BIBLIA POLONICA. 1563.  Folio.  This is the famous Protestant Polish Bible, put forth under the patronage of Prince Radziwill; and concerning which a good deal has been already submitted to the public attention.[54] But the copy under consideration was a presentation copy from a descendant of Prince Radziwill—­to the public Library of Sedan, to be there deposited through the intervention of Lord James Russell; as the following memorandum, in the Prince’s own hand writing, attests:  “Hoc sacrarum Literarum Veteris Nouique Testamenti opus, fidelissima Cura Maiorum meorum vetustis Typis Polonicis excusum, In Bibliothecam Sedanensem per Nobilem Virum Dominum Jacobum Russelium, Ill^{mi} Principis Friderici Mauritii Bullionei ad me exlegatum inferendum committo.

H.  Radziwill.”

It is nevertheless an imperfect copy, as it wants the title-page.  M. Van
Praet thinks it otherwise complete, but I suspect that it is not so.

BIBLIA SCLAVONICA; 1587.  Folio.  Of this exceedingly scarce volume—­which M. Van Praet placed before me as almost unique—­the present is a fine and desirable copy:  in its original binding—­with a stamped ornament of the Crucifixion on each side.  One of these ornaments is quite perfect:  the other is somewhat injured.

BIBLIA BOHEMICA. Printed in 1488.  Folio.  Among the rarest of the early-printed versions of the sacred text:  and this copy happens to be a most beautiful and desirable one.  It is wanting in Lord Spencer’s collection; which renders a minute description of it the more desirable.  The first signature, a i, appears to be blank.  On a ii begins a prologue or prefatory proheme, ending on the reverse of a vj.  It has a prefix, or title, in fifteen lines, printed in red.  The text is uniformly printed in double columns, in a sharp secretary-gothic character, with ink sufficiently black, upon paper not remarkably stout, but well manufactured.  There are running titles, throughout.  The last eight leaves upon signature i are printed in red and black lines alternately, and appear to be an index.  The colophon, in nineteen lines, is at the bottom of the second column, on the reverse of mm viij.  This book is thought to have been printed at Prague.  The present copy is bound in blue morocco.

NEW TESTAMENT:  in the Dutch and Russian languages.  This volume, which is considered to be unique, and of which indeed I never saw, or heard of, another copy, bears the imprint of “’T Gravenhage—­Iohannes Van Duren, Boecverkoper.  MDCCXVII.”  Folio.  The Dutch text is uniformly printed in capital letters; the Russian, in what I conceive to be lowercase, and about two-thirds the size of the Dutch.

The cause of the scarcity of perfect copies is, that very nearly the whole of the impression was lost at sea.  The present copy undoubtedly affords decided demonstrations of a marine soaking:  parts of it being in the most piteous condition.  The first volume contains 255 leaves:  the second, 196 leaves.  The copy is yet in boards, in the most tender condition.  M. Van Praet thinks it just possible that there may be a second similar copy.  The third (if there be a second) is known to have perished in the flames at Moscow.