e collection is broken up； will thus be made secure。 For the French do not suffer our English bindings gladly； while we have no narrow prejudice against the works of Lortic and Cape； but the reverse。 For these reasons then； and also because every writer is obliged to make the closest acquaintance with books in the direction where his own studies lie； the writings of French authorities are frequently cited in the following pages。
This apology must be followed by a brief defence of the taste and passion of bookcollecting； and of the class of men known invidiously as bookworms and bookhunters。 They and their simple pleasures are the butts of a cheap and shrewish set of critics； who cannot endure in others a taste which is absent in themselves。 Important new books have actually been condemned of late years because they were printed on good paper； and a valuable historical treatise was attacked by reviewers quite angrily because its outward array was not mean and forbidding。 Of course； critics who take this view of new books have no patience with persons who care for 〃margins；〃 and 〃condition；〃 and early copies of old books。 We cannot hope to convert the adversary； but it is not necessary to be disturbed by his clamour。 People are happier for the possession of a taste as long as they possess it； and it does not； like the demons of Scripture； possess them。 The wise collector gets instruction and pleasure from his pursuit； and it may well be that； in the long run； he and his family do not lose money。 The amusement may chance to prove a very fair investment。
As to this question of making money by collecting； Mr。 Hill Burton speaks very distinctly in 〃The Bookhunter：〃 〃Where money is the object let a man speculate or bee a miser。 。 。 Let not the collector ever； unless in some urgent and necessary circumstances； part with any of his treasures。 Let him not even have recourse to that practice called barter； which political philosophers tell us is the universal resource of mankind preparatory to the invention of money。 Let him confine all his transactions in the market to purchasing only。 No good es of gentlemenamateurs buying and selling。〃 There is room for difference of opinion here； but there seems to be most reason on the side of Mr。 Hill Burton。 It is one thing for the collector to be able to reflect that the money he expends on books is not lost； and that his family may find themselves richer； not poorer； because he indulged his taste。 It is quite another thing to buy books as a speculator buys shares； meaning to sell again at a profit as soon as occasion offers。 It is necessary also to warn the beginner against indulging extravagant hopes。 He must buy experience with his books； and many of his first purchases are likely to disappoint him。 He will pay dearly for the wrong 〃Caesar〃 of 1635； the one WITHOUT errors in pagination； and this is only a mon example of the beginner's blunders。 Collecting is like other forms of sport； the aim is not certain at first； the amateur is nervous； and； as in angling； is apt to 〃strike〃 （a bargain） too hurriedly。
I often think that the pleasure of collecting is like that of sport。 People talk of 〃bookhunting；〃 and the old Latin motto says that 〃one never wearies of the chase in this forest。〃 But the analogy to angling seems even stronger。 A collector walks in the London or Paris streets； as he does by Tweed or Spey。 Many a lordly mart of books he passes； like Mr。 Quaritch's； Mr。 Toovey's； or M。 Fontaine's； or the shining store of M。M。 Mand et Fatout； in the Passage des Panoramas。 Here I always feel like Brassicanus in the king of Hungary's collection； 〃non in Bibliotheca； sed in gremio Jovis；〃 〃not in a library； but in paradise。〃 It is not given to every one to cast angle in these preserves。 They are kept for dukes and millionaires。 Surely the old Duke of Roxburghe was the happiest of mortals； for to him both the chief bookshops and auction rooms； and the famous salmon streams of Floors； were equally open； and he revelled in the prime of bookcollecting and of angling。 But there are little tributary streets； with humbler stalls； shy pools； as it were； where the humbler fisher of books may hope to raise an Elzevir； or an old French play； a first edition of Shelley； or a Restoration edy。 It is usually a case of hope unfulfilled； but the merest nibble of a rare book； say Marston's poems in the original edition； or Beddoes's 〃Love's Arrow Poisoned；〃 or Bankes's 〃Bay Horse in a Trance；〃 or the 〃Mel Heliconicum〃 of Alexander Ross； or 〃Les Oeuvres de Clement Marot； de Cahors； Vallet de Chambre du Roy； A Paris； Ches Pierre Gaultier； 1551；〃 even a chance at something of this sort will kindle the waning excitement； and add a pleasure to a man's walk in muddy London。 Then； suppose you purchase for a couple of shillings the 〃Histoire des Amours de Henry IV； et autres pieces curieuses； A Leyde； Chez Jean Sambyx （Elzevir）； 1664；〃 it is certainly not unpleasant； on consulting M。 Fontaine's catalogue； to find that he offers the same work at the ransom of 10 pounds。 The beginner thinks himself in singular luck； even though he has no idea of vending his collection； and he never reflects that CONDITIONspotless white leaves and broad margins； make the market value of a book。
Setting aside such bare considerations of profit； the sport given by bookstalls is full of variety and charm。 In London it may be pursued in most of the cross streets that stretch a dirty between the British Museum and the Strand。 There are other more shy and less frequently poached resorts which the amateur may be allowed to find out for himself。 In Paris there is the long se eighty bouquinistes set their boxes on the walls of the embankment of the Seine。 There are few country towns so small but that books； occasionally rare and valuable； may be found lurking in secondhand furniture warehouses。 This is one of the advantages of living in an old country。 The Colonies are not the home for a collector。 I have seen an Australian bibliophile enraptured by the rare chance of buying； in Melbourne； an early work onthe history of Port Jackson！ This seems but poor game。 But in Europe an amateur has always occupation for his odd moments in town； and is for ever lured on by the radiant apparition of Hope。 All collectors tell their anecdotes of wonderful luck； and magnificent discoveries。 There is a volume 〃Voyages Litteraires sur les Quais de Paris〃 （Paris； Durand； 1857）； by M。 de Fontaine de Resbecq； which might convert the dullest soul to bookhunting。 M。 de Resbecq and his friends had the most amazing good fortune。 A M。 N found six original plays of Moliere （worth perhaps as many hundreds of pounds）； bound up with Garth's 〃Dispensary；〃 an English poem which has long lost its vogue。 It is worth while； indeed； to examine all volumes marked 〃Miscellanea；〃 〃Essays；〃 and the like； and treasures may possibly lurk； as Snuffy Davy knew； within the battered sheepskin of school books。 Books lie in out of the way places。 Poggio rescued 〃Quintilian〃 from the counter of a wood merchant。 The best time for bookhunting in Paris is the early morning。 〃The take；〃 as anglers say； is 〃on〃 from halfpast seven to halfpast nine a。m