Sales catalogue: Quaritch

Date:
3rd June 1873
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/17/10
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue: Quaritch. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    123/126 page 99
    LOL It Fourth Day’s Sale. 99 whence it was obtained by Messrs. Nicol. It is said by Dr. Dibdin that it then wanted two leaves, which were supplied by Whitaker, in wonderful facsimile. A very careful exami- nation of the volumes has revealed ove leaf which appears doubtful, but has quite failed to discover the second. It is to be borne in mind that not one of the five known copies are believed to be absolutely perfect. Dr. Dibdin, in the “Bibliographical Decameron,” states that five copies only are known upon ve//um, three of which were in Public Libraries, and the fourth, then in the possession of the Rt. Hon. Thomas Grenville, has since been bequeathed to the British Museum. The present copy may therefore be considered UNIQUE, as regards any probability of acquisition. It is moreover believed to be THE FINEST of the few known copies, whether for amplitude of margin, or purity of the vellum, it being as clean as the day it issued from the press. Dibdin, in describing the copy in the Royal Library in Paris (see “ Bibliographical Tour,” vol. 2, p.254), further states that it is much inferior in every respect to another copy in the possession of Messrs. G.& W. Nicol (the identical one under notice, purchased by Mr. Perkins, in 1825). is unquestionably the MOST IMPORTANT and_ DISTIN- GUISHED ARTICLE in the WHOLE ANNALS of TYPO- GRAPHY, and a treasure which would exalt the humblest, and stamp with a due character of dignity the proudest, collection in the world. [Moguntia, per Gutenberg et Fust, 1450-55] A matchless copy of the same important work printed on paper. It is unquestionably the first time, as it may with almost absolute certainty be said that it will be the last, that two copies of this book are sold in one day. It may be remarked that Royalty itself was obliged to be content with a paper copy, for the Duke of Sussex could never obtain any other, and his copy was in every respect very inferior to this.
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