I have little hesitation in estimating these five copies of the earlier editions of the Psalter, to be worth, at least, one thousand pounds.

BIBLIA LATINA. (Supposed to have been printed in 1455.) Folio.  This is the famous edition called the MAZARINE BIBLE, from the first known copy of it having been discovered in the library of that Cardinal, in the college founded by himself.  Bibliography has nearly exhausted itself in disquisitions upon it.  But this copy—­which is upon paper—­is THE COPY of all copies; inasmuch as it contains the memorable inscription, or coeval ms. memorandum, of its having been illuminated in 1456.[51] In the first volume, this inscription occurs at the end of the printed text, in three short lines, but to the best of my recollection, the memorandum resembles the printed text rather more than the fac-simile of it formerly published by me.  In the second volume, this inscription is in three long lines and is well enough copied in the M’Carthy catalogue.  It may be as well to give you a transcript of this celebrated memorandum, as it proves unquestionably the impression to have been executed before any known volume with a printed date.  It is taken from the end of the second volume.[52]

THE SAME EDITION.—­This is a sound and desirable copy, printed UPON VELLUM; but much inferior in every respect, to another similar copy in the possession of Messrs. G. and W. Nicol, booksellers to his Majesty.[53] It measures fifteen inches and three-fourths, by nearly eleven and six eighths.

BIBLIA LATINA. Printed by Pfister, at Bamberg.  Folio.  Three volumes.  The rarest of all Latin Bibles, when found in a perfect state.  This was Lord Oxford’s copy, and is not to be equalled for its beauty and soundness of condition.  What renders it precious and unique, is an undoubted coeval ms. date, in red ink, of 1461.  Some of the leaves in the first volume are wholly uncut.  It is in handsome, substantial russia binding.

DURANDI RATIONALE DIV.  OFF. Printed by Fust and Schoiffher. 1459.  Folio.  Here are not fewer than three copies of this early, and much coveted volume:  all of course UPON VELLUM.  The tallest of them measures sixteen inches and a half, by twelve and one eighth; and is in red morocco binding.

BIBLIA GERMANICA. Supposed to be printed by Mentelin. Without date.  Folio.  If we except the earlier leaves—­of which the first is in ms., upon vellum, and the three succeeding, which are a little tender and soiled—­ this is a very fine copy; so large, as to have many bottom rough margins.  At the end of the second volume an ancient ms. memorandum absurdly assigns the printing of this edition to Fust, and its date to 1472.  The paper of this impression is certainly not very unlike that of the Catholicon of 1460.

BIBLIA PAUPERUM.  A block-book.  This is a cropt, but clean and uncoloured copy.  I suspect, however, that it has been washed in some parts.  It is in red morocco binding.