subscribers, that they may send for their copies of that long expected after and many waies most dismally obstructed and interrupted work, which is now fully finished, the author having laboured therein eighteen years, and expended not so little as 12,000l. besides that which has been brought in, either by benefactors or subscribers. DIALOGOS DE MEDALLAS INSCRICIONES, &c. ex BIBLI. AUGUSTINI. TARRAG. 1587. 4to.

A beautiful copy of this book, which is in the British Museum, was formerly in the library of Dr. Mead. It was purchased at the sale of his books for five pounds fifteen shillings, by Sir Paul Methuen. Mr. Methuen presented it to the Museum. Mention of this book is here introduced for a very different reason, namely, to show, that from the progressive advance and improvement of particular branches of science, books, which at one time are deemed inestimable, are so depreciated in value, as to be of little or no esteem. Thus for example, this book, which was purchased for 5l. 15s., a very large sum at that period, and was considered as a suitable gift to bestow on a national library, is now so very little regarded, that it may be brought from a stail for half-a-crown, or even less.

EVANGELIA LATINE CODEX VETUST. Sæc. VIII. vel IX. Literis majusculis, &c. &c.

This curious manuscript, now preserved in the British Museum, formerly belonged to Dr. Askew.

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Askew. At the sale of Dr. Askew's manuscripts it was purchased by a Mr. Jackson, of the City,

for 261. 5s.

This Mr. Jackson was a Quaker, and a dealer in wine and spirits. He had a great passion for books, of which he was a considerable purchaser at all the most celebrated sales for many years. In a fit of melancholy he destroyed himself, and his library was sold by Messrs. Leigh and Sotheby.

This manuscript was then purchased for the Museum for 221. 1s.

Another Manuscript of Mr. Jackson was purchased for the Museum at nineteen guineas. It is in French, and in the hand writing of King Edward VI. evidencing his opinion of his right to the title of Supreme Head of the Church.

FROISSART'S CHRONICLE, ENGLISHED, BY BOUCHIER.

Before the appearance of Col. Johnes's elegant Translation of Froissart, this by Lord Berners was the only one in English. It exhibits a memorable example of the progressive value of scarce books. A copy was purchased at Dr. Mead's sale, by Lord Berkeley, for 21. 15s. The copy which is in the British Museum cost twelve guineas; and the last which I saw in a bookseller's shop was marked at sixteen guineas. A copy sold at Tutet's sale for 161.

25

For

For a beautiful copy of Froissart on vellum, printed at Paris, by Eustace, 1514, in four volumes, folio, Colonel Johnes gave the prodigious sum of 1491. 2s. It was purchased at the sale of the Parisian Library, and was there represented as an unique copy. No larger prices were perhaps ever given for books than at the Parisian sale above-mentioned.

I subjoin a few particulars.

For a copy of the Latin Vulgate on vellum, printed at Venice by Jenson, 1476, Mr. Willett gave 591. 17s.

The Duke of Grafton gave 641. 1s. for a copy of what is called Sextus the Fifth's Bible, on large paper. The same copy had before been sold for 501. 8s. 4d. (1210 livres.)

For the Biblia Pauperum, which is certainly a great typographical curiosity, Mr. Willett gave

511.

For a coloured copy of Sir Hans Sloane's Jamaica, 381. 17s. was given.

The Duke of Newcastle gave 1471. for a copy of Traité des Arbres Fruitiers, par Duhamel du Monceau. Paris, 1768. 2 vol. 4to.

Lot 110. Butterflies, Plants, and Flowers, painted by Aubriet, sold for 1121. 7s.

A large paper copy of Buffon's Natural History of Birds, finely coloured, was bought by Col. Johnes for 1081. 3s.

PAINTINGS of various Subjects in Natural History, by Agricola, fol. were purchased by Mr. Johnes for 1731. 5s.

Lot 167. GUILLERMI FICHETI Theologiæ Doctoris, Rhetoricorum Libri tres, 311. 10s. This very rare book is in the Cracherode Collection.

QUINTILIANI Institutiones Oratoriæ. Roma. Sweynheym & Pannartz. Fol. Romæ. 1470,

261.. 5s.

This fine book is also in the Cracherode Collection. It is not the first edition. It was pub lished at Rome a short time before in the same year, in the types of I. P. de Lignamine by Campanus.

Lot 201. VIRGILII OPERA VENETIIS, Aldi 1501, on vellum. This is one of the most scarce books, and was purchased by Mr. White for 741. 11s. It is in the possession of Earl Spencer.

There is also a beautiful copy of this book on vellum, richly illuminated, in the Cracherode Collection.

OVIDII OPERA VENETIIS, Aldi 1502, 1503. 3 vol. on vellum. Bought by Earl Spencer for 631.

CONTES DE LA FONTAINE. 2 vol. 4to.

This book was richly adorned with miniatures, by the celebrated Marolles; and the writing was by Monchaussée. It is a beautiful Manuscript on vellum.

The

The value of this cannot easily be defined. It was bought in by Laurent, the French bookseller, for the enormous sum of 3151.

SONETTI ET CANZONI de Petrarcha, da Aldo 1501. This beautiful book on vellum sold for 511. 9s. It is in the Cracherode Collection.

OPERE DI FRANCESCO PETRARCHA. 1514. This beautiful book, on vellum, was bought by Earl Spencer for 1161. 11s.

GRANDS VOYAGES.

See De Bure Biblographie, No. 71.

This most valuable copy was bought in by Laurent for 2101.

SHAKSPEARE.

PERHAPS there is no book in the English language which has risen so rapidly in value as the first edition of the works of our great natural Poet.

I can remember a very fine copy to have been sold for five guineas. I could once have purchased a superb one for nine guineas. At the sale of Dr. Monro's books it was purchased for thirteen guineas; and two years since, I was present when thirty-six guineas were demanded. for a copy.

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I take