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present state of the fashion； a really rare uncut Elzevir may be worth
hundreds of pounds； while a cropped example scarcely fetches as many
shillings。 A set of Shakespeare's quartoes； uncut； would be worth more
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than a respectable landed estate in Connemara。 For these reasons the
amateur will do well to have new books of price bound 〃uncut。〃 It is
always easy to have the leaves pared away； but not even the fabled
fountain at Argos； in which Hera yearly renewed her maidenhood； could
restore margins once clipped away。 So much for books which are chiefly
precious for the quantity and quality of the material on which they are
printed。 Even this rather foolish weakness of the amateur would not be
useless if it made our publishers more careful to employ a sound clean
hand…made paper； instead of drugged trash； for their more valuable new
productions。 Indeed； a taste for hand…made paper is coming in； and is part
of the revolt against the passion for everything machine…made； which
ruined art and handiwork in the years between 1840 and 1870。
The third of M。 Brunet's categories of books of prose； includes livres
de luxe； and illustrated literature。 Every Christmas brings us livres de
luxe in plenty； books which are no books； but have gilt and magenta
covers； and great staring illustrations。 These are regarded as drawing…
room ornaments by people who never read。 It is scarcely necessary to
warn the collector against these gaudy baits of unregulated Christmas
generosity。 All ages have not produced quite such garish livres de luxe as
ours。 But； on the whole； a book brought out merely for the sake of
display； is generally a book ill 〃got up；〃 and not worth reading。
Moreover； it is generally a folio； or quarto； so large that he who tries to
read it must support it on a kind of scaffolding。 In the class of illustrated
books two sorts are at present most in demand。 The ancient woodcuts
and engravings； often the work of artists like Holbein and Durer； can never
lose their interest。 Among old illustrated books； the most famous； and
one of the rarest； is the 〃Hypnerotomachia Poliphili；〃 〃wherein all human
matters are proved to be no more than a dream。〃 This is an allegorical
romance； published in 1499； for Francesco Colonna； by Aldus Manucius。
Poliam Frater Franciscus Columna peramavit。 〃Brother Francesco
Colonna dearly loved Polia；〃 is the inscription and device of this romance。
Poor Francesco； of the order of preachers； disguised in this strange work
his passion for a lady of uncertain name。 Here is a translation of the
passage in which the lady describes the beginning of his affection。 〃I
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was standing； as is the manner of women young and fair； at the window； or
rather on the balcony； of my palace。 My yellow hair； the charm of
maidens； was floating round my shining shoulders。 My locks were
steeped in unguents that made them glitter like threads of gold； and they
were slowly drying in the rays of the burning sun。 A handmaid； happy in
her task； was drawing a comb through my tresses； and surely these of
Andromeda seemed not more lovely to Perseus； nor to Lucius the locks of
Photis。 ｛6｝ On a sudden； Poliphilus beheld me； and could not withdraw
from me his glances of fire； and even in that moment a ray of the sun of
love was kindled in his heart。〃
The fragment is itself a picture from the world of the Renaissance。 We
watch the blonde； learned lady； dreaming of Perseus； and Lucius； Greek
lovers of old time； while the sun gilds her yellow hair； and the young
monk； passing below； sees and loves； and 〃falls into the deep waters of
desire。〃 The lover is no less learned than the lady； and there is a great
deal of amorous archaeology in his account of his voyage to Cythera。 As
to the designs in wood； quaint in their vigorous effort to be classical； they
have been attributed to Mantegna； to Bellini； and other artists。 Jean
Cousin is said to have executed the imitations； in the Paris editions of
1546； 1556； and 1561。
The 〃Hypnerotomachia〃 seems to deserve notice； because it is the very
type of the books that are dear to collectors； as distinct from the books that；
in any shape； are for ever valuable to the world。 A cheap Tauchnitz copy
of the Iliad and Odyssey； or a Globe Shakespeare； are； from the point of
view of literature； worth a wilderness of 〃Hypnerotomachiae。〃 But a
clean copy of the 〃Hypnerotomachia；〃 especially on VELLUM； is one of
the jewels of bibliography。 It has all the right qualities； it is very rare； it
is very beautiful as a work of art； it is curious and even bizarre； it is the
record of a strange time； and a strange passion； it is a relic； lastly； of its
printer； the great and good Aldus Manutius。
Next to the old woodcuts and engravings； executed in times when
artists were versatile and did not disdain even to draw a book…plate （as
Durer did for Pirckheimer）； the designs of the French 〃little masters；〃 are
at present in most demand。 The book illustrations of the seventeenth
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century are curious enough； and invaluable as authorities on manners and
costume。 But the attitudes of the figures are too often stiff and ungainly；
while the composition is frequently left to chance。 England could show
nothing much better than Ogilby's translations of Homer； illustrated with
big florid engravings in sham antique style。 The years between 1730 and
1820； saw the French 〃little masters〃 in their perfection。 The dress of the
middle of the eighteenth century； of the age of Watteau； was precisely
suited to the gay and graceful pencils of Gravelot； Moreau； Eisen； Boucher；
Cochin； Marillier； and Choffard。 To understand their merits； and the
limits of their art； it is enough to glance through a series of the designs for
Voltaire； Corneille； or Moliere。 The drawings of society are almost
invariably dainty and pleasing； the serious scenes of tragedy leave the
spectator quite unmoved。 Thus it is but natural that these artists should
have shone most in the illustration of airy trifles like Dorat's 〃Baisers；〃 or
tales like Manon Lescaut； or in designing tailpieces for translations of the
Greek idyllic poets； such as Moschus and Bion。 In some of his
illustrations of books； especially； perhaps； in the designs for 〃La
Physiologie de Gout〃 （Jouaust； Paris； 1879）； M。 Lalauze has shown
himself the worthy rival of Eisen and Cochin。 Perhaps it is unnecessary to
add that the beauty and value of all such engravings depends almost
entirely on their 〃state。〃 The earlier proofs are much more brilliant than
those drawn later； and etchings on fine papers are justly preferred。 For
example； M。 Lalauze's engravings on 〃Whatman paper；〃 have a beauty
which could scarcely be guessed by people who have only seen specimens
on 〃papier verge。〃 Every collector of the old French vignettes； should
possess himself of the 〃Guide de l'amateur；〃 by M。 Henry Cohen
（Rouquette； Paris； 1880）。 Among English illustrated books； various
tastes prefer the imaginative works of William Blake； the etchings of
Cruikshank； and the woodcuts of Bewick。 The whole of the last chapter
of this sketch is devoted； by Mr。 Austin Dobson； to the topic of English
illustrated books。 Here it may