thousand one hundred and thirty-six lots, and realised twelve thousand
eight hundred and ninety-two pounds, twelve shillings and sixpence. The
following are a few of the rarest and most interesting books, and the
prices they fetched--_Boecius de Consolatione Philosophie_, printed by
Caxton in 1477-78, one hundred and sixty pounds; Dante's _Commedia_,
printed at Florence in 1481, with twenty engravings by Baccio Baldini,
three hundred and eighty pounds; the Poems of Pindar in Greek, printed
by Aldus in 1513, with the arms of France and the monogram and devices
of Henry II. and Diana of Poitiers on the binding, one hundred and
forty-one pounds; the Prince of Conde's copy of _L'Hystoire du Roy
Perceforest_, Paris, 1528, with his arms on the covers, one hundred and
eighteen pounds; a dedication copy, printed upon vellum, and bound for
James V., King of Scotland, of Hector Boece's _History and Croniklis_,
translated by Bellenden, and printed at Edinburgh in 1536, the binding
having on the upper cover IACOBVS QVINTVS, and on the lower REX
SCOTORVM, eight hundred pounds; a Collection of Architectural Designs,
executed with pen and ink by J. Androuet du Cerceau, in a beautiful
binding attributed to Clovis Eve, two hundred and forty pounds; De Bry's
_Collectiones Peregrinationum_, in eleven volumes, bound in blue morocco
by Derome, five hundred and sixty pounds; Book of Common Prayer, 1637,
folio--King Charles I.'s copy, with numerous alterations in his own
handwriting which were used in printing the Scottish Prayer-book of the
same year, usually termed Laud's Book. Prefixed to the Order for Morning
Prayer the King has written: 'Charles R.--I gave the Archbp. of
Canterbury comand to make the alteracons expressed in this Book and to
fit a Liturgy for the Church of Scotland, and wheresoever they shall
differ from another Booke signed by us at Hampt. Court Septembr. 28,
1634, our pleasure is to have these followed rather than the former;
unless the Archbp. of St. Andrews and his Brethren who are upon the
place shall see apparent reason to the contrary. At Whitehall, April 19,
1636'--one hundred and thirty-seven pounds.

The paintings and objects of art belonging to the Duke of Hamilton were
sold in July 1882, and realised three hundred and ninety-seven thousand
pounds.

SIR MARK MASTERMAN SYKES, BART., 1771-1823

Sir Mark Masterman Sykes, Bart., was the eldest son of Sir Christopher
Sykes, second baronet, of Sledmere, Y