LIVIUS. Printed by Sweynheym and Pannartz. 1469.  Folio.  EDITIO PRINCEPS.  A fine copy, in three thin volumes.  The margins, however, are not free from ms. notes, and there are palpable evidences of a slight truncation.  Yet it is a fine copy:  measuring fifteen inches and very nearly three quarters, by eleven inches one eighth.  In red morocco binding.

LIVIUS. Printed by Ulric Han. Without Date.  Folio.  In three thin volumes.  A large copy, but evidently much washed, from the faint appearance of the marginal notes.  Some leaves are very bad—­especially the earlier ones of the preface and the text.  The latter, however, have a very pretty ancient illumination.  This copy measures fifteen inches five eighths, by ten seven eighths.[64]

LIVIUS. Printed by Vindelin de Spira. 1470.  Fol.  A magnificent copy, in two volumes:  much preferable to either of the preceding.  The first page of text has a fine old illumination.  It is clean and sound throughout:  measuring fifteen inches five eighths, by eleven inches—­within an eighth.

THE SAME EDITION.  Printed UPON VELLUM.  This copy, if I remember rightly, is considered to be unique.[65] It is that which was formerly preserved in the public library at Lyons, and had been lent to the late Duke de la Valliere during his life only—­to enrich his book-shelves—­having been restored to its original place of destination upon the death of the Duke.  It is both in an imperfect and lacerated condition:  the latter, owing to a cannon ball, which struck it during the siege of Lyons.  The first volume, which begins abruptly thus:  “ex parte altera ripe, &c.” is a beautiful book; the vellum being of a uniform, but rather yellow tint.  It measures fourteen inches five eighths, by nine and six eighths.  The second volume makes a kind-hearted bibliographer shudder.  The cannon ball took it obliquely, so as to leave the first part of the volume less lacerated than the latter.  In the latter part, however, the direction of the destructive weapon went, capriciously enough, across the page.  This second volume yet exhibits a fine old illumination on the first page.

LIVIUS. Printed by Sweynheym and Pannartz. 1472.  Fol. 2 vols.  A fine copy, and larger than either of the preceding:  but the beginning of the first volume and the conclusion of the second are slightly wormed.  There is a duplicate leaf of the beginning of the text, which is rather brown, but illuminated in the ancient manner.  This copy measures fifteen inches and a half, by eleven one eighth.

Let me now vary the bibliographical theme, by the mention of a few copies of works of a miscellaneous but not unamusing character.  And first, for a small cluster of CAXTONS and MACHLINIAS.