where in his Spectator) as a pretty accurate period for the passing away of one generation and the coming on of another. We have brought down our researches to within a similar period of the present times; but, as Addison has not made out the proofs of such assertion, and as many of the relatives and friends of those who have fallen victims to the BIBLIOMANIA, since the days of Ratcliffe, may yet be alive; moreover, as it is the part of humanity not to tear open wounds which have been just closed, or awaken painful sensibilities which have been well nigh laid to rest; so, my dear Sir, in giving you a further account of this fatal disorder, I The following is but an inadequate specimen. No. 1315. Horace's Arte of Poetrie, Pistles and Satyres, by No. 1321. The Sheparde's Calender, 1579. Castle of Delight, 1576 Whetstone's 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 No. 1403. Barclay's Shyp of Folys, printed by Pynson, 1508, first edit. fine copy No. 1426. The Doctrinal of Sapyence,printed by CAXTON, 1489 No. 1427. The Boke, called Cathon, DITTO, 1483. Purchased by Dr. Hunter, and now in his Museum No. 1428. The Polytyque Boke, named Tullius de Senec- No. 1429. The Game of Chesse Playe. 1474 1483 No. 1674. Mr. Ratcliffe's MS. Catalogues of the rare old black letter, and other curious and uncommon books, 4 vols. deem it the most prudent method not to expatiate upon the subsequent examples of its mortality. We can only mourn over such names as BEAUCLERK, CROFTS, PEARSON, LORT, MASON, FARMER, STEEVENS, WOODHOUSE, BRAND, and REED, and fondly hope that the list may not be increased by those of living characters! We are, in the SECOND place, to describe the SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE. The ingenious Peignot, in the first volume of his 'Dictionnaire Bibliologie,' p. 51, defines the Bibliomania (46) to be "a passion for possessing books; not This would have been the most delicious article The memory of such a man ought to be dear to the "black-lettered dogs" of the present day; for he had [mirabile dictu!] upwards of THIRTY CAXTONS! If I might hazard a comparison between Mr. James West's and Mr. John Ratcliffe's collections, I should say that the former was more extensive, the latter more curious: Mr. West's, like a magnificent champagne, executed by the hand of Claude or Both, and enclosing mountains, and meadows, and streams, presented to the eye of the beholder a scene at once extensive, luxuriant, and fruitful: Mr. Ratcliffe's, like one of those delicious pieces of scenery, touched by the pencil of Rysdael or Hobbima, exhibited to the beholder's eye a spot equally interesting, but less varied and extensive. The sweeping foliage and rich pasture of the former could not, perhaps, afford greater gratification than did the thatched cottage, abrupt declivities, and gushing streams of the latter. To change the metaphor-Mr. West's was a magnificent repository, Mr. Ratcliffe's a choice cabinet of gems. (46) There is a short, but smart and interesting, article on this head in Mr. D'Israeli's Curiosities of Literature, vol. 1. 10. 66 Bruyere has touched on this mania with humour; of such a collector (one who is so much to be instructed by them, as to gratify the eye by looking on them. He who is affected by this mania knows books only by their titles and dates, and is rather seduced by the exterior than interior."! This is, perhaps, too general and vague a definition to be of much benefit in the knowledge, and consequent prevention, of the disease: let us, therefore, describe it more certainly and intelligibly. Symptoms of this disease are instantly known by a passion for I. Large Paper Copies: II. Uncut Copies: III. Illustrated Copies: IV. Unique Copies: V. Copies printed upon Vellum: VI. First Editions: VII. True Editions VIII. A general desire for the Black Letter. We will describe these symptoms more particularly. I. Large Paper Copies. These are a certain set or limited number of the work printed in a superior manner, both in regard to ink and press work, on paper of a larger size, and better quality, than the ordinary copies. Their price is enhanced in proportion to their beauty and rarity. In the note below (47) are specified a few fond of superb bindings only) says he, as soon as I enter his house, I am ready to faint on the stair-case from a strong smell of morocco leather. In vain he shows me fine editions, gold leaves, Etruscan bindings, &c.-naming them one after another, as if he were showing a gallery of pictures !" Lucian has composed a biting invective against an ignorant possessor of a vast library. "One who opens his eyes, with an hideous stare, at an old book, and, after turning over the pages, chiefly admires the date of its publication.” (47) 1. Lord Bacon's Essays, 1798, 8vo, of which it is said only five copies were struck off on royal folio. In Lord Spencer's and the Cracherode, collection I have seen a copy of this exquisitely printed book; the text of which, surrounded by such an amplitude of margin, in the language of Ernesti [see his Critique on Havercamp's Sallust] "natut velut cymba in oceano." 2. Twenty Plays of Shakespeare published by Steevens from the old quarto editions, 1766, 8vo. 6 vols. Of this edition there were only twelve copies struck off on large paper. See Bibl. Steevens, No. 1312. works which have been published in this manner, that the sober collector may avoid approaching them. This (48) symptom of the Bibliomania is, at the present day, both general and violent, and threatens to extend still more widely. Even modern publi cations are not exempt from its calamitous influence; and when Mr. Miller, the bookseller, told me with what eagerness the large paper copies of Lord Valentia's Travels were bespoke, and Mr. Evans shewed me that every similar copy of his new edition of "Burnett's History of his own Times" was disposed of, I could not help elevating my eyes and hands, in token of commis 3. Dodsley's Collection of Old Plays, 1780, 8vo, 12 vols. only six copies printed on large paper. See Bibl. Woodhouse, No. 198. 4. The Grenville Homer. Græce, 1800. 4to. 4 vols. Fifty copies with plates were struck off on large paper, in royal quarto. A copy of this kind was purchased at a sale in 1804, for £99 158. 5. Sandford's Genealogical History, etc. 1707, fol. Mr. Arch of Cornhill purchased a copy of this work on large paper, at the late sale of Baron Smyth's books, for £46. If the largest paper of Clarke's Caesar be excepted, this is the highest priced single volume on large paper, that I just now recollect. 6. Hearne's Works on large paper. Something relating to Hearne will be found in the note at page 7 ante. Here it will be only necessary to observe that the Hernëan rage for Large Paper is quite of recent growth, but it promises to be giantlike. When the duplicates of a part of Mr. Woodhull's library, in 1803, were sold, there was a fine set of copies of this kind; but the prices, comparatively with those now offered, were extremely moderate. Mr. Otridge, the bookseller, told me an amusing story of his going down to Liverpool, many years ago, and accidentally purchasing from the library of the late Sir Thomas Hanmer, a magnificent set of Large Paper Hearnes for about 40 Guineas. Many of these are now in the choice library of his Grace the Duke of Grafton. The copies were catalogued as small paper. Was there ever a more provoking blunder?! (48) Analogous to Large Paper Copies are tall Copies; that is, copies of the work published on the ordinary size paper and not much cut down by the binder. The want of margin is a serious grievance complained of by book-collectors; and when there is a contest of margin eration at the prevalence of this Symptom of the BIBLIOMANIA ! II. Uncut Copies. Of all the symptoms of the Bibliomania, this is probably the most extraordinary. It may be defined as a passion to possess books of which the edges have never been sheared by the binder's tools. And here, my dear Sir, I find myself walking upon doubtful ground;—your UNCUT HEARNES rise up in "rough majesty" before me, and almost "push me from my stool." Indeed, when I look around in my book-lined tub, I cannot but be conscious that this symptom of the disorder has reached my own threshold; but when it is known that a few of my bibliographical books are left with the edges uncut merely to please my friends (as one must sometimes study their tastes and appetites as well as one's own), I trust that no very serious conclusions will be drawn about the probable fatality of my own case. As to uncut copies, although their inconvenience [an uncut lexicon to wit!] and deformity must be acknowledged, and although a rational man can want for nothing better than a book once well bound, yet we find that the extraordinary passion for collecting them not only obtains with full force, but is attended with very serious consequences to those "qui n'ont point des pistoles " (to borrow the language of Clement; vol. vi. p. 36). I dare say an uncut first Shakspeare, as well as an uncut first Homer (49) would produce a little annuity! measuring, with books never professedly published on large paper, the anxiety of each party to have the largest copy is better conceived than described! How carefully, and how adroitly, are the golden and silver rules then exercised! (49) "Un superbe exemplaire de cette édition princeps a été vendu, chez M. de Cotte, en 1804, la somme de 3601 livres; mais il faut ajou |