STS.  AUGUSTINUS DE CIVITATE DEI. Printed in the Soubiaco Monastery. 1467.  Folio.  It always does the heart of a bibliographer good to gaze upon a fine copy of this resplendent volume.  It is truly among the master-pieces of early printing:  but what will be your notions of the copy NOW under description, when I tell you, not only that it once belonged to our beloved FRANCIS I., but that, for amplitude and condition, it rivals the copy in the library at St. James’s Place?  In short, it was precisely between this very copy, and that of my Lord Spencer, that M. Van Praet paused—­ ("J’ai balance” were, I think, the words used to me by that knowing bibliographer) and pondered and hesitated ... again and again ... ere he could decide upon which of the two was to be parted with!  But, supposing the size and condition of each to be fairly “balanced” against the other, M. Van Praet could not, in honour and conscience, surrender the copy which had been formerly in the library of one of the greatest of the French monarchs ... and so the spirit of Francis I. rests in peace ... as far as the retention of this copy may contribute to its repose.  It is doubtless more brilliant and more attractive than Lord Spencer’s—­which, however, has no equal on the other side of the channel:  but it is more beaten, and I suspect, somewhat more cropt.  I forgot to say, that there are several capital initials in this copy tolerably well illuminated, apparently of the time of Francis—­who, I am persuaded, loved illuminators of books to his heart.

I shall now continue literally as I began:—­without any regard to dates, or places where printed.

CATHOLICON. Printed by Gutenburg:  1460.  Folio. 2 vols.  This copy is UPON VELLUM; but yet much inferior to the absolutely unrivalled membranaceous copy in Mr. Grenville’s precious library.  This copy measures fifteen inches one eighth, by eleven inches one eighth.  It is bound in red morocco.

GRAMMATICA RHYTHMICA. Printed by Fust and Schoiffher; 1466.  Folio.  How you would start back with surprise—­peradventure mingled with indignation—­ to be told that, for this very meagre little folio, somewhat cropt, consisting but of eleven leaves cruelly scribbled upon ... not fewer than three thousand three hundred livres were given—­at the sale of Cardinal Lomenie’s library, about thirty years ago!  It is even so.  And wherefore?  Because only one other copy of it is known:—­and that “other” is luckily reposing upon the mahogany shelves in St. James’s Place.  The present copy measures ten inches seven eighths, by eight inches.

VOCABULARIUS. Printed by Bechtermuntze; 1467.  Quarto.  EDITIO PRINCEPS—­ one of the rarest books in the world.  Indeed I apprehend this copy to be absolutely UNIQUE.  This work is a Latin and German Vocabulary, of which a good notion may be formed by the account of the second edition of it, in 1469, in a certain descriptive catalogue.[57] To be perfect, there should be 215 leaves.  A full page has thirty-five lines.  This copy is in as fine, clean, and crackling condition, as is that of Lord Spencer of the second impression.  It is eight inches and a half in height, by five inches and five eighths in width.