NOTES ON BOOKS, CATALOGUES, SALES, ETC.
Mr. Darling is preparing for publication a new edition of his Bibliotheca Clericales, a guide to Authors, Preachers, Students, and Literary Men. The object of this very useful publication, which deserves to be made a Note of by all who may have Queries to solve in connection with the bibliography of theology, cannot be better described than in Mr. Darling's own words, namely, that it is intended to be "a Catalogue of the Books in the Clerical Library, greatly enlarged, so as to contain every author of any note, ancient and modern, in theology, ecclesiastical history, and the various departments connected therewith, including a selection in most branches of literature, with complete lists of the works of each author, the contents of every volume being minutely described; to which will be added an entirely new volume, with a scientific as well as alphabetical arrangement of subjects, by which a ready reference may be made to books, treatises, sermons, and dissertations, on nearly all heads of divinity, the books, chapters, and verses of Holy Scripture, the various festivals, fasts &c., observed throughout the year, and useful topics in literature, philosophy, and history, on a more complete system than has yet been attempted in any language, and forming an universal index to the contents of all similar libraries, both public and private." The work will be published in about 24 monthly parts, and will be put to press so soon as a sufficient number of subscribers are obtained to cover the expense of printing.
Mr. Jones, the modeller, of 125. Drury Lane, who as our readers may remember, produced some time since so interesting "a copy in little" of the monument of our great bard in the church of Stratford-upon-Avon, has just completed similar models of Bacon's monument, in St. Michael's Church, St. Alban's; of Sir Isaac Newton's, in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge; and, lastly, of that of the "Venerable Stow," from the church of St. Andrew Undershaft. Many of the admirers of those old English worthies will, we doubt not, be glad to possess such interesting memorials of them.
Mr. Thorpe has published a Catalog of some Interesting, Rare, and Choice Books, which he has recently purchased, and which had been collected by the celebrated antiquary and author, Browne Willis. Many of them contain important manuscript notes and anecdotes by him, particularly in his own publications; and the Catalogue, therefore, like all which Mr. Thorpe issues, contains numerous notes highly interesting to bibliographical and literary antiquaries. Thus, in a copy of Antonini Iter Britanniarum, he tells us Browne Willis has inserted the following biographical note:—
*.* "My very worthy friend Roger Gale, the Author of this and many other learned works, dyed at his seat at Scruton, co. York, June 26, 1744, aged about 72, and was by his own direction buried obscurely in the churchyard there."
The following interesting articles we reprint entire, as forming specimens of the rarities which Mr. Thorpe offers in the present Catalogue, and the tempting manner in which he presents them:—
3450 BOECEUS DE CONSOLACIONE PHILOSOPHIE, TRANSLATED OUT OF LATIN INTO ENGLISH BY MAISTER GEFFREY CHAUCER, WITH EPITAPH FOR CHAUCER IN LATIN VERSE BY STEPHEN SURIGO, POET LAUREATE OF MILAN, AT THE COST AND INSTANCE OF W. CAXTON, A MOST BEAUTIFUL AND QUITE PERFECT COPY, WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST DEFECT OR REPAIR, folio, in old Oxford calf binding, from Browne Willis's Library, £105.
PRINTED BY CAXTON, WITH HIS NAME.
*.* One of the most interesting specimens of Caxton's press. No other perfect copy, I believe, has occurred for sale. The Aleborne copy, (imperfect, wanting the Epitaph upon Chaucer, WHICH IS REPRINTED IN SOME EDITIONS OF HIS WORKS, and other leaves,) sold for 53l. 11s. It is one of the earliest productions of the father of the English press, and claims a very great additional interest from being translated by the Poet Chaucer. CAXTON gives us the following reasons that induced Chaucer to translate, and himself to print it:—"Forasmoche as the stile of it is harde, and difficile to be understoode of simple persones, therefore the worshipful Fader and first founder and embelisher of ornate eloquence in our English, I mene Maister Geffrey Chaucer, hath translated it out of Latyn, as neygh as is possible to be understande; wherin, in myne oppynon, he hath deserved a perpetual lawde and thanke of al this noble Royame of England. Thenne, forasmoche as this sayd boke so translated is rare, and not spred ne knowen as it is digne and worthy for the erudicion of such as ben ignoraunte, atte requeste of a singuler frend and gossop of myne, I, William Caxton, have done my devoir temprynte it in fourme as is hereafore made."
3653 FOX (EDWARD) BISHOP OF HEREFORD, True Dyfferens Between ye Regall Power and the Ecclesiasticall Power, translated out of Latyn by Henry Lord Stafforde, and dedicated by him to the Protector Somerset, black letter, 8vo. fine copy, morocco, gilt edges, EXTREMELY RARE, 6l. 6s.
Imprinted at the sign of the Rose Garland, by W. Copland, n.d.
*.* This extraordinarily rare volume was written by Edward Fox, Bishop of Hereford, according to Strype and Leland—see the latter's encomium upon it. Lord Herbert supposed it to have been written by King Henry VIII. It is one of the most interesting and rare volumes relative to church history. The noble translator states that it was lent him by his friend Master Morison, and finding the difference between the power regal and ecclesiastical so plainly set out, and so purely explained, that rather than his countrie should be utterly frustrated of so great fruyte as myght growe by redynge thereof, I thought it well-bestowed labour to turn it into Englishe.
3318 LANE (JOHN) TOM TEL-TROTH'S MESSAGE AND HIS PEN'S COMPLAINT, a worke not unpleasant to be read, nor unprofitable to be followed, IN VERSE, dedicated to George Dowse, 4to. remarkably fine copy, UNCUT, morocco elegant, gilt edges, EXCESSIVELY RARE IF NOT UNIQUE, 10l. 10s.
Imprinted for R. Howell, 1600.
*.* This curious poem, consisting of 120 verses of six lines each, is of such EXTRAORDINARY RARITY, AS TO HAVE ESCAPED THE RESEARCHES OF ALL BIBLIOGRAPHERS. The author is styled by Phillips, in his Theatrum Poetarum, as that "fine old Queen Elizabeth's gentleman," and is ranked in the class of poets next to Spenser. The present volume acquires an additional interest from being the first production of the Author, which is thus expressed in the dedication: "These first fruites of my barren braine, the token of my love, the seale of my affection, and the true cognizance of my unfained affection," &c.
We have also received Supplements A, B, C, and D, the last part issued, of the Catalogue of Miscellaneous Books, in various languages, on sale by Charles Dolman, of 61. New Bond Street, which contain many rare and curious works, more especially in the department of Foreign Divinity.
To these we may add Parts V. and VI. of Catalogues of "Cheap Books, Autographs, &c.," on sale by Bell, 10. Bedford Street, Covent Garden; the "Cheap Catalogue," Part XXIV., of Thomas Cole, 15. Great Turnstile, Holborn; a "Miscellaneous Catalogue of remarkably cheap Old Books," on sale by C. Hamilton, 4. Bridge Place, City Road; Russell Smith's Catalogue of "Choice, Useful, and Curious Books," Part VII., which he describes, very justly, as "containing some very cheap books;" Parts CV. and CVI. of Petheram's, 94. High Holborn, "Catalogue of Old and New Books," containing, among other things, Collections of the works of the various publishing Societies, such as the Camden, Calvin, Parker, Shakspeare, Ray, &c., and also of the Record publications; and lastly, which we have just received from the worth bibliopole of Auld Reekie, T.G. Stevenson, his curious "List of Unique, Valuable, and Interesting Works, chiefly illustrative of Scottish History and Antiquities, printed at private expense," and "Bannatyniana,—Catalogue of the privately printed publications of the Bannatyne Club from MDCCCXXIII. to MDCCCXLVIII.," both of which are well deserving the attention of our bibliographical friends.