"How can they be recognised? I will tell you. In the first place, monsieur, the first volume in which one finds the name of Elzevir or Elzevier is one entitled _Eutropii histories romanæ_, _lib. X. Lugduni Batavorum, apud Ludovicum Elzevierum_, 1592, in 8°, 2 leaves, 169 pages. The design on the frontispiece,--remember this carefully, it is the key to the whole mystery,--the design on the frontispiece is that of an angel holding a book in one hand and a scythe in the other." "Yes, I understand: 1592, in 8°, 2 leaves, 169 pages, an angel holding a book in one hand and a scythe in the other." "Bravo!... Isaac Elzevir--whom some declare to be the son and others the nephew of Louis Elzevir: I maintain that he is the son; Bérard maintains that he is the nephew, and, although he has Techener on his side, I still think I am right--Isaac Elzevir substituted for this design an elm tree, encircled by a vine laden with grapes, with this device: _Non solus._ Do you follow me?" "The Latin, yes." "Well, then, Daniel Elzevir, in his turn, adopted Minerva and the olive tree as his mark, with the device: _Ne extra oleas_. You still follow me?" "Perfectly: Isaac, a vine laden with grapes; Daniel, Minerva and the olive tree." "Better and better. But, besides these recognised editions, there are anonymous and pseudonymous editions, and there is where the inexperienced bibliomaniacs get confused. Ah!" "Will you be my Ariadne?" "Well, these editions are usually designated by a sphere." "Then that is a guide." "Yes, but you will see! These brothers, cousins or nephews Elzevir were a very capricious lot of fellows. Thus, for example, one finds, since 1629, a buffalo head forming part of the headpieces in their books, at the beginning of prefaces, dedicatory epistles and text." "Well, thanks to the buffalo's head, it seems...." "Wait a bit ... this lasted for five years. Since the _Sallust_ of 1634 and even perhaps earlier, they adopted another sign which resembled a siren. Also in this edition...." "The _Sallust_ of 1634?" "Exactly! They adopted also, for the first time, on page 216, a tail-piece of a head of Medusa." "So, when once this principle is fixed and one knows that on page 216 of the _Sallust_ of 1634 there is a figure representing ...." "Yes, yes, upon my word, that would be delightful, if it could be laid down as a positive rule; but, bah! Daniel did not remain constant to his designs. For example, in the 1661 _Terence_, he substitutes a garland of hollyhocks for the buffalo head and the siren, and this garland is to be found in a great many of his editions. But, in the _Persius_ of 1664 he does not even put that." "Oh, gracious! and what does he adopt in the _Persius_ of 1664?" "He adopts a large ornament, in the centre of which are two swords crossed over a crown." "As though to indicate that the Elzevirs are the kings of the book-selling world." "You have hit it exactly, monsieur: a sovereignty no one disputes with them."