books at
Rome. It is surprising, notwithstanding the number of
presents which he made to his friends, and the accidents
which followed on the dispersion of his library, how many of
his volumes yet adorn the most distinguished libraries of
Paris, whose chief boast consists in having an _Exemplar
Grollerianum_!" The fact was Grollier returned to Paris with
an immense fortune. During his travels he had secured, from
Basil, Venice, and Rome, the most precious copies of books
which could be purchased: and which he took care to have
bound in a singular manner, indicative at once of his
generosity and taste. The title of the book was marked in
gilt letters upon one side, and the words--of which the
annexed wood-cut is a fac-simile--upon the other; surrounded
with similar ornaments to the extremities of the sides,
whether in folio or duodecimo.

[Illustration:

PORTIO MEA DO
MINE SIT IN
TERRA VI
VENTI
VM.

Beneath the title of the book: 'IO: GROLLERII et AMICORUM.']

This extraordinary man, whom France may consider the first
Bibliomaniac of the sixteenth century, died at Paris in the
year 1565, and in the 86th of his age. Let us close this
account of him with an extract from Marville's _Melanges
d'Histoire et de Literature_; "La Bibliotheque de M.
Grollier s'est conservee dans l'Hotel de Vic jusqu'a ces
annees dernieres qu'elle a ete vendue a l'encan. Elle
meritoit bien, etant une des premieres et des plus
accomplies qu'aucun particulier se soit avise de faire a
Paris, de trouver, comme celle de M. de Thou, un acheteur
qui en conservat le lustre. La plupart des curieux de Paris
ont profite de ses debris. J'en ai eu a ma part quelques
volumes a qui rien ne manque: ni pour la bonte des editions
de ce tems la, ni pour la beaute du papier et la proprete de
la relieure. Il semble, a les voir, que les Muses qui ont
contribue a la composition du dedans, se soient aussi
appliquees a les approprier au dehors, tant il paroit d'art
et d'esprit dans leurs ornemens. Ils sont tous dorez avec
une delicatesse inconnue aux doreurs d'aujourd'hui. Les
compartemens sont pients de diverses couleurs, parfaitemente
bien dessinez, et tous de differentes figures, &c.:" vol.
I., p. 187, edit. 1725. Then follows a description,