t of these projecting
arms being placed, without sacrifice of comfort, at a greater distance
from the fireplace, the books may be placed on the upper part of the
inner side as well, the lower part being used as a lounge.

It must be remembered that heat and excessive dryness are fatal to good
bindings and, indeed, to all parts of a book, and therefore no bookcase
should approach too near a fireplace, nor should bookcases be placed
backing upon hot-water pipes. The shelves should be edged with leather
and such leather must _not_ be stiffened by cardboard or brown
paper--simply leather, and there should be a roller shutter of silk to
draw down in front of the books during absence from home. The cases[44]
should everywhere be perfectly flush, without any sort of protruding
ornament. It will be found a great advantage to make the framework of
the various cases of equal dimensions, so that the shelves can be made
transferable. In estimating the extent of shelving which it may be
necessary to provide, we may calculate that in an ordinary library a
space two feet high and two feet wide will, on an average, contain
about thirty-five volumes, and it may be estimated roughly that every
thousand volumes in a library will require about a hundred square feet
of shelving.

If fixed shelves are made, the usual height will be--[45]

For folios 18 to 21 inches.
" quartos 12 " 15 "
" octavos 10 "
" smaller sizes 7 "

These spaces will allow ample room for the average sizes. The 'Atlas'
folios and 'Elephant' folios are best accommodated in single shelves, in
which they may be flat, or on trays or table cases.[46] Bear in mind
always to allow sufficient space for expansion. Nothing causes more
disorder than insufficient shelf accommodation. All cases should be
numbered and lettered, that is, each section should have a number, and
each shelf a letter. For the accommodation of expensive bindings or rare
books and MSS., a special case may sometimes be required. Very beautiful
specimens of such may be seen sketched in the books of Chippendale,
Sheraton, and Heppelwhite, but it is in all cases better to avoid glass
fronts and adopt ornamental brass wire work if any special protection be
needed.

The late Mr. Blades, a great expert in this matter, said, 'It is a
mistake to imagine that keeping the best-bound volumes in a glass-doored
bookcase is a preservative. The damp a