[57] See _Bibl. Spenceriana_; vol. iii. p. 129, vol. iv. p. 500.
[58] Vol. iii. p. 484.
[59] [I had said "De Rome"--incorrectly--in the previous edition. "M.
Dibdin poursuit partout d"un trait vengeur le coupable Derome: mais ici c"est au relieur CHAMOT qu"il doit l"addresser." c.r.a.pELET; vol.
iii. p. 268.]
[60] [The very sound copy of it, upon paper, belonging to the late Sir M.M.
Sykes, Bart. was sold at the sale of his library for 100 guineas.]
[61] That sigh has at length ceased to rend my breast. It will be seen, from the sequel of this Tour, that a good, sound, perfect copy of it, now adorns the shelves of the _Spencerion Library_. The VIRGILS indeed, in that library, are perfectly unequalled throughout Europe.
[62] [There is a fine copy of this very rare edition in the Public Library at Cambridge.]
[63] [Fine as is this book, it is yet inferior in _alt.i.tude_ to the copy in the Public Library at Cambridge.]
[64] [There was another copy of this edition, free from the foregoing objections, which had escaped me. This omission frets M. c.r.a.pelet exceedingly; but I can a.s.sure him that it was unintentional; and that I have a far greater pleasure in describing _fine_, than _ordinary_, copies--be they WHOSE they may.]
[65] [Not so. There was another copy upon vellum, in the library of Count Melzi, which is now in that of G.H. Standish, Esq. I _know_ that 500 guineas were once offered for this most extraordinary copy, bound in 3 volumes in foreign coa.r.s.e vellum.]
[66] Vol. ii. p. 11: or to the _Bibliotheca Spenceriana_; vol. iv. p.
385.
[67] Now in Lord Spencer"s Collection.
[68] Vol. i. p. 281-2.
[69] [To the best of my recollection and belief, the finest copy of this most estimable book, is that in the Library of the Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville.]
[70] [The finest copy of this valuable edition, which I ever saw, is that in the Public Library at Cambridge.]
[71] _See Bibl. Spenceriana_; vol. i. page 272.
[72] [I had called it a UNIQUE copy; but M. c.r.a.pelet says, that there was a second similar copy, offered to the late Eugene Beauharnais.]
[73] [It is the Edition of Verard, of the date of 1504. The copy looks as if it had neither Printer"s name or date, because the last lines of the colophon have been defaced. See _Cat. des Livr. Iniprim. sur Velin de la Bibl. du Roi_. vol. iii. p. 35. c.r.a.pELET.]
[74] At page 599, &c.
[75] [See _Cat. des Livr. sur Velin_, vol. iv. No. 236.]
[76] Vol. iii. p. 176.
[77] [Mr. Hibbert"s beautiful copy, above referred to, is about to be sold at the sale of his library, in the ensuing Spring; and is fully described in the Catalogue of that Library, at p. 414: But the fac-simile portrait of Francis Sforza, prefixed to the Catalogue, wants, I suspect, the high finished brilliancy, or force, of the original.]
[78] [Not so: see the _Introduction to the Cla.s.sics_, vol. 1. p. 313. edit.
1827 The _only known_ copy of the first volume, UPON VELLUM, is that in the Library of New College, Oxford.]
[79] See the _Bibliographical Decameron_; vol. iii. p. 165.
[80] [The only ENTIRELY PERFECT copy in Europe, to my knowledge, is that in the library of the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville.]
_LETTER VI._
CONCLUSION OF THE ACCOUNT OF THE ROYAL LIBRARY. THE LIBRARY OF THE a.r.s.eNAL.
My last letter left me on the first floor of the Royal Library. I am now about to descend, and to take you with me to the ground floor--where, as you may remember I formerly remarked, are deposited the _Aldine Vellums_ and _Large Papers_, and choice and curious copies from the libraries of _Grolier, Diane de Poictiers_, and _de Thou_. The banquet is equally delicious of its kind, although the dishes are of a date somewhat more remote from the time of Apicius.
Corresponding with the almost interminable suite of book-rooms above, is a similar suite below stairs: but the general appearance of the latter is comparatively cold, desolate, and sombre. The light comes in, to the right, less abundantly; and, in the first two rooms, the garniture of the volumes is less brilliant and attractive. In short, these first two lower rooms may be considered rather as the depot for the cataloguing and forwarding of all modern books recently purchased. Let me now conduct you to the _third room_ in this lower suite, which may probably have a more decided claim upon your attention. Here are deposited, as I just observed, the VELLUM ALDUSES and other curious and choice old printed volumes. I will first mention nearly the whole of the former.
HOMERI OPERA. Gr. _Printed by Aldus. Without Date_. 8vo. 2 vols. A white and beautiful copy--with large, and genuine margins--printed UPON VELLUM.
In its original binding, with the ornaments tolerably entire:--and what binding should this be, but that of Henry the Second and Diane de Poictiers? Let me just notice that this copy measures six inches and a half, by three inches and six eighths.
EURIPIDIS OPERA. Gr. 1503. 8vo. 2 vols. A fair and desirable copy UPON VELLUM; but a little objectionable, as being ruled with red lines rather unskilfully. It is somewhat coa.r.s.ely bound in red morocco, and preserved in a case. This vellum treasure is among the desiderata of Earl Spencer"s library; and I sincerely wish his Lordship no worse luck than the possession of a copy like that before me.[81]
HECUBA, ET IPHIGENIA IN AULIDE. Gr. and Lat. 1507. 8vo. A very rare book, and quite perfect, as far as it goes. This copy, also UPON VELLUM, is much taller than the preceding of the entire works of Euripides; but the vellum is not of so white a tint.
ANTHOLOGIA GRaeCA. Gr. 1503. 8vo. A very fine genuine copy, upon excellent VELLUM. I suspect this copy to be a little broader, but by no means taller, than a similar copy in Lord Spencer"s collection.
HORATIUS. 1501. 8vo. UPON VELLUM: a good, sound copy; although inferior to Lord Spencer"s.
MARTIALIS. 1502. 8vo. Would you believe it?--here are _two_ copies UPON VELLUM, and _both_ originally belonged to Grolier. They are differently illuminated, but the tallest--measuring six inches three eighths, by three inches six eighths--is the whitest, and the preferable copy, notwithstanding one may discern the effects of the nibbling of a worm at the bottom corner. It is, however, a beautiful book, in every respect. The initial letters are gold. In the other copy there are the arms of Grolier, with a pretty illumination in the first page of the text. It is also a sound copy.
LUCRETIUS. 1515. 8vo. This copy, UPON VELLUM, is considered to be unique.
It is fair, sound, and in all respects desirable.
CICERO DE OFFICIIS. _Without Date_. 8vo. This is but a moderate specimen of the Aldine VELLUM, if it be not a counterfeit--which I suspect.[82]
CICERONIS ORATIONES. 1519. 8vo. UPON VELLUM. Only the first volume, which however is quite perfect and desirable--measuring six inches and a quarter, by very nearly four inches. But prepare for an account of a perfect, and still more magnificent, vellum copy of the Orations of Cicero--when I introduce you to the _Library of St. Genevieve_.
HIST. AUGUST. SCRIPTORES. 1521. 8vo. 2 vols. A sound and fair copy--of course UPON VELLUM--but too much cropt in the binding. The foregoing are all the _Aldine, Greek and Latin Cla.s.sics_, printed UPON VELLUM, which the liberal kindness of M. Van Praet enabled me to lay my hands upon. But here follows another membranaceous gem of the Aldine Family.
PETRARCHA. 1501. 8vo. A beautiful, white copy, measuring six inches and a half, by three and three quarters. It is, however, somewhat choked in the binding, (in blue morocco) as too many of Bozerian"s performances usually are.[83] Close to this book is the Giunta reprint of 1515--ALSO UPON VELLUM: but of a foxy and unpleasing tint. Now for a few LARGE PAPER ALDUSES--of a variety of forms and of characters. But I must premise that the ensuing list of those upon vellum, is very far indeed from being complete.
HORae. Gr. 1497. 12mo. A beautiful copy, among the very rarest of books which have issued from the Aldine press. Here is also _one_ volume of the Aldine ARISTOTLE, upon _large paper_: and only one. Did the _remaining_ volumes ever so exist? I should presume they did.
BIBLIA GRaeCA. 1518. Folio. Upon _thick paper_. Francis the First"s own copy. A glorious and perhaps matchless copy. Yet it is rebacked, in modern binding, in a manner ... almost shameful!
PLAUTUS. 1522. Small quarto. A very fine copy; in all appearance large paper, and formerly belonging to Grolier.
AUSONIUS. 1517. 8vo. Large paper; very fine; and belonging to the same.
VALERIUS MAXIMUS. 1534. 8vo. The same--in _all_ respects.
PRISCIa.n.u.s. 1527. 8vo. Every characteristic before mentioned.