The Biblia Pauperum, which is in Hunter's Museum, is very imperfect, and wants several plates. This, copy is not coloured. I am informed that the most perfect collection of these rare specimens of Typography is in the possession of Lord Pembroke. Palmer, in his History of Printing, is obviously mistaken. He makes no mention of the rarest, which I believe to be the Historia Virginis ex Cantico Canticorum; nor of the Historia Virginis ex Evangeliis. The Biblia Pauperum he ranks as the third in order, and the Ars Moriendi, the first. He decidedly pronounces that they are not of Coster's execution, but gives the credit to Guttenburgh. FICHETUS. Gulielmi Ficheti Artium et Theologiæ Doctoris Rhetoricorum Libri 111. accedit ejusdem Ficheti Panegyricus Rob. Gaguino versibus Compositus. In Parisiorum Sorboná, per Ulricum Gering Martinum Crantz et Mich. Friburger Ann. 1471 in 4to. THIS is a book of extraordinary rarity, and very much sought after by the curious. It is generally considered as the first book which was printed printed at the Sorbonne, in Paris, by Ulric Gering and his associates. The book is minutely described by M. Chevillier, in his Dissertation sur l'Imprimiere de Paris, and by De Bure, No. 2335. In this book, blank leaves were left in the beginning, for the purpose of inscribing different dedications to different individuals. The superb. copy on vellum, in the Cracherode Collection, has four printed leaves, containing a dedication to Pope Sextus IV. The dedication commences thus: "Sanctissimo Patri Sexto Quarto Pontifici Maximo Guillermus Fichetus Minimus Theologorum Parisiensium doctorum devota Pedum Oscula." It then proceeds: "Ante omnia petenti mihi dabis veniam Pater Sancte si neque munusculo, neque sermone novo pontifice digno tecum agam. Non enim quas tua Sanctitas semper abjecit opes ab inope, neque qua manas Latinam Eloquentiam ab eo qui Latium nunquam vidit expectes. Expectes vero quos duces ad Petri locum habuisti, fidem, benevolentiam, amorem, observantiamque teretem ut sic dicam atque rotundam." The conclusion is this: "Vale Spes reliqua Christianitatis Edibus Sorbonæ Parisii Scriptum pridie Kalendas Septembris Anno uno et Septuagesimo quadringentesimoque supra Millesimum, 1471.” The Biblia Pauperum, which is in Hunter. Museum, is very imperfect, and wants sever plates. This copy is not coloured. I am informed that the most perfect collecti of these rare specimens of Typography is in t possession of Lord Pembroke. Palmer, in his History of Printing, is obv ously mistaken. He makes no mention of t rarest, which I believe to be the Historia Virgin ex Cantico Canticorum; nor of the Historia Ví ginis ex Evangeliis. The Biblia Pauperum i ranks as the third in order, and the Ars M.. riendi, the first. He decidedly pronounces ti they are not of Coster's execution, but gives t credit to Guttenburgh. FICHETUS. Gulielmi Ficheti Artium et Theologiæ D THIS is a book of extraordinary very much sought after by the cur generally considered as the first be etween Peter embus, within.. Sicily, on the he wrote this who after his had made it a ere constantly Etna. k in any Life s, or, as he is I am rather e last edition ve been guilty mbus is added Severus, pub Variorum, by tracts by Aldus Lord Spencer has urther particulars - consult 267. 78. The Cracherode copy is adorned with a beautiful illuminated Title page, representing the author, Fichetus, presenting his book to Pope Sextus IV. The initials throughout are also richly illuminated. This copy was sold at M. D. Limare's sale, for 1151 livres, equal to 471. 19s. At the Parisian sale it was purchased by Mr. Cracherode, for 311. 10s. At the end are some complimentary verses from Robert Gaguinus, addressed to Fichetus, which end thus: Gaude igitur Doctor habiturus nomen in ævum Vale, Felixque vive, BEMBUS DE ÆTNA. Bembi Petri Liber de. Etna. Venetiis Aldus. 1495. THIS is one of the scarcest of the Aldine books, and indeed of all printed books. It is one of the five which Aldus published in 1495, and is of extraordinary beauty. It is also memorable as being the first Latin book printed at the Aldus press. T |