PAGE

CHAPTER I.

“Every man his own Librarian”—Bibliography and Literature—Services of the French to Bibliography—A defence of the taste of the Book-collector—Should Collectors buy for the purpose of selling again?—The sport of Book-hunting—M. de Resbecq’s anecdotes—Stories of success of Book-hunters—The lessons of old Bookstalls—Booksellers’ catalogues—Auctions of Books—Different forms of the taste for collecting—The taste serviceable to critical Science—Books considered as literary relics—Examples—The “Imitatio Christi” of J. J. Rousseau—A brief vision of mighty Book-hunters.

CHAPTER II.

The size of modern collections—The Library in English houses—Bookcases—Enemies of Books—Damp, dust, dirt—The bookworm—Careless readers—Book plates—Borrowers—Book stealers—Affecting instance of the Spanish Monk—The Book-ghoul—Women the natural foes of books—Some touching exceptions—Homage to Madame Fertiault—Modes of preserving books; binding—Various sorts of coverings for books—Half-bindings—Books too good to bind, how to be entertained—Iniquities of Binders—Cruel case of a cropped play of MoliÈre—Recipes (not infallible) for cleaning books—Necessity of possessing bibliographical works, such as catalogues.

CHAPTER III.

Manuscripts, early and late—Early Printed Books—How to recognise them—Books printed on Vellum—“Uncut” copies—“Livres de Luxe,” and Illustrated Books—Invective against “Christmas Books”—The “Hypnerotomachia Poliphili”—Old woodcuts—French vignettes of the eighteenth century—Books of the Aldi—Books of the Elzevirs—“Curious” Books—Singular old English poems—First editions—Changes of fashion in Book-collecting—Examples of the variations in prices—Books valued for their bindings, and as relics—Anecdotes of Madame du Barry and Marie Antoinette.

CHAPTER IV.

Beginnings of Modern Book-Illustration in England—Stothard, Blake, Flaxman—Boydell’s “Shakespeare,” Macklin’s “Bible,” Martin’s “Milton”—The “Annuals”—Rogers’s “Italy” and “Poems”—Revival of Wood-Engraving—Bewick—Bewick’s Pupils—The “London School”—Progress of Wood-Engraving—Illustrated “Christmas” and other Books—The Humorous Artists—Cruikshank—Doyle—Thackeray—Leech—Tenniel—Du Maurier—Sambourne—Keene—Minor Humorous Artists—Children’s Books—Crane—Miss Greenaway—Caldecott—The “New American School”—Conclusion.