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〃The Teares of Ireland〃 （1642）； are said； though one would not expect it； to be 〃extremely rare；〃 and； therefore； precious。 But there is no end to the list of such desirable rarities。 If we add to them all books coveted as early editions； and； therefore； as relics of great writers； Bunyan； Shakespeare； Milton； Sterne； Walton； and the rest； we might easily fill a book with remarks on this topic alone。 The collection of such editions is the most respectable； the most useful； and； alas； the most expensive of the amateur's pursuits。 It is curious enough that the early editions of Swift； Scott； and Byron； are little sought for； if not wholly neglected； while early copies of Shelley； Tennyson； and Keats； have a great price set on their heads。 The quartoes of Shakespeare； like first editions of Racine； are out of the reach of any but very opulent purchasers； or unusually lucky； fortunate bookhunters。 Before leaving the topic of books which derive their value from the taste and fantasy of collectors； it must be remarked that； in this matter； the fashion of the world changes。 Dr。 Dibdin lamented； seventy years ago； the waning respect paid to certain editions of the classics。 He would find that things have bee worse now； and modern German editions； on execrable paper； have supplanted his old favourites。 Fifty years ago； M。 Bru expressed his contempt for the designs of Boucher； now they are at the top of the fashion。 The study of old booksellers' catalogues is full of instruction as to the changes of caprice。 The collection of Dr。 Rawlinson was sold in 1756。 〃The Vision of Pierce Plowman〃 （1561）； and the 〃Creede of Pierce Plowman〃 （1553）； brought between them no more than three shillings and sixpence。 Eleven shillings were paid for the 〃Boke of Chivalrie〃 by Caxton。 The 〃Boke of St。 Albans；〃 by Wynkyn de Worde； cost 1 pounds： 1s。； and this was the highest sum paid for any one of two hundred rare pieces of early English literature。 In 1764； a copy of the 〃Hypnerotomachia〃 was sold for two shillings； 〃A Pettie Pallace of Pettie his Pleasures；〃 （ah； what a thought for the amateur！） went for three shillings； while 〃Palmerin of England〃 （1602）； attained no more than the paltry sum of fourteen shillings。 When Osborne sold the Harley collection； the scarcest old English books fetched but three or four shillings。 If the wandering Jew had been a collector in the last century he might have turned a pretty profit by selling his old English books in this age of ours。 In old French； too； Ahasuerus would have done a good stroke of business； for the prices brought by old Villons； Romances of the Rose； 〃Les Marguerites de Marguerite；〃 and so forth； at the M'Carthy sale； were truly pitiable。 A hundred years hence the original editions of Thackeray； or of Miss Greenaway's Christmas books； or 〃Modern Painters；〃 may be the ruling passion； and Aldines and Elzevirs； black letter and French vigtes may all be despised。 A book which is monplace in our century is curious in the next； and disregarded in that which follows。 Old books of a heretical character were treasures once； rare unholy possessions。 Now we have seen so many heretics that the world is indifferent to the audacities of Bruno； and the veiled impieties of Vanini。
The last of our categories of books much sought by the collector includes all volumes valued for their ancient bindings； for the mark and stamp of famous amateurs。 The French； who have supplied the world with so many eminent binders；as Eve； Padeloup； Duseuil； Le Gascon； Derome； Simier； Bozerian； Thouvenin； TrautzBauzon； and Lorticare the chief patrons of books in historical bindings。 In England an historical binding； a book of Laud's； or James's； or Garrick's； or even of Queen Elizabeth's； does not seem to derive much added charm from its associations。 But； in France； peculiar bindings are now the objects most in demand among collectors。 The series of books thus rendered precious begins with those of Maioli and of Grolier （14791565）； remarkable for their mottoes and the geometrical patterns on the covers。 Then es De Thou （who had three sets of arms）； with his blazon； the bees stamped on the morocco。 The volumes of Marguerite of Angouleme are sprinkled with golden daisies。 Diane de Poictiers had her crescents and her bow； and the initial of her royal lover was intertwined with her own。 The three daughters of Louis XV。 had each their favourite colour； and their books wear liveries of citron； red； and olive morocco。 The Abbe Cotin； the original of Moliere's Trissotin； stamped his books with intertwined C's。 Henri III。 preferred religious emblems； and sepulchral mottoesskulls； crossbones； tears； and the insignia of the Passion。 Mort m'est vie is a favourite device of the effeminate and voluptuous prince。 Moliere himself was a collector； il n'es pas de bouquin qui s'echappe de ses mains；〃never an old book escapes him；〃 says the author of 〃La Guerre ique；〃 the last of the pamphlets which flew from side to side in the great literary squabble about 〃L'Ecole des Femmes。〃 M。 Soulie has found a rough catalogue of Moliere's library； but the books； except a little Elzevir； have disappeared。 ｛7｝ Madame de Maintenon was fond of bindings。 Mr。 Toovey possesses a copy of a devotional work in red morocco； tooled and gilt； which she presented to a friendly abbess。 The books at SaintCyr were stamped with a crowned cross； besprent with fleursdelys。 The books of the later collectorsLongepierre； the translator of Bion and Moschus； D'Hoym the diplomatist； McCarthy； and La Valliere； are all valued at a rate which seems fair game for satire。
Among the most interesting bibliophiles of the eighteenth century is Madame Du Barry。 In 1771； this notorious beauty could scarcely read or write。 She had rooms； however； in the Chateau de Versailles； thanks to the kindness of a monarch who admired those native qualities which education may polish； but which it can never confer。 At Versailles； Madame Du Barry heard of the literary genius of Madame de Pompadour。 The Pompadour was a person of taste。 Her large library of some four thousand works of the lightest sort of light literature was bound by Biziaux。 Mr。 Toovey possesses the Brantome of this dame galante。 Madame herself had published etchings by her own fair hands； and to hear of these things excited the emulation of Madame Du Barry。 She might not be CLEVER； but she could have a library like another； if libraries were in fashion。 One day Madame Du Barry astonished the Court by announcing that her collection of books would presently arrive at Versailles。 Meantime she took counsel with a bookseller； who bought up examples of all the cheap 〃remainders；〃 as they are called in the trade； that he could lay his hands upon。 The whole assortment； about one thousand volumes in all； was hastily bound in rose morocco； elegantly gilt； and stamped with the arms of the noble house of Du Barry。 The bill which Madame Du Barry owed her enterprising agent is still in existence。 The thousand volumes cost about three francs each； the binding （extremely cheap） came to nearly as much。 The amusing thing is that the bookseller； in the catalogue which he sent with the improvised library； marked the bo