which they were collected, were of no ordinary occurrence. I allude to the No. 1312. A Counter Blaste to Tobacco. Ib. 1604. No. 1326. Bentley's (Thos.) Monument of Matrons, containing seven severall Lamps of Virginitie, or Distinct Treaties, black letter, collated and perfect, a very fine copy, extremely rare and curious, imprinted at London, by Thomas Dawson, for Wil liam Seres, extremely rare No. 1334. Bert (Edmund) an approved Hunting. Lond. 1619 No. 1598. Coverdale's (Myles) Christian's State of Matrimony, wherein Husbandes and Wyves may learne to keepe £. s. d. 0 17 0 8 18 6 1 10 0 House together with Love: No. 1405. Cokain's (Sir Aston) Poems of Divers Sorts, rare, (for an account of the Author see Mr. Brand's MS. Note) Lond. 1658. No. 1540. Burton (Wm.) Seven Dia 1 10 200 BIBLIOTHECA RATCLIFFIANA; or, 'A Catalogue of the elegant and truly logues, black letter, Lond. 1606. George Whetstone's a Mirour for Magistrates of ard Jones, 1584. No. 1542. BYSHOP'S (John) beautifull Blossomes, black letter, im printed by Henrie Cockyn, 1577 No. 1754, Characters (viz.) The Surfeit to A. B. C. Lond. 1656. Dr. Lupton's London and Country carbonadoed, and quartered in severall Characters, 1632. Essayes and Characters, by L. G. 1661 No. 2069. England's Jests refined and improved, 1660 No. 2184. England's Worthies. Portrait of the Earl of Essex, made £. s. d. 3 13 6 4 10 0 470 2 14 0 S 13 6 valuable Library of JOHN RATCLIFFE, Esq. late of Bermondsey, deceased. The tle for Nice Noses, by L. F. black letter, 1591. No. 3523. FAGES (Mrs.) Poems, Fames Roule, &c. rare, 1651 No. 3527. Fisher (Bishop) of Rochester. This Sermon followynge was complyed and sayd in the Cathedrall Churche of St. Paule, the body being present, of the most famous PRYNCE KYNGE HENRY 7, the 10th Day of May, 1509, which sermon, with the wood cut, was imprinted by Wynkin de Worde, MCCCCCIX. Thereafter followeth a Mornynge Remembrancer at the Moneth Minde of the Noble Prynces Margarete, Countesse of Richmond and Darbye, Moder unto Kynge Henry 7, and Grandame to oure Souerayne Lord that nowe is, uppon whose Soule Almighty God have Mercy. Wood cut. Emprinted at London, by Wynke de Worde, black letter, both extra rare £. s. d. 2.10 0 5 15 6 370 whole collected with great judgment and expense, during the last thirty years of his life comprehending a large and most choice collection of the rare old English black letter, in fine preservation, and in elegant bindings, printed by CAXTON, LETTOU, MACHLINIA, the anonymous St. Albans Schoolmaster, Wynkyn de Worde, Pynson, Berthelet, Grafton, Day, Newberie, Marshe, Jugge, Whytchurch, Wyer, Rastell, Coplande, and the rest of the Old English Typographers several missals and MSS. and two Pedigrees on vellum, finely illuminated.' THE title page then sets forth a specimen of these black-lettered gems; among which our eyes are dazzled with a galaxy of Caxtons, Wynkyn de Wordes, Pynsons, &c. &c. The sale took place on March 27, 1776; although the year is unaccountably omitted, by that renowned Auctioneer, the late Mr. Christie, who disposed of them. If ever there was a unique collection, this was one-the very essence of Old Divinity, Poetry, Romances, and Chronicles! The articles were only 1675 in number, but their intrinsic value amply compensated for their paucity. THE following is but an inadequate specimen. No. 1315. Horace's Arte of Poetrie, Drant. 1567. First English No. 1321. The Sheppearde's Calender, 1579. Whetstone's Castle of Delight, 1576 No. 1392. The Pastyme of the People*, printed by Rastell. Curious wood cuts No. 1393. Cronicles of Englande, printed by CAXTON, fine copy, 1480. No. 1394. Ditto, printed at St. Albans, 1483. Purchased by Dr. seum, which I have seen £. s. d. 0 16 6 1 2 0 47 0 5 5 0 770 *A copy of this book is not now to be procured. I have known £.40 offered for it, and contemptuously rejected. |