Windsor Castle, is the only other book known to have been printed by Caxton on vellum. Purchased in 1864.

Trans

9. Bartholomæus de Glanvilla. De proprietatibus rerum. lated into English by John Trevisa.- Printed by Wynkyn de Worde, at Westminster, about 1495. The first book printed on paper of English manufacture, made at Hertford by John Tate; the first paper-mill having been set up there in the reign of Henry VII. Bequeathed by the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks. 15. St. Jerome. Exposicio in Simbolum Apostolorum. Oxonie, 1468.-Upon the strength of this date, the honour of printing the first book in England has been by some denied to Caxton, and claimed for Oxford. The date, however, is a typographical error for 1478. From the library of King George III. 18. The Book of St. Albans. "The Bokys of Haukyng and Huntyng, and also of Cootarmuris."-Written by Dame Juliana Barnes or Berners, Prioress of Sopwell Nunnery, near St. Albans. Printed in St. Albans Abbey in 1486. (Described in Bibl. Spencer. iv. 373.) Said to be the finest copy known of this very rare book. Bequeathed by the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville.

In Case IX., containing specimens of fine and sumptuous printing, attention is called to the following:

2. Petrarch. Sonetti e Canzoni.-Printed at Venice by Aldus in 1501. On vellum. The first Italian book printed in Italic type. This copy formerly belonged to Isabella d'Este, who married Gian-Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua. Her arms are emblazoned on the lower margin of the first page of this volume. Bequeathed by the Rev. C. M. Cracherode. 3. Horatius.-First Aldine edition, printed at Venice in 1501. On vellum. Bequeathed by the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville. 4. Dante. Terze Rime.-Printed at Venice by Aldus in 1502. On vellum. Renouard quotes this edition of Dante as the first in which Aldus employed the device of the anchor. Bequeathed by the Right Hon. Thomas Grenville.

6. A book of prayers supposed to have been printed for the private use of the Emperor Maximilian I., by J. Schoenspeger, at Augsburg, in 1514. On vellum. Unique in this state. Purchased

in 1845.

17. Bourassé. La Touraine.-Printed at Tours by Mame, in 1855. This work gained the gold medal at the Paris Exhibition of 1855; it cost in its production upwards of 150,000ƒ. (60001). Described in the Journal des Débats, 2nd Sept., 1855, and Rapports de Jury de l'Exposition Universelle, 1855, pp. 1249 and 1404. Purchased in 1856.

In Case X. some of the Illuminations are very beautiful, as, for example, in Nos.

6. Virgil. On vellum. Printed at Venice by Aldus, in April, 1501. The first book printed in Italic types, and the earliest attempt to produce cheap books. It belonged to the Gonzaga family, and has the autographs of the two Cardinals, Ippolito and Ercole, as well as that of Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua. Bequeathed by the Rev. C. M. Cracherode.

7. Martialis. Epigrammata.-On vellum. Printed at Venice by Aldus in 1501. From the library of King George III.

10. Hours for the use of the diocese of Paris.-On vellum. Printed at Paris by P. Pigouchet, about 1488. Purchased.

12. Boccaccio. Des nobles et cleres femmes.-On vellum. Printed at Paris by Ant. Verard, in 1493. Henry VII.'s copy. From the old royal collection.

In Case XI., containing specimens of Illustrations on wood and copper-plate, attention is called to the following:

5. Breydenbach. Opus transmarinæ peregrinationis ad sepulchrum dominicum in Jherusalem. Pilgrimage to the Holy Land.-On vellum. Printed at Mentz, in 1486. One of the earliest books

of travel printed, and the first illustrated with folding views. From the library of King George III.

6. Dürer. Epitome in Diva Parthenices Maria historiam ab Alberto Durero per figuras digestam; cum versibus Chelidonii.Printed by Albert Durer at Nuremberg in 1511. From the library of King George III.

9. Holbein. Historiarum Veteris Testamenti Icones. Lugduni, 1539. The second edition of Holbein's Bible cuts.

11. Map of Cambridge, engraved by Richard Lyne.-in Caius, Historia Cantabrigiensis Academiæ. Lond. 1574.-No other copy of this map known. A presentation copy of the book from John Parker, son of Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, to James I. From the old royal collection. 12. The procession at the Obsequies of Sir Philip Sydney, drawn and invented by T. L[ant], Gent., servant to the said honourable Knight, and engraven on copper by D. T. de Bry, in the city of London, 1587.-Intended to form a long roll. The only perfect copy known. Bequeathed by Miss Banks.

In Case XII. are numerous books containing Autographs of distinguished or remarkable persons, as, for instance: Lord Bacon; Michael Angelo; Calvin; Cecil, Lord Burghley; Queen Katharine Parr; Luther; Melanchthon; Milton; Sir

I. Newton, etc. In this case are also contained some remarkable Broadsides, among which the following deserve particular attention, viz:

22. Copy of the Indulgence issued by Pope Leo X. for the rebuilding of St. Peter's at Rome, 1517. On Vellum. This Indulgence was sold by Tetzel and Samson, as Sub-Commissioners under Albert, Archbishop of Mentz and Magdeburg; a proceeding which called forth the indignant remonstrance of Martin Luther, regarded as the commencement of the great Reformation. Purchased in 1875.

23. Luther's Appeal to a General Council against the Proceedings commenced against him at Rome and elsewhere by order of the Pope.-Dated Nov. 28, 1518. Purchased in 1846.

24. Order of the Council of State, appointing Cromwell Lord Protector.-Dated December 16, 1653.

In Case XIII., containing Typographical and Literary Curiosities, the Visitor may chiefly notice the following

:

7. Henry VIII., King of England. Assertio septem Sacramentorum. Printed by Pynson, at London, in 1521.-The first edition of the work for which Pope Leo X. conferred upon Henry the title of "Defender of the Faith." From the old royal collection. 9. The Great Bible, April, 1540.-On vellum. This is called the second edition of Cranmer's Bible, but is the first revised by him, and having his preface. The arms of Cromwell, Earl of Essex, which were inserted in the title-page of the first edition (1539), were cut out after his execution. Presentation copy to Henry VIII., as is shown by the following MS. inscription on the reverse of the fly. leaf:- "This Booke is presented unto your most excellent highnesse by youre loving, faithfull, and obedient Subject and daylye Oratour, Anthonye Marler, of London, Haberdassher." Described in Anderson, Annals of the English Bible, vol. ii. pp. 131 and 142. From the old royal collection.

17. Shakspere. Romeo and Juliet. London, 1597.-First edition. Bequeathed by David Garrick.

20. Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies. Printed by Isaac Jaggard and Edward Blount, London, 1623. The first collected edition of Shakspere's Plays. With dedication to William Earl of Pembroke and Philip Earl of Montgomery, signed by John Heminge and Henry Condell, the editors, and two of the principal actors of Shakspere's plays. The lines facing the portrait are by Ben Jonson: the portrait by Martin Droeshout. Bequeathed by the Rev. C. M. Cracherode.

25. Defoe. Robinson Crusoe. London, April, 1719.-The first edition. Purchased in 1852.

Among the examples of Bookbinding contained in Case XIV. the following are very beautiful specimens of the art:

7. Witichindi Saxonis libri III. Printed at Basle, in 1532.Specimen of Grolier binding. Bequeathed by the Rev. C. M. Cracherode.

8. Opus eximium de vera differentia Regiæ potestatis et ecclesiasticæ. London, 1534.-On vellum. Henry VIII.'s copy. From the old royal collection.

9. Macchiavelli. Il Prencipe, &c. Printed by Aldus, at Venice, in 1540. A specimen of Grolier binding. Bequeathed by the Rev. C. M. Cracherode.

13. Plato. Convivium. Paris, 1543.-Bound for Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, whose crest is stamped on the cover of the volume. From the library of King George II.

20. Mascher. Il fiore della Retorica. Venice, 1560.—Bound for Queen Elizabeth, to whom the book is dedicated. From the old royal collection.

40. The Bible. Cambridge, 1674.-Bound in embroidered velvet for King James II. Purchased in 1847.

GEORGE BULLEN.

Guide to the Books exhibited in the Grenville and King's Libraries, 1d.]

DEPARTMENT OF MANUSCRIPTS.

THE Collections of this Department have been formed partly by the acquisition of private libraries and partly by purchases and donations accumulated from year to year. The Manuscripts of Sir Robert Cotton, of Edward Harley, Earl of Oxford, and of Sir Hans Sloane, were among the first collections brought together by the Act of Parliament of 1753, to which the British Museum owes its origin. The other collections are: The Old Royal MSS. (incorporated with the early collections in 1769), the King's MSS., collected by George III.; the Birch MSS., of the Rev. Thomas Birch, D.D.; the Lansdowne MSS., of William Petty, Marquess of Lansdowne ; the Arundel MSS., of Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel; the Burney MSS., of the Rev. Charles Burney, D.D.; the Hargrave MSS., of Francis Hargrave, Q.C.; the Egerton MSS., of Francis Egerton, Earl of Bridgewater, augmented by purchases made from funds bequeathed by the Earl and by Charles Long, Lord Farnborough; and the Additional MSS., the largest of all the collections, purchased from the annual parliamentary grant or acquired by donation or bequest. The Department contains altogether 50,000 volumes, of which upwards of 8,500 are written in Oriental languages; more than 45,000 charters and rolls; nearly 7,000 detached seals and casts of seals; and upwards of 100 ancient Greek, Coptic, and Latin papyri.

THE MANUSCRIPT SALOON.

This room, in which are exhibited specimens of Ancient and Illuminated Manuscripts, Bindings, Autograph Letters, Charters, and Seals, is lined with bookcases, containing on the