fol. _deaurat._ Lond. 1684-91. 5 13 9

551. Rerum Britannicarum, Scriptores Vetustiores. Lugd.

1587, folio. 1 8 0

573. Prynne's Records, 3 vols., with the _frontispieces complete, gilt, broad border of gold_. Lond. 1666-68. "For an account of this rare and valuable work, see Oldy's British Librarian, page II. Not more than 70 copies of the first vol. were rescued from the fire of London, 1666."

folio. 80 15 3

I learn from the nephew of the late Mr. Archer, of Dublin, bookseller, that the late Lord Clare offered 4000 guineas for the collection--which contained only 1441 lots or articles. The offer was rejected. Although the amount of the sale did not exceed 3700_l._--according to a rough calculation.]

LIS. I do:--and a marvellously fine one it is!

LOREN. Well, this was formerly _Exemplar Dalyanum_. But now proceed. I wished only to convince you that the miasmata (as you call them) of the bibliomaniacal disease had reached our Sister Kingdom. Of Scotland[403]--I know nothing in commendation respecting the BIBLIOMANIA.

[Footnote 403: This is rather a hasty speech, on the part of Lorenzo. The copious and curious catalogues of those booksellers, Messrs. CONSTABLE, LAING, and BLACKWOOD--are a sufficient demonstration that the cause of the _Bibliomania_ flourishes in the city of Edinburgh. Whether they have such desperate bibliomaniacs in Scotland, as we possess in London, and especially of the book-auction species--is a point which I cannot take upon me to decide. Certain it is that the notes of their great poet are not deficient in numerous tempting extracts from rare black-letter tomes; and if his example be not more generally followed than it is, the fault must lie with some scribe or other who counteracts its influence by propagating opinions, and recommending studies, of a different, and less tasteful, cast of character. I am fearful that there are too many politico-economical, metaphysical, and philosophical miasmata, floating in the atmosphere of Scotland's metropolis, to render the climate there just now favourable to the legitimate cause of the BIBLIOMANIA.]

I had nearly forgotten to mention, with the encomiums which they merit, the select, curious, and splendid collections of the CHAUNCYS:[404] very able scholars, and zealous bibliomaniacs. Many a heavy-metalled competitor attended the sale of the _Bibliotheca Chauncyana_; and, I dare say, if such a collection of books were now _sub hasta_----

[Footnote 404: _A Catalogue of the elegant and valuable Libraries of_ CHARLES CHAUNCY, M.D. F.R.S. and F.S.A.; _and of his brother_, NATHANIEL CHAUNCY, _Esq., both deceased: &c. Sold by auction by Leigh and Sotheby, April, 1790_, 8vo.: 3153 articles.

NO. 99. Booke of Raynarde the Foxe, morocco, gilt leaves, _London by Thomas Gaultier_, 1550, 8vo. 2 3_s._ 0_d._

108. Merie Tales by Master Skelton, Poet Laureat; _imprinted by Thomas Colwell_; no date, 12mo. 1 6 0

109. The Pleasunt Historie of Lazarillo de Tormes, by David Rouland; _impr. at London, by Abel Jeffes_, 1586, 12mo. 0 11 0

112. The Newe Testament, corrected by Tyndal, with exhortations by Erasmus; _gilt leaves_, 1536, 12mo. 5 2 6

113. More's Utopia, by Robynson; _impr. by Abraham Veale_, 12mo. (1551.) 0 8 0

"N.B. In this are the passages which have been left out in the later editions." (But the reader may be pleased to examine my edition of this translation of the Utopia; 1808, 2 vols., 8vo., see vol. i., p. clix.)

119. The Epidicion into Scotland of the most woorthely fortunate Prince Edward, Duke of Somerset, Uncle unto our most noble sovereign, &c., Edward the VIth; _imprinted by Grafton_; 1548, 8vo. 2 18 0

(At the sale of Mr. Gough's books in 1810, a fine copy of this work was sold for 10_l._ 10_s._)

362. Ben Jonson his Volpone, or the Foxe; _morocco, gilt leaves_, 1607, 4to. 4 0 0

"In this book is this note written by Ben Jonson himself.

'To his loving father, and worthy friend Mr. John Florio: the ayde of his Muses. Ben Jonson seales this testimony of friendship and love.'"

384. Nychodemus's Gospell, _morocco, gilt leaves, emprynted at London, by Wynkyn de Worde_, 1511, 4to. 2 2 0

388. Oxford and Cambridge Verses; _in blue and red morocco, gilt leaves, with gold tassels_, 13 vols., 1617, &c., fol. 2 12 6

572. Caius of English Dogges, the diversities, the names, the natures, and the properties, by Fleming; _imprinted at London by Richard Johnes_, 1576, 4to. 5 10 0

592. The Life and Death of the merry Devill of Edmonton, with the pleasant Prancks of Smug the smith, Sir John, and mine Host of the George, about the stealing of Venison, frontispiece, 4to. 1 10 0

599. Speculum Xristiani, corio turcico, impress. _London, p.

Willelmum de Machlinia_ ad instanciam nec non expensas Henrici Urankenburg, mercatoris, _sine anno vel loco, circa_, 1480, 4to. 11 0 0

599. [Transcriber's Note: sic] A Hundreth Sundrie Flowers, bounde up in one small poesie, gathered in the fyne outlandish gardins of Euripides, Ovid, Petrake, Aristo, and others.

_London_, 4to. 1 12 0

1669. The Recuile of the Historie of Troie; _imprynted_ 1553, _by William Copland, folio_ 2 5 0

1670. The Pastyme of People. The Chronicles of dyvers Realmys, and most specyally of the Realme of Englond, brevely compylyd and _emprynted in Chepesyde at the sygne of the Mearmayde, next Polly's Gate (made up with MS.) morocco, gilt leaves_, folio 9 14 0

1684. Cunningham's Cosmographical Glasse. _Lond. printed by Daye_, 1559, fol. 5 15 6

(I conclude that it had the portrait.)

2932. Ptolomaei Cosmographie; cum tab. georgr. [Transcriber's Note: geogr.] illum. _Impress. in Membranis_, 1482, fol. 14 14 0

2933. Virgilii Opera: _Impres. in Membram. Venet. ap.

Barthol. Cremonens_, 1472, fol. (Two leaves on vellum in MS.

very fairly written) 43 1 0

Purchased by the late Mr. Quin.

2934. Plinii Hist. Naturalis; Venet. 1472, folio. _Impres.

in Membranis._ The first leaf illuminated on very fine vellum paper. Note in this book: "This book, formerly Lord Oxford's, was bought by him of Andrew Hay for 160 guineas."

65 2 0

Purchased by Mr. Edwards.

There was also a magnificent copy of _Pynson's first edition of Chaucer's Works_, in folio, which is now in the collection of Earl Spencer.]

LIS. He means "under the hammer."--Ladies are not supposed to know these cramp Latin phrases.--

LYSAND. Well, "under the hammer:"--if, I say, such a collection were now to be disposed of by public auction, how eager and emulous would our notorious book-collectors be to run away with a few splendid spoils!

We will next notice a not less valuable collection, called the _Bibliotheca Monroiana_; or the library of Dr. JOHN MONRO;[405] the sale of which took place in the very year, and a little before, the preceding library was disposed of. Don't imagine that Monro's books were chiefly medical; on the contrary, besides exhibiting some of the rarest articles in Old English literature, they will convince posterity of the collector's accurate taste in Italian Belles Lettres: and here and there you will find, throughout the catalogue, some interesting bibliographical memoranda by the Doctor himself.

[Footnote 405: "_Bibliotheca Elegantissima Monroiana: A Catalogue of the elegant and valuable library of_ JOHN MUNRO, M.D., _Physician to Bethelem Hospital, lately deceased. Sold by auction by Leigh and Sotherby [Transcriber's Note: Sotheby], &c. April 23d, 1792_, 8vo."

As usual I subjoin a few specimens of the collector's literary treasures in confirmation of the accuracy of Lysander's eulogy upon the collection----No. 709, Cowell's Interpreter; or, Booke containing the signification of words, _first edition_, ("rare to be met with.") _Camb.

by Legate_, 1607, 4to.----No. 1951. Cent (Les) Nouvelles Nouvelles, ou pour mieux dire, Nouveaux Comptes a plaisance, par maniere de Joyeusete.----_Lettres Gothiques, fig. et bois et titre MSS. feuilles dorees, en maroquin, Paris, par Ant. Verard_, 1475, fol.----No. 1963, Heide Beschryving der nieuevlyks uitgevonden en geoctrojeerde Slang-Brand-Spuiten, en Haare wijze van Brand-Blussen, Tegenwoordig binnen _Amsterdam in gebruik zynde. Wyze figuurs Amst._ 1690, fol. "_Note in this book: Paris_, 1736.

Paid for this book for his Grace the Duke of Kingston, by Mr. Hickman, 24_l._" A great sum for a book about a "newly discovered fire engine!"----No. 2105, Vivre (Le livre intitule l'art de bein) et de bien mourir, lettres gothiques, avec fig. en maroquin dorees sur tranches.

_Imprime a Paris_, 1543, 4to. Note by Dr. Munro: "It is a very scarce book, more so than generally thought." With a long account of the book on separate papers.----No. 2121, Ariosto, Orlando Furioso, con figure da Porro, foglio dorat.

Venet. 1584, 4to. N.B. In this copy the true print is replaced _with a fine head of Ariosto_, and _elegantly inlaid with morocco and calf_.----No. 2147, Boccacio (Nimpale Fiesolano: composto par il Clarissimo Poeta Misser Joanni) Fiorentino, &c. rigato. Senza data, 4to. See in this book a long account of this poem from Dom. Maria Manni, in the Istoria del Decamerone, p. 55. "From what Manni says in the above account, I suppose this to be the first edition he makes mention of, as there is no place or date to be found.

J.M."----No. 2194. Dante di Landino, con. fig. La prima Edizione di Landino, impf. _Firenze per Nicholo di Lorenzo della Magna_, 1481, folio. "In this book are several remarks by Dr. Munro, on separate papers. An old scarce print, separate. On the title-page the following initials C M/DC R; upon which the Doctor remarks it might probably be the signature of Charles the First, whose property it might have been. The Doctor likewise observes this copy, though imperfect, is still very valuable, on account of its having eight plates, the generality having only the two first."----No. 2208, Molinet (Les Faictz et dictz de bone Memoire Maistre Jehan) _Lettres gothiques, en maroquin Par._ 1537, 8vo.----No. 2366, Peri Fiesole Distrutta, poema: with portrait and engraved title, Firenze, 1619, 4to. _Note in this book_: "This is the only copy I ever saw of this work, which I imagine is at present become extremely scarce.

The title and portrait are engraved by Callott. The portrait is common enough, but the title, known by the name of the Bella Giardiniera, very seldom seen. J.M."----No. 2379.

Ridolfi, Le Maraviglie dell'Arte, overo le vite di Pittori Veneti e dello stato, con. fig. 2 tom. 4to. N.B. On the blank leaf of this book is an etching by Carolus Rodolphus, with this _MS. note_: "I imagine this to be an etching of Cavaier Rodolphi, as I do not remember any other of the name."----No. 2865, Lazii in Genealogiam Austriacam, Basil. ap. Oporinum, 1564.--Lazii Vienna Austriae Basil, 1546. Francolin Res Gestae Viennensis, cum fig. _Viennae Austriae excudebat Raphael Hofhalter_, 1563. Folio. _Note in this book_: "The last book in this volume is curious and uncommon."]

We shall now run rapidly towards the close of the eighteenth century.

But first, you may secure, for a shilling or two, the SOUTHGATE COLLECTION;[406] and make up your minds to pay a few more shillings for good copies, especially upon _large paper_, of all the parts of the catalogues of the library of GEORGE MASON[407]. This collection was an exceedingly valuable one; rather select than extensive: exhibiting, in pretty nearly an equal degree, some of the rarest books in Greek, Latin, and English literature. The _keimelion_ of the Masonian cabinet, in the estimation of the black-letter bibliomaniacs, was a perfect copy of the _St. Albans' edition_ of Juliana Barnes's book of _Hawking, Hunting_, and _Angling_; which perfect copy is now reposing in a collection where there are _keimelia_ of far greater value to dim its wonted lustre. But let Mason have our admiration and esteem. His library was elegant, judicious, and, in many respects, very precious: and the collector of such volumes was a man of worth and learning.

[Footnote 406: "_Museum Southgatianum; being a Catalogue of the valuable Collection of Books, Coins, Medals, and Natural History of the late Rev._ RICHARD SOUTHGATE, A.B., F.A.S., &c. To which are prefixed Memoirs of his Life. London: printed for Leigh and Sotheby," &c. 1795, 8vo. The books were comprised in 2593 lots. The coins and medals extend, in the catalogue, to 68 pages. The shells and natural curiosities (sold in May, 1795) to 11 pages. This catalogue possesses, what every similar one should possess, a compendious and perspicuous account of the collector. My copy of it is upon _large paper_; but the typographical execution is sufficiently defective.]