The Library

Wherefore we now, for colophon,
From London’s city drear and dark,
In the year Eighteen Eight-One,
Reprint them at the press of Clark.

    A. D.

notes

1

This is the technical name for people who “illustrate” books with engravings from other works. The practice became popular when Granger published his “Biographical History of England.”

2

Mr. William Blades, in his “Enemies of Books” (Trübner, 1880), decries glass-doors, – “the absence of ventilation will assist the formation of mould.” But M. Rouveyre bids us open the doors on sunny days, that the air may be renewed, and, close them in the evening hours, lest moths should enter and lay their eggs among the treasures. And, with all deference to Mr. Blades, glass-doors do seem to be useful in excluding dust.

3

“Send him back carefully, for you can if you like, that all unharmed he may return to his own place.”

4

No wonder the books are scarce, if they are being hacked to pieces by Grangerites.

5

These lines appeared in “Notes and Queries,” Jan. 8, 1881.

6

In the Golden Ass of Apuleius, which Polia should not have read.

7

M. Arsène Houssaye seems to think he has found them; marked on the fly-leaves with an impression, in wax, of a seal engraved with the head of Epicurus.

8

This chapter was written by Austin Dobson. – DP

9

The recent Winter Exhibition of the Old Masters (1881) contained a fine display of Flaxman’s drawings, a large number of which belonged to Mr. F. T. Palgrave.

10

By Mr. Cosmo Monkhouse.

11

These words were written before the “Art Journal” had published its programme for 1881. From this it appears that the present editor fully recognises the necessity for calling in the assistance of the needle.

12

The example, here copied on the wood by M. Lacour, is a very successful reproduction of Clennell’s style.

13

He also illustrated the “Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi.” But this was simply “edited” by “Boz.”

14

The reader will observe that this volume is indebted to Mr. Crane for its beautiful frontispiece.

15

Since this paragraph was first written an interesting paper on the illustrations in “Scribner,” from the pen of Mr. J. Comyns Carr, has appeared in “L’Art.”