[Footnote 48: There is a short, but smart and interesting, article on this head in Mr. D'Israeli's _Curiosities of Literature_, vol. 1. 10. "Bruyere has touched on this mania with humour; of such a collector (one who is fond of superb bindings only) says he, as soon as I enter his house, I am ready to faint on the stair-case from a strong smell of morocco leather. In vain he shows me fine editions, gold leaves, Etruscan bindings, &c.--naming them one after another, as if he were showing a gallery of pictures!" Lucian has composed a biting invective against an ignorant possessor of a vast library. "One who opens his eyes, with an hideous stare, at an old book, and, after turning over the pages, chiefly admires the _date_ of its publication."] Symptoms of this disease are instantly known by a passion for I. _Large Paper Copies_: II. _Uncut Copies_: III. _Illustrated Copies_: IV. _Unique Copies_: V. _Copies printed upon Vellum_: VI. _First Editions_: VII. _True Editions_: VIII. _A general desire for the Black Letter_. We will describe these symptoms more particularly. I. _Large Paper Copies._ These are a certain set or limited number of the work printed in a superior manner, both in regard to ink and press work, on paper of a larger size, and better quality, than the ordinary copies. Their price is enhanced in proportion to their beauty and rarity. In the note below[49] are specified a few works which have been published in this manner, that the sober collector may avoid approaching them. [Footnote 49: 1. _Lord Bacon's Essays_, 1798, 8vo., of which it is said only five copies were struck off on royal folio. In Lord Spencer's and the Cracherode, collection I have seen a copy of this exquisitely printed book; the text of which, surrounded by such an amplitude of margin, in the language of Ernesti [see his Critique on Havercamp's Sallust] "natut velut cymba in oceano." 2. _Twenty Plays of Shakespeare_ published by Steevens from the old quarto editions, 1766, 8vo. 6 vols. Of this edition there were only twelve copies struck off on large paper. See Bibl. Steevens, No. 1312. 3. _Dodsley's Collection of Old Plays_, 1780, 8vo., 12 vols. only six copies printed on large paper. See Bibl. Woodhouse, No. 198. 4. _The Grenville Homer._ Graece, 1800. 4to. 4 vols. Fifty copies with plates were struck off on large paper, in royal quarto. A copy of this kind was purchased at a sale in 1804, for L99 15s. 5. _Sandford's Genealogical History_, etc. 1707, fol. Mr. Arch of Cornhill purchased a copy of this work on large paper, at the late sale of Baron Smyth's books, for L46. If the largest paper of Clarke's Caesar be excepted, this is the highest priced single volume on large paper, that I just now recollect. 6. _Hearne's Works_ on large paper.