Chapter 3

THE BOOKS OF THE COLLECTOR 76 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.