Van Praet was compiling a catalogue of works printed on vellum, and
had collected more than 2000 articles. When hard things are said
about Henry VIII., let us remember that this monarch had a few
copies of his book against Luther printed on vellum. The Duke of
Marlborough's library possessed twenty-five books on vellum, all
printed before 1496. The chapter-house at Padua has a "Catullus" of
1472 on vellum; let Mr. Robinson Ellis think wistfully of that
treasure. The notable Count M'Carthy of Toulouse had a wonderful
library of books in membranis, including a book much coveted for its
rarity, oddity, and the beauty of its illustrations, the
"Hypnerotomachia" of Poliphilus (Venice, 1499). Vellum was the
favourite "vanity" of Junot, Napoleon's general. For reasons
connected with its manufacture, and best not inquired into, the
Italian vellum enjoyed the greatest reputation for smooth and silky
whiteness. Dibdin calls "our modern books on vellum little short of
downright wretched." But the editor of this series could, I think,
show examples that would have made Dibdin change his opinion.

Many comparatively expensive papers, large in format, are used in
choice editions of books. Whatman papers, Dutch papers, Chinese
papers, and even papier verge, have all their admirers. The amateur
will soon learn to distinguish these materials. As to books printed
on coloured paper--green, blue, yellow, rhubarb-coloured, and the
like, they are an offence to the eyes and to the taste. Yet even
these have their admirers and collectors, and the great Aldus
himself occasionally used azure paper. Under the head of "large
paper," perhaps "uncut copies" should be mentioned. Most owners of
books have had the edges of the volumes gilded or marbled by the
binders. Thus part of the margin is lost, an offence to the eye of
the bibliomaniac, while copies untouched by the binder's shears are