ate worthy and learned Mr. M. CRACHERODE, whose library
now forms one of the most splendid acquisitions of the
British Museum, and whose _bequest_ of it will immortalize
his memory, was also among the "Emptores literarii" at this
renowned sale. He had enriched his collection with many
_Exemplar Askevianum_; and, in his latter days, used to
elevate his hands and eyes, and exclaim against the prices
_now_ offered for EDITIONES PRINCIPES!

The fact is, Dr. Askew's sale has been considered a sort of
_aera_ in bibliography. Since that period, rare and curious
books in Greek and Latin literature have been greedily
sought after, and obtained at most extravagant prices. It is
very well for a veteran in bibliography, as was Mr.
Cracherode, or as are Mr. Wodhull and Dr. Gosset, whose
collections were formed in the days of Gaignat, Askew, Duke
de la Valliere, and Lamoignon--it is very well for such
gentlemen to declaim against _modern prices_! But what is to
be done? Books grow scarcer every day, and the love of
literature, and of possessing rare and interesting works,
increases in an equal ratio. Hungry bibliographers meet, at
sales, with well furnished purses, and are resolved upon
sumptuous fare. Thus the hammer _vibrates_, after a bidding
of _Forty pounds_, where formerly it used regularly to
_fall_ at _Four_!

But we lose sight of Dr. Askew's _rare editions_, and _large
paper copies_. The following, gentle Reader, is but an
imperfect specimen!

No. 168. Chaucer's Works, by PYNSON, no date L7 17_s._ 6_d._

No. 172. Cicero of Old Age, by Caxton, 1481 13 13 0

No. 518. Gilles' (Nicole) Annales, &c. de France. Paris,
fol. 1520. 2 tom. SUR VELIN 31 10 6

No. 647. Aeginetae (Pauli) Praecepta Salubria. Paris, quarto,
1510. ON VELLUM 11 0 0

No. 666. Aesopi Fabulae. EDIT. PRIN. _circ._ 1480 6 6 0

No. 684. Boccacio, la Teseide _Ferar._ 1475. PRIMA EDIZIONE
85 0 0

No. 1433. Catullus Tibullus, et Propertius, Aldi. 8vo. 1502.
IN MEMBRANA 17 10 0

This copy was purchased by the late Mr. M.C. Cracherode, and
is now, with his library, in the British Museum. It is a
beautiful book, but cannot be compared with Lord Spencer's
Aldine VELLUM Virgil, of the same size.

No. 1576. Durandi Rationale, &c. 1459. IN MEMBRANA 61