THE DELPHIN STATIUS. Two copies: of which that in calf is the whitest, and less beaten: the other is in dark morocco. The Abbé Grosier told me that De Bure had offered him forty louis for one of them: to which I replied, and now repeat the question, "where is the use of keeping two?" Rely upon it, that, within a dozen years from hence, it will turn out that these Delphin Statiuses have never been even singed by a fire![88] I begin to suspect that this story may be classed in the number of BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DELUSIONS--upon which subject our friend * * could publish a most interesting crown octavo volume: meet garniture for a Bibliomaniac's breakfast table.
Here is the ALDINE BIBLE of 1518, in Greek, upon thick paper, bound in red morocco. Also a very fine copy of the Icelandic Bible of 1644, folio, bound in the same manner. Among the religious formularies, I observed a copy of the Liturgia Svecanæ Ecclesiæ catliolicæ et orthodoxæ conformis, in 1576, folio--which contains only LXXVI leaves, besides the dedication and preface. It has a wood-cut frontispiece, and the text is printed in a very large gothic letter. The commentary is in a smaller type. This may be classed among the rarer books of its kind. But I must not forget a MS. of The Hours of St. Louis--considered as contemporaneous. It is a most beautiful small folio, or rather imperial octavo; and is in every respect brilliant and precious. The gold, raised greatly beyond what is usually seen in MSS. of this period, is as entire as it is splendid. The miniature paintings are all in a charming state of preservation, and few things of this kind can be considered more interesting.
This library has been long celebrated for its collection of French Topography and of early French and Spanish Romances; a great portion of the latter having been obtained at the sale of the Nyon Library. I shall be forgiven, I trust, if I neglect the former for the latter. Prepare therefore for a list of some choice articles of this description--in every respect worthy of conspicuous places in all future Roxburghe and Stanley collections. The books now about to be described are, I think, almost all in that apartment which leads immediately into Sully's boudoir. They are described just as I took them from the shelves.
RICHARD-SANS PEUR, &c. "A Paris Par Nicolas et Pierre Bonfons," &c. Without Date. 4to. It is executed in a small roman type, in double columns. There is an imposing wood-cut of Richard upon horseback, in the frontispiece, and a very clumsy one of the same character on the reverse. The signatures run to E in fours. An excellent copy.
LE MEME ROMANT. "Imprime nouuelement a Paris." At the end, printed by "Alain Lotrain et Denis Janot." 4to. Without Date. The title, just given is printed in a large gothic letter, in red and black lines, alternately, over a rude-wood cut of Richard upon horseback. The signatures A, B, C, run in fours: D in eight, and E four. The text is executed in a small coarse gothic letter, in long lines. The present is a sound good copy.
ROBERT LE DYABLE. "La terrible Et merueilleuse vie de Robert Le Dyable iiii C." 4to. Without Date. The preceding is over a large wood-cut of Robert, with a club in his hand, forming the frontispiece. The signatures run to D, in fours; with the exception of A, which has eight leaves. The work is printed in double columns, in a small gothic type. A sound desirable copy.
SYPPERTS DE VINEUAULX. "Lhystoire plaisante et recreative faisant metion des prouesses et vaillãces du noble Sypperts de Vineuaulx Et de ses dix septs filz Nouuellement imprime." At the end: printed for "Claude veufue de feu Iehan sainct denys," 4to. Without Date. On the reverse of this leaf there is a huge figure of a man straddling, holding a spear and shield, and looking over his left shoulder. I think I have seen this figure before. This impression is executed in long lines, in a small gothic letter. A sound copy of a very rare book.[89]
GUY DE VVARWICH. "Lhystoire de Guy de vvarwich Cheualier dãgleterre &c. 4to. No Date. The preceding is over a wood-cut of the famous Guy and his fair Felixe. At bottom, we learn that it is executed in a small gothic type, in double columns. The colophon is on the reverse of V. six
MESSER NOBILE SOCIO. "Le Miserie de li Amanti di Messer Mobile Socio." Colophon: "Stampata in Vinegia per Maestro Bernardino de Vitali Veneciano MDXXXIII." 4to. This impression is executed in long lines, in a fair, good, italic letter. The signatures, from a to y inclusively, run in fours. The colophon, just given, is on the reverse of z i. Of this romance I freely avow my total ignorance.
CASTILLE ET ARTUS D'ALGARBE. 4to. This title is over what may be called rather a spirited wood-cut. The date below is 1587. It is printed in double columns, in a small roman type. In the whole, forty-eight leaves. A desirable copy.