printed on vellum, and there
may be some in manuscript. The bindings of presentation books may be of
rich calf and tooled in gold; some may even have edge paintings and
choice hand-painted illuminations. The subject-matter of the volumes
often gives rise to specialistic collections. Some will find amusement
in tracing the progress of a great industry through published
information, like those curious old time tables in the early days of
railways, and the pamphlets which are classed by the collector as
"Railroadia," and from them learn the story of the "iron horse." There
are others who collect books and prints relating to ballooning, the
microscope, and many of the earlier sciences. There are topographical
curiosities and historical marvels. Some books will be valued because of
their illustrations, for the work of a master hand may be recognized by
the expert searcher after valuables. The rare mezzotints, stipples, and
delicate line engravings, to say nothing of the more valuable colour
prints, often realize far more than the books themselves. Ancient art is
more valued than the literary efforts of past masters of wielding the
pen!

It is thus that the books are often thrown away after the pictures or
even superadded illustrations or mere name-plates have been removed. The
collector of bookplates searches for his treasures. Some talk of the
vandalism of the collector of ex-libris, but they must remember that it
is quite easy to remove a bookplate without injuring the volume, and
there are many worthless books. The name labels or bookplates found in
English libraries range from the early dated plates of the close of the
seventeenth century to the present day. The different styles of ornament
in vogue in the respective periods of their engraving were with few
exceptions adhered to by the printers of such plates. Thus the collector
classifies his albums and rejoices in the variations and details of the
engraver's fancy, while he separates them into such well-defined groups
as early armorial, Jacobean, Chippendale, ribbon and wreath, urn,
pictorial, armorial, and simple shield. To other than the enthusiastic
collector, bookplates may possess merit in that they have belonged to
famous men, and are souvenirs taken from the volumes which were once
handled by distinguished statesmen, divines, and men of letters.

Old Scrap Books.

The making of scrap books or the filling of portfolios was not always an
amusement for childr