Books And Books.

LODGE ( Edmund ) , Portraits of Illustrious Personages of Great Britain , with Memoirs of their Lives and Actions . Being the first issue , containing 129 Portraits , picked impressions on India paper , and about ISO Illuminations on Vellum of tho Armorial Bearings of the subjects of the portraits , with the Quavteviugs ( in some instances over 200 ) of every Family with whom they were respectively allied ( all richly emblazoned in gold aud colours ) , largo paper , 2 vols ., royal folio , blue morocco , super extra , the sides elaborately tooledbroad morocco joints ( also tooled in the most tasteful manner ) aud

, silk linings , a superb copy . Price 500 guineas . Not half the cost of the drawings alone . This copy was the property of Mi-. Lodge himself , who has carefully selected each portrait and added the illuminations , many of which are perfect gems of Heraldic Art , and could only have proceeded from the hand of a master . The volumes may be said to be unique , and form an heraldic record of the highest interest and worthy of a place in any library , to which they would form a sumptuous aclditition . They are in the finest state , each having au external wrapper leather covering with flaps .

So , too , in one of Mr . Qnaritch ' s catalogues we find the following examples of this taste : — BLAKE ( William ) : Cunningham's Life of Blake , in MS ., illustrated with portraits and 103 of Blake ' s own engravings , many of the greatest rarity ; also , portrait of T . Hayley , son of the poet ( a drawing in sepia by Blake ) , aud a MS . Index to the Songs of Innocence ancl Experience in Blake ' s autograph ; in a vol . half-bound morocco : a volume of the greatest iuteresfc to the admirers of this singular artist . £ 80 . Unique . Such a wonderful

collection of variations and proofs will never again occur for sale . PIT . KINGTON ' DICTIONARY OF PAINTERS , by Fuseli , with several thousand engravings by the most eminent English and foreign artists , carefully inlaid and mounted in 16 vols , morocco , extra gilt edges . £ 180 . In a most interesting catalogue of Messrs . White ancl Ellis , No . 45 ,- we find also some more proofs of a " prevailing chic , " which we do not find fault with ; on the contrary , think is good for us " all round " : —¦

Clio . M WELL ( Thomas ) , Walks through Islington ; Illustrated copy ; comprising an historical and descriptive account of that extensive and important district , both in its ancient and present state ; together with some particulars of the most remarkable objects immediately adjacent ; embellished with numerous engravings by J . & H . S . Storer . 1835 . 8 vo ., large paper , enlarged into 3 vols , by the addition of 3 < 10 rare portraits , views , maps , play-bills , cuttings from periodicals , etc ., half morocco , uncut , top edges gilt . £ 15 15 s .

DIBDIN ( Rev . Thomas Prognall ) , The Bibliographical Decameron ; or Ten Days Pleasant Discourse upon Illuminated Manuscripts , and subjects connected with Early Engraving , Typography , and Bibliography . Illustrated copy . 1817 . 3 vols . Imp . 8 vo . Large paper , with numerous beautiful engravings and facsimiles of ancient woodcuts and typographical curiosities , red morocco super extra , with joints and vellum fly-leaves , gilt edges , by C . Lewis . £ 75 . These beautiful volumes are further enriched by the addition of upwards of 160 beautiful portraits and views ( many being proof private plates , India proofs , etc ., ) of the eminent persons and remarkable places mentioned iu the work , with several

beautifully executed original drawings , including a view of the Duke of Roxburg-he ' s house in St . James's Square , by J . Britton . Inserted is au autograph letter from the author to Eolix Sladc , Esq .. ( from whose choice collection the present magnificent volumes came ) , assuring him that no more than fifty copies were printed on large paper .

ROBERTSON ( Vf . ) Illustrated copy . History of Scotland . 1771 . 2 vols . —History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V . 1769 . 3 vols . —History of America . 1778 . 2 vols . Together 7 vols . 4 to , enlarged into 12 vols , by the addition of upwards of 1000 choice and scarce engravings , including rare portraits by Crispin de Pass , Wierix , Houbraken , etc ., illustrations from Dc Bry ' s Voyages , two drawings by Thomas Saiiclby , views , plates of coins and medals , historical engravings , maps , plans , etc ., etc . ; red morocco extra , gilt and marbled edges . £ 135 .

In fact there is scarcely a good catalogue yon take jnsfc now , without such " tempting wares , which seom to tell a tale of much interesting research ancl peaceful industry . We think it is Ruskin who talks somewhere of the mistaken use of the word " bibliomaniac , " ancl of the pity people affect to feel for this " craze , " as they call it , of books , forgetting that they affect many other " crazes " just now very much more dangerousnoxiousand

dishonouring—, , much more " crazy , " in fact , than the harmless pursuit , the elevated taste , ancl the intellectual amusement of the plodding book collector , of him who seeks to illustrate a work by the refinements of art and the graceful evidences of appreciative study .