No. 1427. The Boke, called Cathon, DITTO, 1483. _Purchased by Dr. Hunter_, and now in his Museum 5 5 0

No. 1428. The Polytyque Boke, named Tullius de Senectute, in Englishe, by CAXTON, 1481. _Purchased for his Majesty_ 14 0 0

No. 1429. The Game of Chesse Playe. 1474 16 0 0