his symptoms of the Bibliomania in the times of
our forefathers; so that it cannot be said, as some have asserted, to
have appeared entirely within the last half century.

[Footnote 445: William Horman, who was head master of Eton
school at the opening of the sixteenth century, was, I
apprehend, the earliest writer in this country who
propagated those symptoms of the Bibliomania indicative of a
passion for _large paper_ and _vellum_ copies; for thus
writes the said Horman, in his _Vulgaria_, printed by
Pynson, in folio, 1519: a book, curious and interesting upon
every account. 'The greatest and highest of price, is _paper
imperial_. (Herbert, vol i., p. 265.) _Parchment leaves_ be
wont to be ruled, that there may be a _comely margent_:
also, strait lines of equal distance be draw[en] within,
that the writing may shew fair,' _fol._ 82. From these two
sentences (without quoting Horman's praise of the presses of
Froben and Aldus; fol. 87) I think it may be fairly inferred
that a love of _large paper_ and _vellum_ copies was
beginning to display itself in the period just mentioned.
That this love or passion is now eagerly and generally
evinced, I shall proceed to give abundant proof; but first
let me not forget our bibliomaniacal satirist:

FIFTH MAXIM.

Who blindly take the book display'd
By pettifoggers in the trade.
Nor ask of what the leaf was made,
That _seems like paper_--I can tell 'em,
That though 'tis possible to squint
Through any page with letters in't,
No copy, though an angel print,
Reads elegantly--but "on VELLUM."

_Bibliosophia_, p. VI.

I proceed to give evidence of the present passion which
prevails, respecting books of the description of which we
are now speaking, by extracting a few articles from the
library of which such honourable mention was made at p.
448-9, ante. They are all

WORKS PRINTED UPON VELLUM.

NO. 241. Epistolae Beati Jeronimi. Impressio Moguntinae facta
per Virum famatum in haec arte Petrum Schoiffer de Gernsheym,
2 vols., 1470. _A fine specimen of a grand book, superbly
bound in blue turkey._ Folio. L28 _s._7 0_d._

242. Sexti Decretalium Opus praeclarum Bonifacii VII., Pont.
Max. In Nobili Urbe Moguncia non Atramento