f books in every department of literature, from
the earliest period to the present time. All the books are in the finest
condition, many printed on vellum and on large paper, and bound in
morocco and russia leathers. Likewise a most splendid missal; and a very
choice selection of botanical drawings, by Van Huysum, Taylor, Brown,
Lee, etc.'

The block-books in the collection comprised a _Biblia Pauperum_, which
realised two hundred and fifty-seven pounds, five shillings; the first
and another edition of the _Speculum Humanae Salvationis_, which sold for
three hundred and fifteen pounds and two hundred and fifty-two pounds;
and the _Apocalypse of St. John_, which fetched forty-two pounds. There
were seven Caxtons--the first edition of the _Dictes or Sayings of the
Philosophers_, _Tully of Old Age_, the _Polychronicon_, the second
edition of the _Game of the Chesse_, the _Confessio Amantis_, the second
edition of the _Mirrour of the World_, and _Diverse Ghostly Matters_.
These realised altogether one thousand three hundred and eighteen
pounds, sixteen shillings; the _Dictes_ and the _Confessio Amantis_
fetching the highest prices--three hundred and fifteen pounds, and two
hundred and sixty-two pounds, ten shillings.

Some of the many other notable books in the library, and the prices
obtained for them, were a copy of the Mentz Psalter of 1459 on vellum,
sixty-three pounds; _Rationale Divinorum Officiorum_ of Durandus (Mentz,
1459), one hundred and five pounds; the _Catholicon_ of Joannes Balbus
(Mentz, 1460), sixty pounds, eighteen shillings; the _Constitutiones_ of
Pope Clement V. (Mentz, 1460), sixty-six pounds, three shillings; Latin
Bible (Mentz, 1462), one hundred and five pounds; the _Officia_ of
Cicero (Mentz, 1465), seventy-three pounds, ten shillings; Latin Bible
on vellum (Venice, 1476), one hundred and sixty-eight pounds; _Rhetorica
Nova_, by Laurentius de Saona (St. Albans, 1480), seventy-nine pounds,
sixteen shillings; a vellum copy of the first edition of Homer
(Florence, 1488), eighty-eight pounds, four shillings; a nearly complete
set of De Bry's collections in seven volumes, one hundred and twenty-six
pounds; and a large paper copy of Prynne's _Records_ in three volumes,
London, 1665-70, one hundred and fifty-two pounds, five shillings. The
'splendid' manuscript missal, specially mentioned in the sale catalogue,
sold for one hundred and five pounds.

DR. ANTHONY ASKEW, 1722-1774

Dr. Anthony As