NO. £s.d.
172.Bale's brefe Chronycle relating to Syr JohanOldecastell, 1544. The Life off the 70th Archbishop offCanterbury, presentlye sittinge, 1574, &c. Life of Hen.Hills, Printer to O. Cromwell, with the Relation of whatpassed between him and the Taylor's Wife in Black Friars,1688, 8vo., &c.079
Purchased by Mores.
361 to 367.Upwards of thirty scarce Theological Tracts,in Latin and English.150
746 to 784.A fine collection of early English Translations,in black letter, with some good foreign editions of theclassics. Not exceeding, in the whole10100
837, 838.Two copies of the first edition of Bacon'sEssays, 1597. mirabile dictu!006
The reader will just glance at no. 970, in the catalogue,en passant, to
1082.(1l. 2s.) and 1091 (12s.) but more particularlyto
1173.The Boke of Tulle of Olde Age, &c. Emprynted byCaxton, 1481, folio800
1174.The Boke which is sayd or called Cathon, &c. printedby the same, 1483, folio. Purchased by Alchorne500
1256.The Doctrinal of Sapyence, printed by the same,1489, folio. Purchased by Alchorne660
1257.The Booke named the Cordyal, printed by the same,1479, folio6126

But there is no end to these curious volumes. I will, however, only add that there were upwards of 150 articles of Old Plays, mostly in quarto. See page 73. Of Antiquities, Chronicles, and Topography, it would be difficult to pitch upon the rarest volumes. The collection, including very few MSS., contained probably about 7000 volumes. The catalogue, in a clean condition, is somewhat uncommon.

You will imagine that the Book-Disease now began to be more active and fatal than ever; for the ensuing year (namely, in 1775) died the famous Anthony Askew, M.D. Those who recollect the zeal and scholarship of this illustrious bibliomaniac,[391] and the precious volumes with which his library was stored, from the choice collections of De Boze, Gaignat, Mead, and Folkes, cannot but sigh, with grief of heart, on reflecting upon such a victim! How ardently, and how kindly (as I remember to have heard one of his intimate friend say) would Askew unlock the stores of his glittering book-treasures!—open the magnificent folio, or the shining duodecimo, printed upon vellum, and embossed with golden knobs, or held fast with silver clasps! How carefully would he unrol the curious manuscript, decipher the half effaced characters—and then, casting an eye of ecstacy over the shelves upon which similar treasures were lodged, exult in the glorious prospect before him! But death—who, as Horace tells us, equally exercises the knocker of the palace and cottage-door, made no scruple to rap at that of our renowned Doctor—when Askew, with all his skill in medicine and knowledge of books, yielded to the summons of the grim tyrant—and died lamented, as he lived beloved!

[391] Lysander is now arrived, pursuing his chronological order, at a very important period in the annals of book-sales. The name and collection of Dr. Askew are so well known in the bibliographical world that the reader need not be detained with laboured commendations on either: in the present place, however, it would be a cruel disappointment not to say a word or two by way of preface or prologue. Dr. Anthony Askew had eminently distinguished himself by a refined taste, a sound knowledge, and an indefatigable research, relating to every thing connected with Grecian and Roman literature. It was to be expected, even during his life, as he was possessed of sufficient means to gratify himself with what was rare, curious, and beautiful, in literature and the fine arts, that the public would one day be benefited by such pursuits: especially as he had expressed a wish that his treasures might be unreservedly submitted to sale, after his decease. In this wish the doctor was not singular. Many eminent collectors had indulged it before him: and, to my knowledge, many modern ones still indulge it. Accordingly, on the death of Dr. Askew, in 1774, appeared, in the ensuing year, a catalogue of his books for sale, by Messrs. Baker and Leigh, under the following title: "Bibliotheca Askeviana, sive Catalogus Librorum Rarissimorum Antonii Askew, M.D., quorum Auctio fiet apud S. Baker et G. Leigh, in Vico dicto York Street, Covent Garden, Londini, Die Lunæ, 13 Februarii, mdcclxxv, et in undeviginti sequentes dies." A few copies were struck off on large paper, which are yet rather common. My own copy is of this kind, with the prices, and names of the purchasers. We are told, by the compiler of the catalogue, that it was thought "unnecessary to say much with respect to this library of the late Dr. Anthony Askew, as the collector and the collection were so well known in almost all parts of Europe." Afterwards it is observed that "The books in general are in very fine condition, many of them bound in morocco, and russia leather, with gilt leaves." "To give a particular account," continues the compiler, "of the many scarce editions of books in this catalogue would be almost endless, therefore the first editions of the classics, and some extremely rare books, are chiefly noticed. The catalogue, without any doubt, contains the best, rarest, and most valuable collection of Greek and Latin Books that was ever sold in England, and the great time and trouble of forming it will, it is hoped, be a sufficient excuse for the price put to it." (1s. 6d. the small paper, and 4s. the large.) This account is not overcharged. The collection in regard to Greek and Roman literature was unique in its day. Enriched with many a tome from the Harleian, Dr. Mead's, Martin Folkes's, and Dr. Rawlinson's library, as well as with numerous rare and splendid articles from foreign collections (for few men travelled with greater ardour, or had an acuter discrimination than Dr. Askew), the books were sought after by almost every one then eminent for bibliographical research. His Majesty was a purchaser, says Mr. J. Nichols, to the amount of about 300l.; Dr. Hunter, to the amount of 500l.; and De Bure (who had commissions from the King of France and many foreign collectors, to the amount of 1500l.) made purchases to the same amount; Dr. Maty was solicited by the trustees of the British Museum not to be unmindful of that repository; and accordingly he became a purchaser to a considerable amount. The late worthy and learned Mr. M. Cracherode, whose library now forms one of the most splendid acquisitions of the British Museum, and whose bequest of it will immortalize his memory, was also among the "Emptores literarii" at this renowned sale. He had enriched his collection with many an "Exemplar Askevianum;" and, in his latter days, used to elevate his hands and eyes, and exclaim against the prices now offered for Editiones Principes. The fact is, Dr. Askew's sale has been considered a sort of era in bibliography. Since that period, rare and curious books in Greek and Latin literature have been greedily sought after, and obtained (as a recent sale abundantly testifies) at most extravagant prices. It is very well for a veteran in bibliographical literature, as was Mr. Cracherode, or as are Mr. Wodhull, and Dr. Gosset—whose collections were, in part, formed in the days of De Bure, Gaignat, Askew, Duke de la Valliere, and Lamoignon—it is very well for such gentlemen to declaim against modern prices! But what is to be done? Classical books grow scarcer every day, and the love of literature, and of possessing rare and interesting works, increases in an equal ratio. Hungry bibliographers meet, at sales, with well-furnished purses, and are resolved upon sumptuous fare! Thus the hammer vibrates, after a bidding of forty pounds, where formerly it used regularly to fall at four! But we lose sight of Dr. Askew's rare editions, and large paper copies. The following, gentle reader, is but an imperfect specimen!

NO. £s.d.
168.Chaucer's Works, by Pynson, no date7176
172.Cicero of Old Age, by Caxton, 148113130
518.Gilles (Nicole) Annales, &c., de France. Paris, fol.1520, 2 tom. sur velin31106
647.Æginetæ (Pauli) Præcepta Salubria; Paris, quarto, 1510.On vellum1100
666.Æsopi Fabulæ. Edit. Princeps circ. 1483660
684.Boccacio, il Teseide,Ferar., 1475. Prima Edizione8500
[This copy, which is called, "probably unique," was once,I suspect, in Consul Smith's library. See Bibl. Smith, p.lxiii. The reader will find some account of it in Warton'sHistory of Engl. Poetry, vol. i., 347. It was printed, aswell as the subsequent editions of 1488, and 1528, "withsome deviations from the original, and evenmisrepresentations of the story." His majesty was thepurchaser of this precious and uncommon book.]
708.Cornelius Nepos, 1471. Edit. Prin.11110
713.Alexander de Ales, super tertium Sententiar. 1474, onvellum15150
817.Anthologia Græca. Edit. Prin. 1494, on vellum2870
In Dr. Hunter's Museum.
856.Ammianus Marcellinus, 1474. Edit. Prin.2300
1332.Ciceronis Opera omnia, Oliveti, 9 vols. quarto, 1740,Charta Maxima36150
1389.Ejusdem Officia, 1465. Edit. Prin.3000
1433.Catullus, Tibullus, et Propertius; Aldi, 8vo., 1502.In Membranis17100
This copy was purchased by the late Mr. M.C. Cracherode, andis now, with his library, in the British Museum. It is abeautiful book; but cannot be compared with Lord Spencer'sAldine vellum Virgil, of the same size.
1576.Durandi Rationale, &c., 1459. In Membranis6100
The beginning of the 1st chapter was wanting. Lord Spencerhas a perfect copy of this rare book, printed upon spotlessvellum.
2656.Platonis Opera, apud Aldum; 2 vols., fol., 1513.Edit. Prin. on vellum.55130
Purchased by the late Dr. William Hunter; and is, at thismoment, with the Doctor's books and curiosities, atGlasgow. The reader can have no idea of the beauty ofthese vellum leaves. The ink is of the finest lustre, andthe whole typographical arrangement may be considered amasterpiece of printing. If I could forget the magnificentcopy which I have seen (but not upon vellum) of the"Etymologicum magnum," in the Luton Library, I should callthis the chef-d'œuvre of the Aldine Press.
2812.Plinii Hist. Natural; apud Spiram, fol., 1469. Edit.Princeps.4300
This copy has been recently sold for a sum considerably lessthan it brought. It bears no kind of comparison with thecopy in Lord Spencer's, Dr. Hunter's, and the Cracherode,collections. These latter are giants to it!
2813.Id. cum notis Harduini; 1723, 3 vols., on vellum4200
3345.Tewrdranckhs; Poema Germanica, Norimb. fol., 1517, onvellum.2100
This is a book of uncommon rarity. It is a poeticalcomposition on the life and actions of the EmperorMaximilian I., and was frequently reprinted; but not withthe same care as were the earlier editions of 1517 and1519—the latter, at Augsburg, by John Schouspergus.Kœllerus, who purchased a copy of this work on vellum,for 200 crowns, has given a particularly temptingdescription of it. See Schelhorn's "AmœnitatesLiteraræ," tom. ii., 430-iii., 144.Dr. Hunter purchased Dr. Askew's copy, which I have seen inthe Museum of the former: the wood-cuts, 118 in number,justify every thing said in commendation of them by Papillonand Heinecken. Probably Dr. Askew purchased the above copyof Osborne; for I find one in the Bibl. Harleian, vol.iii., no. 3240. See, too, Bibl. Mead, p. 239, no.43; where a vellum copy, of the edition of 1527, was soldfor 9l. 9s. My friend, Mr. Douce, has also beautifulcopies of the editions of 1517 and 1519, upon paper of thefinest lustre. It has been a moot point with bibliographerswhether the extraordinary type of this book be wood, andcut in solid blocks, or moveable types of metal. No one isbetter able to set this point "at rest," as lawyers call it,than the gentleman whose name is here last mentioned.
3337.Terentianus Maurus de Literis, Syllabis, et MetrisHoratii. Mediol. fol., 149712120
"This is judged to be the only copy of this edition inEngland, if not in the whole world. Dr. Askew could find nocopy in his travels over Europe, though he made earnest andparticular search in every library which he had anopportunity of consulting." Note in the catalogue. It waspurchased by Dr. Hunter, and is now in his Museum.Originally it belonged to Dr. Taylor, the editor of Lysiasand Demosthenes, who originally procured it from theHarleian Library, for four guineas only. We are told that,during his life, one hundred guineas would not haveobtained it!

Rare and magnificent as the preceding articles may be considered, I can confidently assure the reader that they form a very small part of the extraordinary books in Dr. Askew's library. Many a ten and twenty pounder has been omitted—many a prince of an edition passed by unregarded! The articles were 3570 in number; probably comprehending about 7000 volumes. They were sold for 4000l. It remains only to add that Dr. Askew was a native of Kendal, in Westmorland; that he practised as a physician there with considerable success, and, on his establishment in London, was visited by all who were distinguished for learning, and curious in the fine arts. Dr. Mead supported him with a sort of paternal zeal; nor did he find in his protegé an ungrateful son. (See the Director, vol. i., p. 309.) Few minds were probably more congenial than were those of Mead and Askew: the former had, if I may so speak, a magnificence of sentiment which infused into the mind of the latter just notions of a character aiming at solid intellectual fame; without the petty arts and dirty tricks which we now see too frequently pursued to obtain it. Dr. Askew, with less pecuniary means of gratifying it, evinced an equal ardour in the pursuit of books, MSS., and inscriptions. I have heard from a very worthy old gentleman, who used to revel 'midst the luxury of Askew's table, that few men exhibited their books and pictures, or, as it is called, shewed the Lions, better than did the Doctor. Of his attainments in Greek and Roman literature it becomes not me to speak, when such a scholar as Dr. Parr has been most eloquent in their praise. I should observe that the MSS. of Dr. Askew were separately sold in 1781, and produced a very considerable sum. The Appendix to Scapula, published in an 8vo. volume, in 1789, was compiied from one of these MSS.

After an event so striking and so melancholy, one would think that future Virtuosi would have barricadoed their doors, and fumigated their chambers, in order to escape the ravages of the Book-Pest:—but how few are they who profit by experience, even when dearly obtained! The subsequent History of the Bibliomania is a striking proof of the truth of this remark: for the disease rather increased, and the work of death yet went on. In the following year (1776) died John Ratcliffe;[392] a bibliomaniac of a very peculiar character. If he had contented himself with his former occupation, and frequented the butter and cheese, instead of the book, market—if he could have fancied himself in a brown peruke, and Russian apron, instead of an embroidered waistcoat, velvet breeches, and flowing periwig, he might, perhaps, have enjoyed greater longevity; but, infatuated by the Caxtons and Wynkyn de Wordes of the West and Fletewode collections, he fell into the snare; and the more he struggled to disentangle himself, the more certainly did he become a victim to the disease.

[392] Bibliotheca Ratcliffiana; or, "A Catalogue of the elegant and truly valuable Library of John Ratcliffe, Esq., late of Bermondsey, deceased. The whole collected with great judgment and expense, during the last thirty years of his life: comprehending a large and most choice collection of the rare old English black-letter, in fine preservation, and in elegant bindings, printed by Caxton, Lettou, Machlinia, the anonymous St. Alban's Schoolmaster, Wynkyn de Worde, Pynson, Berthelet, Grafton, Day, Newberie, Marshe, Jugge, Whytchurch, Wyer, Rastell, Coplande, and the rest of the Old English Typographers: several missals and MSS., and two pedigrees on vellum, finely illuminated." The title-page then sets forth a specimen of these black-letter gems; among which our eyes are dazzled with a galaxy of Caxtons, Wynkyn de Wordes, Pynsons, &c., &c. The sale took place on March 27, 1776; although the year is unaccountably omitted by that renowned auctioneer, the late Mr. Christie, who disposed of them. If ever there was a unique collection, this was one—the very essence of Old Divinity, Poetry, Romances, and Chronicles! The articles were only 1675 in number; but their intrinsic value amply compensated for their paucity. The following is but an inadequate specimen:

NO. £s.d.
1315.Horace's Arte of Poetrie, Pistles, and Satyres, by Durant, 1567. First English. Edition0160
1321.The Shepard's Calendar, 1579. Whetstone's Castle of Delight, 1576120
1392.The Pastyme of People, printed by Rastell. Curious wood-cuts470
1393.The Chronicles of Englande, printed by Caxton, fine copy, 1480550
1394.Ditto, printed at St. Albans, 1483. Purchased by Dr. Hunter, and now in his Museum (which copy I have seen)770
1403.Barclay's Shyp of Folys, printed by Pynson, 1508, first edit., a fine copy2100
1426.The Doctrinal of Sapyence, printed by Caxton, 1489880
1427.The Boke called Cathon, ditto, 1483. Purchased by Dr. Hunter, and now in his Museum550
1428.The Polytyque Boke, named Tullius de Senectute, in Englyshe, printed by Caxton, 14811400
1429.The Game of Chesse Playe. No date. Printed by Caxton1600
1665.The Boke of Jason, printed by Caxton5100
1669.The Polychronicon of Ranulph Higden, translated by Trevisa, 1482. Printed by the same, and purchased by Dr. Hunter5156
1670.Legenda Aurea, or the Golden Legende. Printed by the same, 14839150
1674.Mr. Ratcliffe's MS. Catalogue of the rare old black-letter and other curious and uncommon books, 4 vols.7150
[This would have been the most delicious article to my palate. If the present owner of it were disposed to part with it, I could not find it in my heart to refuse him compound interest for his money. As is the wooden frame-work to the bricklayer, in the construction of his arch, so might Mr. Ratcliffe's MS. Catalogues be to me in the compilation of a certain magnum opus!]