Belin. For the benefit—not of the 'Country Gentlemen,' but—of the 'Country Ladies,' do pray translate these Latin words. We are always interested about the pastoral life.
Lis. It only means, Belinda, that this said shepherd was blockhead enough to keep gazing upon his beloved fair, although every glance shot him through the heart, and killed him a hundred times. Still he caressed the cause of his ruin. And so bibliomaniacs hug the very volumes of which they oftentimes know they cannot afford the purchase money! I have not forgotten your account of Dr. Dee:[444] but the ladies were then absent.
Belin. Well, let us now go on to the explanation of the fifth symptom of the Bibliomania; which you have called, Copies printed upon vellum!
Lysand. A desire for books printed in this manner[445] is an equally strong and general symptom of the Biblomania; but, as these works are rarely to be obtained of modern date, the collector is obliged to have recourse to specimens executed, three centuries ago, in the printing offices of Aldus, Verard, or the Giunti. Although the Bibliotheque Imperiale, at Paris, and the library of Count M'Carthy, at Toulouse, are said to contain the greatest number of books, printed upon vellum, yet, those who have been fortunate enough to see copies of this kind in the libraries of his Majesty, the Duke of Marlborough, Earl Spencer, Mr. Johnes, and the late Mr. Cracherode (which latter is now in the British Museum) need not travel on the Continent for the sake of being convinced of their exquisite beauty and splendour. An unique copy of the first Livy, upon vellum, (of which the owner has excited the envy of foreigners) is a library of itself!—and the existence of vellum copies of Wynkyn De Worde's reprint of Juliana Barnes's Book of Hawking, &c., complete in every respect, (to say nothing of his Majesty's similar copy of Caxton's Doctrinal of Sapience, in the finest preservation) are sufficient demonstrations of the prevalance of this symptoms of the Bibliomania in the times of our forefathers; so that it cannot be said, as some have asserted, to have appeared entirely within the last half century.
[445] William Horman, who was head master of Eton school at the opening of the sixteenth century, was, I apprehend, the earliest writer in this country who propagated those symptoms of the Bibliomania indicative of a passion for large paper and vellum copies; for thus writes the said Horman, in his Vulgaria, printed by Pynson, in folio, 1519: a book, curious and interesting upon every account. 'The greatest and highest of price, is paper imperial. (Herbert, vol i., p. 265.) Parchment leaves be wont to be ruled, that there may be a comely margent: also, strait lines of equal distance be draw[en] within, that the writing may shew fair,' fol. 82. From these two sentences (without quoting Horman's praise of the presses of Froben and Aldus; fol. 87) I think it may be fairly inferred that a love of large paper and vellum copies was beginning to display itself in the period just mentioned. That this love or passion is now eagerly and generally evinced, I shall proceed to give abundant proof; but first let me not forget our bibliomaniacal satirist:
FIFTH MAXIM.
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Who blindly take the book display'd By pettifoggers in the trade. Nor ask of what the leaf was made, That seems like paper—I can tell 'em, That though 'tis possible to squint Through any page with letters in't, No copy, though an angel print, Reads elegantly—but "on vellum." Bibliosophia, p. vi. |
I proceed to give evidence of the present passion which prevails, respecting books of the description of which we are now speaking, by extracting a few articles from the library of which such honourable mention was made at [p. 448-9], ante. They are all
Works printed upon Vellum.