The SAME EDITION.  A copy upon paper:  in the most unusual condition.  The pages are numbered with a pen, rather neatly:  but these numerals had better have been away.  A frightful (gratuitous) ms. title—­copied in a modern hand, from another of the date of 1474—­strikes us; on opening the volume, in a very disagreeable manner.  At top we read “Ad usum H.D.  Henrici E.C.M.C.” The first page of the text is surrounded by an old illumination:  and the title to the Bucolics is inserted, by the hand, in gold capital letters.  From the impression appearing on the six following leaves, it should seem that this illuminated border had been stamped, after the book was bound.  The condition of this classical treasure may be pronounced, upon the whole, to be equally beautiful and desirable.  Perhaps there has been the slightest possible cropping; as the ancient ms. numerals are occasionally somewhat invisible.  However, this is a most lovely book:  measuring thirteen inches and one quarter, in height, by nine inches and very nearly one quarter in width.

VIRGILIUS. Printed by Sweynheym and Pannartz. 1471.  Folio.  SECOND ROMAN EDITION; of yet greater scarcity than the first.  This was Politian’s own copy, and is so large as to be almost uncut:  having the margins filled with Scholia, and critical observations, in almost the smallest hand-writing to be met with:  supposed to be also from the pen of Politian.  The autograph and subscription of that eminent scholar meet our eye at the top of the very first fly leaf.

Of all ancient editions of Virgil, this is probably not only the most estimable, but is so scarce as to have been, till lately, perfectly unknown.  According to the ancient ms. numerals in this copy, there should be 225 leaves—­to render the volume perfect.  In our own country, it is—­ with a sigh I speak it!—­only to be found (and that, in an imperfect state) in the library of Dr. Wm. Hunter at Glasgow.[61] This invaluable volume is preserved in good, sound, characteristic old binding.

VIRGILIUS. Printed by Ghering. 1478. Quarto.  This impression is perhaps rather rare than valuable; although I am free to admit it is yet a desideratum in the Spencerian collection.  It commences with an address by the famous Beroaldus to I. Francus, his pupil, on the reverse of the first leaf—­in which the tutor expresses his admiration of Virgil in the following manner:  “te amantissime mi Johannes hortor, te moneo, et si pateris oro, ut VIRGILIUM lectites.  Virgilio inhies:  Illum colas; illum dies noctesque decates.  Ille sit semper in manibus.  Et ut praeceptoris fungar officio, illud potissimum tibi pecipia et repetens iterumque iterumque monebo:  ut humanitatis studia ac masuetiores musas avidissime complectaris.”  This edition is executed in the printer’s second (handsome) fount of roman type, upon very thick paper.[62] The present copy, although apparently cropt, is sound and desirable.