oks printed by Machlinia, Wynkyn de
Worde, Pynson, Notary, Redman, and other early English printers. The
library also comprised a large number of books of emblems, drolleries,
jest-books, garlands, and many other scarce and curious works in all
classes of literature. Mr. Corser also possessed a few choice
manuscripts.

In 1868 Mr. Corser, in consequence of ill health and failure of his
eyesight, which precluded him from the further enjoyment of his books,
determined to part with his library, and it was sold in eight parts by
Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge. The first portion was sold on the 28th of
July 1868, and two following days; and the last portion on June the
25th, 1873, and three following days. There were six thousand two
hundred and forty-four lots in the eight sales, and the total amount
realised was nineteen thousand seven hundred and eighty-one pounds.
Catalogues, with the prices, of all the sales are preserved in the
British Museum. The sums obtained for the books were not large. The
block-book sold for four hundred and forty-five pounds, and the seven
Caxtons--the first edition of the _Dictes or Sayings_, _Tully of Old
Age_, _Knight of the Tower_, _Golden Legend_, _Life of Our Lady_,
_Speculum Vitae Christi_, and _Fayts of Arms_--realised but thirteen
hundred and forty-three pounds; the _Knight of the Tower_ and _Fayts of
Arms_ fetching the highest prices--five hundred and sixty pounds, and
two hundred and fifty pounds. Several of the Caxtons were, however,
imperfect. _The Dyalogue of Dives and Pauper_, 1493, until recently
believed to be the first dated book printed by Pynson, brought one
hundred and four pounds, and _The Recuyles of the historyes of Troye_,
1503; _Bartholomaeus de proprietatibus rerum_, about 1495; and _The
Example of Vertue_, 1530, all printed by Wynkyn de Worde, one hundred
and fourteen pounds, sixty pounds, and fifty-eight pounds. Mr. Corser's
four Shakespeare folios sold for one hundred and sixty pounds,
forty-nine pounds, seventy-seven pounds, and twelve pounds, while the
first edition of the _Sonnets_ realised forty-five pounds, and the 1636
edition of _Venus and Adonis_ fifty-five pounds. Some other rare books,
and the prices obtained for them, were the _Sarum Missal_, printed at
Paris in 1514, eighty-seven pounds; _Biblia Pauperum_ (A. Verard, Paris,
about 1503), ninety-nine pounds; _Guy de Waruich_ (Paris, 1525), two
hundred and eighty-two pounds; unique copy of an edition of _Huon