NO.
139.Bernier Theologie Portatif, Lond. 1768—Boulanger Recherches sur l'Origine du Despotisme Oriental, morocco, gilt leaves. Lond. 1763, 8vo. 'N.B. The "Recherches" were printed by Mr. Wilkes, at his own private printing press, in Great George Street, Westminster, in 1763.'
383.Catullus, recensuit Johannes Wilkes; impress. in Membranis, red morocco, gilt leaves. Lond. ap. Nichols, 1788, 4to.
395.Copies taken from the Records of the C. of K.B. 1763. "Note in this book—printed by P.C. Webe, one of the solicitors to the Treasury, never published," &c.
1441.Theophrasti Characteres: Græce, Johannes Wilkes, recensuit. Impress. in Membranis, Lond. 1790, 4to.
1460.Wilkes's History of England, no. i. 1768, 4to.

Next comes the account of the Library of that redoubted champion of ancient lore, and anti-Wartonian critic, Joseph Ritson. His books, upon the whole, brought very moderate sums. A Catalogue of the entire and curious Library and Manuscripts of the late Joseph Ritson, Esq., &c., sold by auction by Leigh and Sotheby, December 5, 1803, 8vo.

NO. £s.d.
521.Skelton's (Maister) Workes, MS. notes, and lists of the different editions of Skelton's Works, and likewise of those never printed; and of these last, in whose possession many of them are, 1736, 8vo.0180
600.Jeffrey of Monmouth's British History, by Thompson; a great number of MS. notes, on separate papers, by Mr. Ritson. Lond. 1718, 8vo.150
950.The Sevin Seages. Translatit out of Paris in Scottis meter, be Johne Rolland in Dalkeith, with one Moralitie after everie Doctouris Tale, and siclike after the Emprice Tale, togidder with one loving landaude to everie Doctour after his awin Tale, and one Exclamation and outcrying upon the Emprerouris Wife after his fals contrusit tale. Imprentit at Edinburgh, be Johne Ros, for Henrie Charteris, 1578, 4to. "Note in this book by Mr. Ritson; No other copy of this edition is known to exist, neither was it known to Ames, Herbert," &c. &c.31100
964.A new Enterlude, never before this tyme imprinted, entreating of the Life and Repentance of Marie Magadelene, not only godlie, learned and fruitfull, but also well furnished with pleasant myrth and pastime, very delectable for those which shall heare or reade the same, made by the learned Charke Lewis Wager—printed 1567, MS.1116
985.Bibliographia Scotica; Anecdotes biographical and literary of Scotish Writers, Historians, and Poets, from the Earliest account to the nineteenth century, in two parts, intended for publication.4530
986.Shakspeare, by Johnson and Steevens, 8 vols. containing a great number of manuscript notes, corrections, &c. &c. together with 3 vols. of manuscript notes, by Mr. Ritson, prepared by him for the press, intending to publish it.11000

The year ensuing (of which Lysander has, very negligently, taken no notice) was distinguished for the sale of a collection of books, the like unto which had never been seen, since the days of the dispersion of the Parisian collection. The title of the auction catalogue was, in part, as follows: A Catalogue of a most splendid and valuable collection of Books, superb missals, original drawings, &c. the genuine property of a Gentleman of distinguished taste, retiring into the country, &c. Sold by auction by Mr. Christie, April, 1804, 8vo. 339 articles: total amount, 4640l.—being almost 14l. an article. I attended both days of this sale and the reader shall judge of my own satisfaction, by that which he must receive from a perusal of the following specimens of this Bibliotheca Splendidissima.

NO. £s.d.
221.A most complete set of Sir William Dugdale's Works,containing Monasticon Anglicanum, in 5 vols. 1655;Monasticon, vol. 1, editio secunda, 2 vols.; Monasticon, inEnglish, with Steevens's Continuation, 3 vols.;Warwickshire, first edition; Warwickshire, second edition,by Thomas, 2 vols.; St. Paul's, first and second edition, 2vols.; Baronage, 2 vols.; History of Imbanking, first andsecond editions, 2 vols.; Origines Juridiciales, thirdedition; View of the Troubles; Summons of the Nobility;Usage of Arms and office of Lord Chancellor. This fine setof Dugdale is elegantly bound in Russia leather in 23volumes.136100
(Now worth 250l.)
222.Biographia Britannica, 7 vols. 1747, folio. A matchlessset illustrated with portraits, fine and rare, andelegantly bound in Russia leather.99150
223.Homeri Ilias et Odyssea, 4 vols. Glasgow, 1756, fol. Anunique copy, on large paper, illustrated with Flaxman'splates to the Iliad, and original drawings, by Miss Wilkes,to the Odyssey; superbly bound in blue Turkey.39180
225.Milton's Poetical Works, large paper, Tonson, 1695.Milton's Historical Works, &c., by Birch, 2 vols. largepaper, 1738, 3 vols. elegantly bound in Russia leather.5100
229.Ogilby's Historical Works, containing Britannia, China,2 vols. Japan, Asia, Africa, and America, with fine platesby Hollar, 7 vols. folio, fine copy in Russia.18180
234.Lord Clarendon's History of the Grand Rebellion, 6vols. folio, large paper, splendidly bound in morocco,1702.4970
235.Winwood's Memorials of Affairs of State, 3 vols. 1725.Large Paper, elegantly bound, and gilt leaves.5180
239.Wood's Athenæ Oxonienses, 2 vols. best edition, 1721.A fine copy on Large Paper, elegantly bound in Russia, withgilt leaves, Fol.7176

From no. 292 to 307, inclusive (only 14 volumes), there was a set of "Painted Missals and curious manuscripts," which were sold for 724l. Among them, was Mr. John Towneley's matchless missal, decorated by the famous Francesco Veronese—"one of the finest productions of the kind ever imported from Italy:" see no. 296. For an account of the books printed upon vellum in this collection, see [Part VI]. Let us close this note with the Bibliotheca Boucheriana; of which such respectable mention is above justly made by Lysander. "A Catalogue of the very valuable and extensive Library of the late Rev. Jonathan Boucher, A.M., F.R.S., Vicar of Epsom, Surrey. Comprehending a fine and curious collection in Divinity, History, &c.: sold by auction by Leigh and Sotheby; in February, 1806." First part, 6646 articles: Second part, 1933 articles: Third part, published in 1809: 857 articles. I attended many days during this sale; but such was the warm fire, directed especially towards divinity, kept up during nearly the whole of it, that it required a heavier weight of metal than I was able to bring into the field of battle to ensure any success in the contest. I cannot help adding that these catalogues are wretchedly printed.

Ah, well-a-day!—have I not come to the close of my Book-History? Are there any other bibliomaniacs of distinction yet to notice? Yes!—I well remember the book-sale events of the last four years. I well remember the curiosity excited by the collections of the Marquis of Lansdowne, John Brand, Isaac Reed, Richard Porson, Alexander Dalrymple, and Richard Gough,[413] and with these I must absolutely make my bibliomaniacal peroration! Illustrious men!——

[413] For the same reason as has been adduced at [p. 427], ante, and from a strong wish to render this List of Book Auctions as perfect as my opportunities will allow, I shall persevere, at the foot of Lysander's narrative, in submitting to the attention of the curious reader a still further account of sales than those above alluded to in the text. As this will be the last note in [Part V.], I hope, however late the hour, or exhausted his patience, that the reader will also persevere to the close of it, and then wish the author "good night," along with his friends, whose salutations are above so dramatically described. At the very opening of the year in which Mr. Boucher's books were sold, the magnificent collection of the Marquis of Lansdowne was disposed of. I well remember the original destination of this numerous library: I well remember the long, beautiful, and classically ornamented room, in which, embellished and guarded by busts, and statues of gods and heroes, the books were ranged in quiet and unmolested order, adjoining to the noblest mansion in London. If the consideration of external, or out-of-door, objects be put out of the question, this Library-room had not its superior in Great Britain. Let us now come to particulars: "Bibliotheca Lansdowniana. A Catalogue of the entire Library of the late most noble William Marquis of Lansdowne; sold by auction by Leigh and Sotheby, &c. January, 1806." 8vo. The following is but a slender specimen of the printed books in the Lansdowne collection.

NO. £s.d.
359.Arthur Kynge (the story of the most noble and Worthy) the whiche was fyrst of the worthyes christen, and also of his noble and valyaunt knyghtes of the Round Table; newly imprynted and corrected, black letter, title-page emblazoned, Turkey. Imp. at Lond. by Wyllyam Coplande, 1557, folio. In the collection of Mr. Dent.2500
361.Ashmole's (Elias) Institution, Laws, and Ceremonies of the Order of the Garter, plates by Hollar, L. Paper, green morocco, border of gold, gilt leaves, 1672, folio.10100
1384.Chronica del Rey Don Alonso el Onzeno, Roy de Castilla, &c. Liter. Goth. Mar. verd. Volladolid. 1551, folio.11110
1385.—— del Rey Don Pedro. D. Enrrique, y D. Juan, Pampl. 1591, folio.5156
1386.—— des Reys de Portugal, D. Joanno I. D. Duarte, e D. Alfonso, Lisboa, 1543, folio.420
2499.Gazette, London, from the beginning, 1665 to 1722 inclusive, 73 vol. folio.8400
3438.Leyes del Reyno, del Don Philippe II. Recopilacion de las, 2 tom. Alcala, 1581. folio.150
3439.—— de los Reynos de las Indias, del Don Carlos II. 2 tom. Madrid, 1681, folio.3100
4108.Money; a very curious Collection of Single Sheets, &c., and with several MS. Memorandums and Papers on that Subject, bound in one volume.10100
5544.Somers' (Lord) Tracts, 16 vol. Lond. 1748, 52.6300
5786.Stuart's (James) Antiquities of Athens, plates, 3 vol. 1787, 94, folio.16160
5787.Stukeley's (Wm.) Itinerary, cuts, Russia, 2 vol. in vol. 1, 1776, folio.2100
5916.A very rare collection of Tracts, Documents, and Pamphlets, consisting of above 280 volumes, tending to illustrate the History of the French Revolution—together with more than 49 volumes relative to the transactions in the Low Countries, between the years 1787 and 1792, and their separation from the house of Austria:—amongst the above will be found the following works.
Des Etats Generaux, &c. Par. 1789.18 vol.
Process Verbauxde la première Assemblée,75 vol.
Dittode la seconde16 vol.
Dittode la Convocation32 vol.