purchase some bookbinder's varnish," and use it as you did the
rudimentary omelette of the former recipe. Vellum covers may be
cleaned with soap and water, or in bad cases by a weak solution of
salts of lemon.

Lastly, the collector should acquire such books as Lowndes's
"Bibliography," Brunet's "Manuel," and as many priced catalogues as
he can secure. The catalogues of Mr. Quaritch, Mr. Bohn, M.
Fontaine, M.M. Morgand et Fatout, are excellent guides to a
knowledge of the market value of books. Other special works, as
Renouard's for Aldines, Willems's for Elzevirs, and Cohen's for
French engravings, will be mentioned in their proper place.
Dibdin's books are inaccurate and long-winded, but may occasionally
be dipped into with pleasure.



THE BOOKS OF THE COLLECTOR



The easiest way to bring order into the chaos of desirable books,
is, doubtless, to begin historically with manuscripts. Almost every
age that has left any literary remains, has bequeathed to us relics
which are cherished by collectors. We may leave the clay books of
the Chaldeans out of the account. These tomes resemble nothing so
much as sticks of chocolate, and, however useful they may be to the
student, the clay MSS. of Assurbanipal are not coveted by the
collector. He finds his earliest objects of desire in illuminated
manuscripts. The art of decorating manuscripts is as old as Egypt;