Thomas Frognall Dibdin - A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Two

T >> Thomas Frognall Dibdin >> A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Two

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THE SAME WORK. _Printed by Verard, without date_. Folio. This copy is UPON
VELLUM; in the finest possible condition both for size and colour. It is
printed in Verard's small gothic type, in long lines, with a very broad
margin. The wood-cuts are coloured. The last leaf of the first book is MS.:
containing only sixteen lines upon the recto of the leaf. This fine copy is
bound in red morocco.

HORAE BEATAE VIRGINIS, Gr. _Printed by Aldus_. 1497. 12mo. Perhaps the rarest
Aldine volume in the world:--when found in a perfect state. M. Renouard had
not been able to discover a copy to enrich his instructive annals of the
Aldine typography.[46] The present copy is four inches and five eighths, by
three inches and a half. It is in its original clasp binding, with stamped
leather-outsides.[47]

THE SHYPPE OF FOOLES. _Printed by Wynkyn de Worde_. 1509. 8vo. At length
this far-famed and long talked of volume has been examined. It is doubtless
a prodigious curiosity, and unique--inasmuch as this copy is UPON VELLUM.
The vellum is stout but soft. I suspect this copy to be rather cropt. It is
bound in red morocco, and is perfectly clean and sound throughout.

ROMAN DE JASON. In French. _Printed by Caxton_. Folio. A little history is
attached to the acquisition of this book, which may be worth recital. An
unknown, and I may add an unknowing, person, bought this most exceedingly
rare volume, with the _Qudriloge of Alain Chartier_, 1477, Folio, in one
and the same ancient wooden binding, for the marvellously moderate sum of--
_one louis_! The purchaser brought the volume to M. de La Serna Santander,
and asked him if he thought _two_ louis too much for their value. That wary
Bibliographer only replied, "I do not think it is." He became the
purchaser; and instantly and generously consigned the volumes to their
present place of destination.[48] You may remember that the collection of
Anthony Storer, in the library of Eton College, also possesses this book--
at present wanting in Lord Spencer's library. The present copy contains one
hundred and thirty-two leaves, including a blank leaf; and is in a perfect
state of preservation.

PSALTERIUM, Latine. _Printed by Fust and Schoiffher_. 1457. Folio. EDITIO
PRINCEPS. This celebrated volume is a recent acquisition. It was formerly
the copy of Girardot de Prefond, and latterly that of Count M'Carthy; at
whose sale it was bought for 12,000 francs. It is cruelly cropt, especially
at the side margins; and is of too sombre and sallow a tint. Measurement--
fourteen inches, by nine and a half. It is doubtless an absolutely
necessary volume in a collection like the present. Only SEVEN known copies
in the world.

PSALTERIUM, Latine. _Printed by the same_. 1459: Folio. _Editio Secunda_.
The first six leaves have been evidently much thumbed; and the copy, from
the appearance of the first leaf alone, is as evidently cropt. For the
colophon, both of this and of the preceding edition, examine the catalogue
of Lord Spencer's library.[49] Upon the whole, it strikes me, as far as
recollection may serve, that his Lordship's copy of each edition is
preferable to those under consideration.[50] This copy measures sixteen
inches and a quarter, by twelve and one-eighth.

PSALTERIUM, Latine. _Printed by Schoiffher_. 1490. Folio. A magnificent
volume: and what renders it still more desirable, it is printed UPON
VELLUM. Lord Spencer's copy is upon paper. The _previous_ editions are
_always_ found upon vellum. Fine and imposing as is the copy before me, it
is nevertheless evident--from the mutilated ancient numerals at top--that
it has been somewhat cropt. This fine book measures sixteen inches and five
eighths, by eleven inches and seven eighths.

PSALTERIUM, Latine. _Printed by Schoiffher_. 1502. Folio. This book
(wanting in the cabinet at St. James's Place) is upon paper. As far as
folio Cxxxvij. the leaves are numbered: afterwards, the printed numerals
cease. A ms. note, in the first leaf, says, that the text of the first
sixteen leaves precisely follows that of the first edition of 1457. The
present volume will be always held dear in the estimation of the
typographical antiquary. It is THE LAST in which the name of _Peter
Schoiffher_, the son-in-law of Fust, appears to have been introduced. That
printer died probably a short time afterwards. It measures fifteen inches
and one eighth in height, by ten inches and seven eighths in width.

PSALTERIUM, Latine. _Printed by Schoiffher's Son_. 1516. Folio. A fine and
desirable copy, printed UPON VELLUM. It is tolerably fair: measuring
fifteen inches, by ten inches and three quarters.

I have little hesitation in estimating _these five copies_ of the earlier
editions of the Psalter, to be worth, at least, one thousand pounds.

BIBLIA LATINA. (_Supposed to have been printed in 1455.)_ Folio. This is
the famous edition called the MAZARINE BIBLE, from the first known copy of
it having been discovered in the library of that Cardinal, in the college
founded by himself. Bibliography has nearly exhausted itself in
disquisitions upon it. But this copy--which is upon paper--is THE COPY _of
all copies_; inasmuch as it contains the memorable inscription, or coeval
ms. memorandum, of its having been illuminated in 1456.[51] In the first
volume, this inscription occurs at the end of the printed text, in three
short lines, but to the best of my recollection, the memorandum resembles
the printed text rather more than the fac-simile of it formerly published
by me. In the second volume, this inscription is in three long lines and is
well enough copied in the M'Carthy catalogue. It may be as well to give you
a transcript of this celebrated memorandum, as it proves unquestionably the
impression to have been executed before any known volume with a printed
date. It is taken from the end of the second volume.[52]

THE SAME EDITION.--This is a sound and desirable copy, printed UPON VELLUM;
but much inferior in every respect, to another similar copy in the
possession of Messrs. G. and W. Nicol, booksellers to his Majesty.[53] It
measures fifteen inches and three-fourths, by nearly eleven and six
eighths.

BIBLIA LATINA. _Printed by Pfister, at Bamberg_. Folio. Three volumes. The
rarest of all Latin Bibles, when found in a perfect state. This was Lord
Oxford's copy, and is not to be equalled for its beauty and soundness of
condition. What renders it precious and unique, is an undoubted coeval ms.
date, in red ink, of 1461. Some of the leaves in the first volume are
wholly uncut. It is in handsome, substantial russia binding.

DURANDI RATIONALE DIV. OFF. _Printed by Fust and Schoiffher_. 1459. Folio.
Here are not fewer than _three_ copies of this early, and much coveted
volume: all of course UPON VELLUM. The tallest of them measures sixteen
inches and a half, by twelve and one eighth; and is in red morocco binding.

BIBLIA GERMANICA. _Supposed to be printed by Mentelin_. _Without date_.
Folio. If we except the earlier leaves--of which the first is in ms., upon
vellum, and the three succeeding, which are a little tender and soiled--
this is a very fine copy; so large, as to have many bottom rough margins.
At the end of the second volume an ancient ms. memorandum absurdly assigns
the printing of this edition to Fust, and its date to 1472. The paper of
this impression is certainly not very unlike that of the _Catholicon_ of
1460.

BIBLIA PAUPERUM. A block-book. This is a cropt, but clean and uncoloured
copy. I suspect, however, that it has been washed in some parts. It is in
red morocco binding.

BIBLIA POLONICA. 1563. Folio. This is the famous Protestant Polish Bible,
put forth under the patronage of Prince Radziwill; and concerning which a
good deal has been already submitted to the public attention.[54] But the
copy under consideration was a _presentation_ copy from a descendant of
Prince Radziwill--to the public Library of Sedan, to be there deposited
through the intervention of Lord James Russell; as the following
memorandum, in the Prince's own hand writing, attests: "_Hoc sacrarum
Literarum Veteris Nouique Testamenti opus, fidelissima Cura Maiorum meorum
vetustis Typis Polonicis excusum, In Bibliothecam Sedanensem per Nobilem
Virum Dominum Jacobum Russelium, Ill^{mi} Principis Friderici Mauritii
Bullionei ad me exlegatum inferendum committo_.

_H. Radziwill_."

It is nevertheless an imperfect copy, as it wants the title-page. M. Van
Praet thinks it otherwise complete, but I suspect that it is not so.

BIBLIA SCLAVONICA; 1587. Folio. Of this exceedingly scarce volume--which M.
Van Praet placed before me as almost unique--the present is a fine and
desirable copy: in its original binding--with a stamped ornament of the
Crucifixion on each side. One of these ornaments is quite perfect: the
other is somewhat injured.

BIBLIA BOHEMICA. _Printed in 1488_. Folio. Among the rarest of the
early-printed versions of the sacred text: and this copy happens to be a
most beautiful and desirable one. It is wanting in Lord Spencer's
collection; which renders a minute description of it the more desirable.
The first signature, _a i_, appears to be blank. On _a ii_ begins a
prologue or prefatory proheme, ending on the reverse of _a vj_. It has a
prefix, or title, in fifteen lines, printed in red. The text is uniformly
printed in double columns, in a sharp secretary-gothic character, with ink
sufficiently black, upon paper not remarkably stout, but well manufactured.
There are running titles, throughout. The last eight leaves upon signature
_i_ are printed in red and black lines alternately, and appear to be an
index. The colophon, in nineteen lines, is at the bottom of the second
column, on the reverse of _mm viij_. This book is thought to have been
printed at _Prague_. The present copy is bound in blue morocco.

NEW TESTAMENT: _in the Dutch and Russian languages_. This volume, which is
considered to be unique, and of which indeed I never saw, or heard of,
another copy, bears the imprint of "_'T Gravenhage--Iohannes Van Duren,
Boecverkoper_. MDCCXVII." Folio. The Dutch text is uniformly printed in
capital letters; the Russian, in what I conceive to be lowercase, and about
two-thirds the size of the Dutch.

The cause of the scarcity of perfect copies is, that very nearly the whole
of the impression was _lost at sea_. The present copy undoubtedly affords
decided demonstrations of a marine soaking: parts of it being in the most
piteous condition. The first volume contains 255 leaves: the second, 196
leaves. The copy is yet in boards, in the most tender condition. M. Van
Praet thinks it _just_ possible that there may be a _second_ similar copy.
The _third_ (if there be a second) is known to have perished in the flames
at Moscow.

THE PENTATEUCH: _in Hebrew_. _Printed in 1491_. _Folio_. A very fine copy,
printed UPON VELLUM. The press work has a rich and black appearance; but
the vellum is rather soiled. One leaf presents us with the recto covered by
ms. of a brown tint--and the reverse covered by printed text. The last page
is certainly ms. This however is a rare and costly tome.

TRACTS PRINTED BY PFISTER, _at Bamberg_; Folio. This is really a matchless
volume, on the score of rarity and curiosity. It begins with a tract, or
moral treatise, upon death. The wood cuts, five in number, are very large,
filling nearly the whole page. One of them presents us with death upon a
white horse; and the other was immediately recognised by me, as being the
identical subject of which a fac-simile of a portion is given to the public
in Lord Spencer's Catalogue[55]--but which, at that time, I was unable to
appropriate. This tract contains twenty-four leaves, having twenty-eight
lines in a full page. In all probability it was the _first_ of the tracts
printed by Pfister in the present volume. The FOUR HISTORIES, so fully
detailed in the work just referred to, immediately follow. This is of the
date of 1462. Then the BIBLIA PAUPERUM, also fully described in the same
work. This treatise is without date, and contains seventeen leaves; with a
profusion of wood cuts, of which fac-similes have been given by me to the
public. These three copies are in remarkably fine preservation; and this
volume will be always highly treasured in the estimation of the
typographical antiquary. The Latin Bible, by Pfister, has been just
described to you. There was a yet MORE PRECIOUS typographical gem ... in
this very library; by the same printer--with very curious wood cuts,--of
one of which Heineken has indulged us with a fac-simile. I mean the
FABLES ... with the express date of 1461. But recent events have caused it
to be restored to its original quarters.[56]

LACTANTII INSTITUTIONES, &C. _Printed in the Soubiaco Monastery_. 1465.
Folio. This was Lord Oxford's copy, and may be called almost uncut. You are
to learn, that copies of this beautifully printed book are by no means very
uncommon--although formerly, if I remember rightly, De Bure knew but of one
copy in France--but copies in a fine state, and of such dimensions as are
Mr. Grenville's and the one now before me, must be considered as of
extremely rare occurrence. This copy measures thirteen inches, one-eighth,
and one-sixteenth--by very nearly nine inches one-eighth. You will smile at
this particularity; but depend upon it there are ruler-carrying collectors
who will thank me heartily for such a rigidly minute measurement.

STS. AUGUSTINUS DE CIVITATE DEI. _Printed in the Soubiaco Monastery_. 1467.
Folio. It always does the heart of a bibliographer good to gaze upon a fine
copy of this resplendent volume. It is truly among the master-pieces of
early printing: but what will be your notions of the copy NOW under
description, when I tell you, not only that it once belonged to our beloved
FRANCIS I., but that, for amplitude and condition, it rivals the copy in
the library at _St. James's Place_? In short, it was precisely between
_this very copy_, and that of my Lord Spencer, that M. Van Praet paused--
("J'ai balance" were, I think, the words used to me by that knowing
bibliographer) and pondered and hesitated ... again and again ... ere he
could decide upon which of the two was to be parted with! But, supposing
the size and condition of each to be fairly "balanced" against the other,
M. Van Praet could not, in honour and conscience, surrender the copy which
had been formerly in the library of one of the greatest of the French
monarchs ... and so the spirit of Francis I. rests in peace ... as far as
the retention of this copy may contribute to its repose. It is doubtless
more brilliant and more attractive than Lord Spencer's--which, however, has
no equal on the _other_ side of the channel: but it is more beaten, and I
suspect, somewhat more cropt. I forgot to say, that there are several
capital initials in this copy tolerably well illuminated, apparently of the
time of Francis--who, I am persuaded, loved illuminators of books to his
heart.

I shall now continue literally as I began:--without any regard to dates, or
places where printed.

CATHOLICON. _Printed by Gutenburg_: 1460. Folio. 2 vols. This copy is UPON
VELLUM; but yet much inferior to the absolutely unrivalled membranaceous
copy in Mr. Grenville's precious library. This copy measures fifteen inches
one eighth, by eleven inches one eighth. It is bound in red morocco.

GRAMMATICA RHYTHMICA. _Printed by Fust and Schoiffher_; 1466. Folio. How
you would start back with surprise--peradventure mingled with indignation--
to be told that, for this very meagre little folio, somewhat cropt,
consisting but of eleven leaves cruelly scribbled upon ... not fewer than
_three thousand three hundred livres_ were given--at the sale of Cardinal
Lomenie's library, about thirty years ago! It is even so. And wherefore?
Because only _one_ other copy of it is known:--and that "other" is luckily
reposing upon the mahogany shelves in St. James's Place. The present copy
measures ten inches seven eighths, by eight inches.

VOCABULARIUS. _Printed by Bechtermuntze_; 1467. Quarto. EDITIO PRINCEPS--
one of the rarest books in the world. Indeed I apprehend this copy to be
absolutely UNIQUE. This work is a Latin and German Vocabulary, of which a
good notion may be formed by the account of the _second_ edition of it, in
1469, in a certain descriptive catalogue.[57] To be perfect, there should
be 215 leaves. A full page has thirty-five lines. This copy is in as fine,
clean, and crackling condition, as is that of Lord Spencer of the second
impression. It is eight inches and a half in height, by five inches and
five eighths in width.

HARTLIEB'S BOOK OF CHIROMANCY. _Supposed to have been printed with wooden
blocks_. Folio. You may remember the amusement which you said was afforded
you by the account of, and the fac-similes from, this very strange and
bizarre production--in the _Bibliographical Decameron_. The copy before me
is much larger and finer than that in Lord Spencer's collection. The figure
of the Doctor and of the Princess Anna are also much clearer in their
respective impressions; and the latter has really no very remote
resemblance to what is given in the _Bibl. Spenceriana_[58] of one of the
Queens of Hungary. If so, perhaps the period of its execution may not be
quite so remote as is generally imagined: for the Hungarian Chronicle, from
which that regal figure was taken, is of the date of 1485.

HISTORIA BEATAE VIRGINIS. _Without date_. This is doubtless rather an
extraordinary volume. The text is printed only on one side of the leaf: so
as to leave, alternately, the reverses and rectos blank--facing each other.
But this _alone_ is no proof of its antiquity; for, from the character both
of the wood cuts and the type, I am quite persuaded that this volume could
not have been executed much before the year 1480. It is not improbable that
this book might have been printed at _Ulm_. It is a very beautiful copy,
and bound in blue morocco.

VIRGILIUS. _Printed by Sweynheym and Pannartz_. 1469. Folio. EDITIO
PRINCEPS. The enormous worth and rarity of this exceedingly precious volume
may be estimated from this very copy having been purchased, at the sale of
the Duke de la Valliere's library, in 1783, for four thousand one hundred
and one livres. The first leaf of the _Bucolics_, of which the margin of
the page is surrounded by an ancient illumination, gives unfortunate
evidence of the binding of Chamot.[59] In other words, this copy, although
in other respects white and sound, has been too much cropt. It measures
eleven inches and six eighths, by nearly seven inches and five eighths.

VIRGILIUS. _Printed by Vindelin de Spira_. 1470. Here are not fewer than
_two_ delicious copies of this exceedingly rare impression--and the most
delicious happens to be UPON VELLUM. "O rare felicity!... (you exclaim) to
spend so many hours within scarcely more than an arm's length of such
cherished and long-sought after treasures!" But it is true nevertheless.
The vellum copy demands our more immediate attention. It is very rarely,
indeed, that this volume can be obtained in any state, whether upon vellum
or paper;[60] but in the condition in which it is here found, it is a very
precious acquisition. Some few leaves are a little tawny or foxy, and the
top of the very first page makes it manifest that the volume has suffered a
slight degree of amputation. But such defects are only as specks upon the
sun's disk. This copy, bound in old yellow morocco binding of the Gaignat
period, measures very nearly twelve inches and three quarters, by eight
inches and five eighths.

The SAME EDITION. A copy upon paper: in the most unusual condition. The
pages are numbered with a pen, rather neatly: but these numerals had better
have been away. A frightful (gratuitous) ms. title--copied in a modern
hand, from another of the date of 1474--strikes us; on opening the volume,
in a very disagreeable manner. At top we read "_Ad usum H.D. Henrici
E.C.M.C._" The first page of the text is surrounded by an old illumination:
and the title to the Bucolics is inserted, by the hand, in gold capital
letters. From the impression appearing on the six following leaves, it
should seem that this illuminated border had been stamped, after the book
was bound. The condition of this classical treasure may be pronounced, upon
the whole, to be equally beautiful and desirable. Perhaps there has been
the slightest possible cropping; as the ancient ms. numerals are
occasionally somewhat invisible. However, this is a most lovely book:
measuring thirteen inches and one quarter, in height, by nine inches and
very nearly one quarter in width.

VIRGILIUS. _Printed by Sweynheym and Pannartz_. 1471. Folio. SECOND ROMAN
EDITION; of yet greater scarcity than the first. This was Politian's own
copy, and is so large as to be almost _uncut_: having the margins filled
with Scholia, and critical observations, in almost the smallest
hand-writing to be met with: supposed to be also from the pen of Politian.
The autograph and subscription of that eminent scholar meet our eye at the
top of the very first fly leaf.

Of all ancient editions of Virgil, this is probably not only the most
estimable, but is so scarce as to have been, till lately, perfectly
unknown. According to the ancient ms. numerals in this copy, there should
be 225 leaves--to render the volume perfect. In our own country, it is--
with a sigh I speak it!--only to be found (and _that_, in an _imperfect_
state) in the library of Dr. Wm. Hunter at Glasgow.[61] This invaluable
volume is preserved in good, sound, characteristic old binding.

VIRGILIUS. _Printed by Ghering_. 1478. _Quarto_. This impression is perhaps
rather rare than valuable; although I am free to admit it is yet a
desideratum in the Spencerian collection. It commences with an address by
the famous Beroaldus to I. Francus, his pupil, on the reverse of the first
leaf--in which the tutor expresses his admiration of Virgil in the
following manner: "te amantissime mi Johannes hortor, te moneo, et si
pateris oro, ut VIRGILIUM lectites. Virgilio inhies: Illum colas; illum
dies noctesque decates. Ille sit semper in manibus. Et ut praeceptoris
fungar officio, illud potissimum tibi pecipia et repetens iterumque
iterumque monebo: ut humanitatis studia ac masuetiores musas avidissime
complectaris." This edition is executed in the printer's second (handsome)
fount of roman type, upon very thick paper.[62] The present copy, although
apparently cropt, is sound and desirable.

PLINII HIST. NATURALIS. _Printed by J. de Spira_. 1469. Folio. EDITIO
PRINCEPS:--but oh,! marvellous specimen--a copy UPON VELLUM! Fair is the
colour and soft is the texture of this exquisite production--bound in two
volumes. I examined both volumes thoroughly, and am not sure that I
discovered what might be fairly called one discoloured leaf. It is with
equal pain and difficulty that one withdraws one's eyes from such a
beautiful book-gem. This copy measures fifteen inches and a half, by ten
inches and three-eighths.

The SAME EDITION. Upon paper. A remarkably fine copy: well beaten however--
and, I should be loth to assert positively, not free from some washing--for
the ancient red numerals, introduced by the pencil of the rubricator, and
designating the several books and chapters, seem to have faded and been
retouched. I observe also, that some of the ancient illuminated letters,
which had probably faded during the process of washing or cleaning, have
been retouched, and even painted afresh--especially in the blue
back-grounds. The first page is prettily illuminated; but there are slight
indications of the worm at the end of the volume. Upon the whole, however,
this is a magnificent book, and inferior only to Lord Spencer's unrivalled
copy--upon paper. It measures sixteen inches and five eighths, by eleven
inches and one sixteenth, and is handsomely bound in red morocco.

PLINII HISTORIA NATURALIS. _Printed by Jenson_, 1472. Folio. A copy UPON
VELLUM: but, upon the whole, I was disappointed in the size and condition
of this book. The vellum has not had justice done to it in the binding,
being in parts crumpled. The first page is however beautifully illuminated.
This copy measures sixteen inches, by ten and three eighths.

PLINII HIST. NAT. Italice. _Printed by Jenson_. 1476. Folio. A copy UPON
VELLUM. About the first forty leaves are cruelly stained at top. The last
eight or ten leaves are almost of a yellow tint. In other parts, where the
vellum is white, (for it is of a remarkably fine quality) nothing can
exceed the beauty of this book: but it has been, I suspect, very severely
cropt--if an opinion may be formed from its companion upon paper, about to
be described. It is fifteen inches in height, by ten and a quarter in
width.

THE SAME EDITION. _Printed by the same Printer_. I suspect this to be
perhaps the finest paper copy in the world: as perfect as Lord Spencer's
copy of the first edition of the same author. Every thing breathes of its
pristine condition: the colour and the substance of the paper: the width of
the margin, and the purity of the embellishments:[63] This copy will also
serve to convince the most obstinate, that, when one catches more than a
glimpse of the ms. numerals at top, and ms. signatures at bottom, one has
hopes of possessing the book in its primitive plenitude. It is sixteen
inches and three quarters in height, by nearly eleven inches and a quarter
in width.

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