FIG.PAGE
[1].Plan of the Record-Rooms in the Palace of Assur-bani-pal, King of Nineveh2
[2].Plan of the temple and precinct of Athena, Pergamon; with that of the Library and adjacent buildings9
[3].Plan of the Porticus Octaviæ, Rome. From Formæ Urbis Romæ Antiguæ, Berlin, 189613
[4].Plan of the Forum of Trajan; after Nibby. From Middleton's Remains of Ancient Rome15
[5].Plan of the Stoa of Hadrian, at Athens. From Miss Harrison's Mythology and Monuments of Ancient Athens17
[6].Elevation of a single compartment of the wall of the Library discovered in Rome, 1883. From notes and measurements made by Signor Lanciani and Prof. Middleton23
[7].Plan of the Record-House of Vespasian, with the adjoining structures. From Middleton's Remains of Ancient Rome26
[8].Part of the internal wall of the Record-House of Vespasian. Reduced from a sketch taken in the 16th century by Pirro Ligorio. From Commissione Archeologica Comunale di Roma26
[9].A reader with a roll: from a fresco at Pompeii28
[10].Book-box or capsa30
[11].A Roman taking down a roll from its place in a Library35
[12].Desk to support a roll while it is being read36
[13].A Roman reading a roll in front of a press (armarium). From a photograph of a sarcophagus in the garden of the Villa Balestra, RomeTo face 38
[14].Press containing the four Gospels. From a mosaic above the tomb of the Empress Galla Placidia at Ravenna39
[15].Ezra writing the Law. Frontispiece to the Codex Amiatinus. In the background is a press with open doors. The picture was probably drawn in the middle of the sixth century a.d.Frontispiece
[16].Great Hall of the Vatican Library, looking westTo face 47
[17].A single press in the Vatican Library, open. From a photographTo face 48
[18].Rough ground-plan of the Great Hall of the Vatican Library, to illustrate the account of the decorationTo face 60
[19].Press in the cloister at the Cistercian Abbey of Fossa Nuova83
[20].Ground-plan and elevation of the book-recesses in the cloister of Worcester Cathedral84
[21].Ground-plan of part of the Abbey of Fossa Nuova. To shew the book-room and book-press, and their relations to adjoining structures: partly from Enlart's Origines Françaises de l'Architecture Gothique en Italie, partly from my own measurements85
[22].Ground-plan of part of Kirkstall Abbey, Yorkshire86
[23].Ground-plan of part of Furness Abbey. From Mr W. H. St J. Hope's plan88
[24].Arches in south wall of Church at Beaulieu Abbey, Hampshire, once possibly used as book-pressesTo face 89
[25].The cloister, Westminster Abbey. From Mr Micklethwaite's plan of the buildings91
[26].Part of the ancient press in Bayeux Cathedral, called Le Chartrier de Bayeux. From a photographTo face 94
[27].Press in the church at Obazine, Central France. From a photographTo face 95
[28].Ground-plan of one of the windows in the cloister of Durham Cathedral96
[29].Range of carrells in the south cloister at Gloucester Cathedral. From Mr Murray's Handbook to the Western Cathedrals97
[30].A single carrell, Gloucester CathedralTo face 98
[31].Library at Durham, built by Prior Wessyngton about 1446107
[32].Library of the Grey Friars House, London, commonly called Christ's Hospital. From Trollope's History of Christ's HospitalTo face 109
[33].Bird's-eye view of part of the Monastery of Citeaux. From a drawing dated 1718110
[34].Ground-plan of part of the Monastery of Citeaux. From a plan dated 1718111
[35].Ground-plan of the Library at Citeaux111
[36].Part of the Abbey of S. Germain des Près, Paris. From a print dated 1687; reproduced in Les Anciennes Bibliothèques de Paris, par Alf. Franklin, Vol. i. p. 126115
[37].Part of the Abbey of S. Germain des Près, Paris. From a print in Histoire de l'Abbaye Royale de Saint Germain des Prez, par Dom Jacques Bouillart, fol. Paris, 1724, lettered "l'Abbaye ... telle qu'elle est présentement"116
[38].Plan of the Old Library, Lincoln Cathedral119
[39].Interior of the Old Library, Lincoln CathedralTo face 118
[40].Plan of the Cloister, etc., Lincoln Cathedral120
[41].Exterior of the Library at Salisbury Cathedral, looking north-eastTo face 122
[42].Plan of the Library in Wells Cathedral122
[43].Plan of the Library at Lichfield Cathedral. From History and Antiquities of Staffordshire, by Stebbing Shaw, fol. Lond. 1798, Vol. II. P. 244123
[44].Chapter-Library at Noyon, FranceTo face 124
[45].A single pillar of the cloister beneath the Chapter-Library at Noyon.125
[46].Plan of the Library at the south-east angle of the south transept of the Cathedral at Troyes126
[47].Interior of the Cour des Libraires, Rouen, shewing the gate of entrance from the street, and the LibraryTo face 130
[48].Pembroke College, Cambridge, reduced from Loggan's print, taken about 1688149
[49].Long Section of Old Congregation House and Library, Oxford, looking south. From The Church of S. Mary the Virgin, Oxford, by T. G. Jackson, Architect150
[50].Ground-plan of the Library at Queens' College, Cambridge152
[51].Elevation of book-desk in Library of Queens' College, Cambridge152
[52].Ground-plan of the Library at Zutphen154
[53].General view of the north side of the Library attached to the church of S. Walburga at ZutphenTo face 155
[54].Desk and reader on the south side of the Library at Zutphen. From a photograph155
[55].Elevations of (A) one of the bookcases in the Library at Zutphen; (B) one of those in the Library at Queens' College, Cambridge156
[56].End of iron bar: Zutphen156
[57].End of one of the desks on the north side of the Library: Zutphen.157
[58].Piece of chain, shewing the ring attached to the bar, the swivel, and one of the links, actual size: Guildford158
[59].Piece of the iron bar, with chain: Zutphen159
[60].Chained book, from a Dominican House at Bamberg, South Germany159
[61].Single desk in the Old Library: Lincoln Cathedral161
[62].Elevations of (A) one of the bookcases in the Library at Zutphen; (B) one of those in the Library at Queens' College, Cambridge; (C) one of those in the Library of Lincoln Cathedral163
[63].Interior of a Library. From a MS. of a French translation of the first book of the Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, written in Flanders towards the end of the fifteenth century164
[64].Library of the College de Navarre, Paris, now destroyedTo face 165
[65].General view of the Library at Trinity Hall, CambridgeTo face 169
[66].Elevation of a book-desk and seat in the Library of Trinity Hall, Cambridge168
[67].Lock at end of book-desk: Trinity Hall169
[68].A French Library of 1480. From MS. 164 in the Fitzwilliam Museum, CambridgeTo face 169
[69].The interior of the Library of the University of Leyden. From a print by Jan Cornelis Woudanus, dated 1610To follow 170
[70].Bookcases and seat in the Library at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. From a photograph taken in 1894To face 173
[71].Elevation of one bookcase in the Library of Corpus Christi College, Oxford173
[72].Bookcase in the Chapter Library, Hereford Cathedral. From a sketch taken in 1876175
[73].Part of a bookcase in the Chapter Library, HerefordTo face 175
[74].Part of a single volume, shewing the clasp, the ring for the chain, and the mode of attaching it: Hereford175
[75].A single volume, standing on the shelf, with the chain attached to the iron bar: Hereford176
[76].Iron bar and socket, closed to prevent removal of the bar: Hereford176
[77].Iron bar, with part of the iron plate or hasp which is secured by the lock and keeps the bar in place: Hereford177
[78].Piece of chain, shewing the swivel: Hereford178
[79].Hook to hold up the desk: Bodleian Library, Oxford179
[80].Exterior of the Library at Merton College, Oxford, as seen from 'Mob Quadrangle.' From a photograph by H. W. Taunt, 1899To face 179
[81].Ground-plan of the Library at Merton College, Oxford180
[82].Interior of the West Library at Merton College, Oxford. From a photograph by H. W. Taunt, 1899To face 181
[83].Bookcase in the West Library of Merton College, Oxford. From a photograph by H. W. Taunt, 1899To face 181
[84].Elevation of a bookcase and seat in the West Library at Merton College, Oxford. Measured and drawn by T. D. Atkinson, Architect182
[85].Stall-end in the Library of Clare College, Cambridge187
[86].Ring for attachment of chain, Wells189
[87].Bookcases in the Library of Durham Cathedral. From a photographTo face 189
[88].Conjectural plan of the Library over the Prior's Chapel at Christ Church, Canterbury191
[89].Sketch of the probable appearance of a bookcase, and a reader's seat, in the Library at Christ Church, Canterbury193
[90], [91].Ground-plan and section of Library at Cesena200
[92].General view of the Library at Cesena. From a photographTo face 201
[93].Bookcases at west end of south side of Library, Cesena201
[94].Part of a bookcase, at Cesena to shew the system of chaining202
[95].Piece of a chain, Cesena203
[96].Chained book at Ghent204
[97].Ground-plan of part of the Vatican Palace, shewing the building of Nicholas V., as arranged for library purposes by Sixtus IV., and its relation to the surrounding structures. From Letarouilly, Le Vatican, fol. Paris, 1882, as reproduced by M. Fabre210
[98].Ground-plan of the rooms in the Vatican Palace fitted up for library-purpose by Sixtus IVTo follow 208
[99].Interior of the Library of Sixtus IV., as shewn in a fresco in the Ospedale di Santo Spirito, Rome. From a photograph taken by DanesiTo face 225
[100].The library-settles (spalliere) once used in the Vatican Library of Sixtus IV., and now in the Appartamento Borgia. From a photographTo face 228
[101].Bookcases in the Medicean Library, Florence235
[102].Copy, slightly reduced, of a sketch by Michelangelo for one of the bookcases in the Medicean Library, Florence236
[103].Elevation of desks at Cesena237
[104].Elevation of desks in the Medicean Library: Florence237
[105].A book in the Medicean Library, to shew attachment of chain238
[106].Piece of chain in the Medicean Library, of the actual size238
[107].Diagram to explain the ironwork at the Medicean Library239
[108].Outline of bolt forming part of ironwork239
[109].West oriel of the Library at S. John's College, Cambridge249
[110].Bookcases in the Library of S. John's College, Cambridge250
[111].Bookcases in the Library of Peterhouse, Cambridge252
[112].Bookcases in the south room of the University Library, Cambridge.To face 253
[113].Bookcase in the old Library of King's College, Cambridge, made with the bequest of Nicholas Hobart, 1659255
[114].Ground-plan of Library, Grantham, Lincolnshire257
[115].Ring and link of chain: Wimborne Minster261
[116].Bookpress in the school at Bolton, Lancashire. From Bibliographical Miscellanies by William BladesTo face 264
[117].General view of the Library of the Escõrial, looking northTo face 269
[118].Bookcases in the Library of the Escõrial on an enlarged scale268
[119].Elevation of a bookcase, and section of a desk, in the Library of the Escõrial270
[120].Ground-plan of the Ambrosian Library at Milan271
[121].Interior of the Ambrosian Library at Milan. From a photograph taken in 1899To face 271
[122].Bookcases, in the Bibliothèque Mazarine, Paris. From a photograph by Dujardin, 1898To face 273
[123].Elevation of a bookcase and section of a desk in the Bibliothèque Mazarine, Paris274
[124].A portion of the bookcases set up in the eastern wing of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, built 1610-1612. From Loggan's Oxonia Illustrata, 1675275
[125].Entrance to Wren's Library at Lincoln Cathedral, with part of the bookcase which lines the north wallTo face 277
[126].Part of Wren's elevation of the east side of the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, with a section of the north range of Nevile's Court, shewing the door to the Library from the first floor278
[127].Elevation of one bay on the east side of the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, drawn to scale from the existing building279
[128].Interior of the north-east corner of the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, shewing the bookcases, table, desk and stools, as designed by Sir Christopher Wren281
[129].Ground-plan of Library and adjacent parts of S. Paul's Cathedral, London. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren283
[130].Sir Christopher Wren's Library at S. Paul's Cathedral, London, looking north-eastTo face 282
[131].Bookcase in the north room of the University Library, Cambridge, designed by James Essex, 1731-1734286
[132].Interior of the Library of the Jesuits at Rheims, now the Lingerie de l'Hôpital GeneralTo face 287
[133].Ground-plan of the Library of the Jesuits at Rheims288
[134].Simon, Abbat of S. Albans (1167-1183), seated at his book-chest. From MSS. Cotton293
[135].Two men in a library. From a MS. of Les cas des malheureux nobles hommes et femmes in the British Museum295
[136].A Carmelite in his study. From a MS. of Le Miroir Historial in the British MuseumTo face 296
[137].Three musicians in a Library. From a MS. of a French translation of Valerius Maximus, in the British Museum297
[138].A bibliomaniac at his desk. From the Ship of Fools298
[139].S. John writing his Gospel. From a MS. Hours in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge303
[140].S. Jerome writing. From an oil painting by Benedetto Bonfigli, in the Church of S. Peter at PerugiaTo face 304
[141].Circular book-desk. From a MS. of Fais et Gestes du Roi Alexandre, in the British Museum304
[142].S. Luke writing his Gospel. From the Dunois Horæ, a MS. in the possession of H. Y. Thompson, Esq.305
[143].A lady seated in her chair reading. From a MS. written in France, early in the fifteenth century306
[144].Screw-desk. From a fifteenth century MS. in the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Paris307
[145].Hexagonal desk, with central spike, probably for a candle. From a French MS. of Le Miroir Historial307
[146].A lecturer addressing an audience. From a MS. of Livre des cas des malheureux nobles hommes et femmes, written in France at end of fifteenth centuryTo face 308
[147].S. Mark writing his Gospel. From a MS. Hours written in France in the fifteenth century309
[148].The author of The Chronicles of Hainault in his study (1446)To face 309
[149].S. Jerome in his study. From Les Miracles de Nostre Dame, written at the Hague in 1456To face 310
[150].A writer with his desk and table. From a MS. of Le Livre des Propriétès des Choses in the British MuseumTo face 309
[151].S. Luke writing his Gospel. MSS. Douce, Bodl. Lib. Oxf., No. 381311
[152].S. Augustine at his desk. From a painting by Fra Filippo Lippi at Florence312
[153].S. Jerome reading. From an oil painting by Catena, in the National Gallery, LondonTo face 313
[154].A writer at work. From a French translation of Valerius Maximus, written and illuminated in Flanders in 1479, for King Edward IV.To face 313
[155].A scholar's room in the fifteenth century. From a MS. in the Royal Library at BrusselsTo face 314
[156].Dean Boys in his Library, 1622317

THE CARE OF BOOKS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION. ASSYRIAN RECORD-ROOMS. LIBRARIES IN GREECE, ALEXANDRIA, PERGAMON, ROME. THEIR SIZE, USE, CONTEXTS, AND FITTINGS. ARMARIA OR PRESSES. THE VATICAN LIBRARY OF SIXTUS V. A TYPE OF AN ANCIENT ROMAN LIBRARY.

I propose, in the following Essay, to trace the methods adopted by man in different ages and countries to preserve, to use, and to make accessible to others, those objects, of whatever material, on which he has recorded his thoughts. In this investigation I shall include the position, the size, and the arrangement, of the rooms in which these treasures were deposited, with the progressive development of fittings, catalogues, and other appliances, whether defensive, or to facilitate use. But, though I shall have to trace out these matters in some detail, I shall try to eschew mere antiquarianism, and to impart human interest, so far as possible, to a research which might otherwise exhaust the patience of my readers. Bibliography, it must be understood, will be wholly excluded. From my special point of view books are simply things to be taken care of: even their external features concern me only so far as they modify the methods adopted for arrangement and preservation. I must dismiss the subject-matter of the volumes which filled the libraries of former days with a brevity of which I deeply regret the necessity. I shall point out the pains taken to sort the books under various comprehensive heads; but I shall not enumerate the authors which fall under this or that division.

The earliest repositories of books were connected with temples or palaces, either because priests under all civilisations have been par excellence the learned class, while despots have patronised art and literature; or because such a position was thought to offer greater security.