The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-24
An Interesting Library.

An Interesting Library.
CONSIDERABLE interest being now awakened to
the subject Of libraries, we have thought that
the world might be useful just now. The
traveller in England in visiting that most
deeply interesting city of Oxford, would
scarcely lose the opportunity Of visiting one
of the most interesting of libraries belonging
80 that city. Over five hundred years ago. a
single small room suficed for all the books in
the town; to this was added collection by an
earnest lover and preserver of books, Philip
of Bury, he who apostrophized books as the
masters who teach without flogging, or leec-
ing, punishment, or payment. About the
year 1850, this nice little collection was
destroyed. The Commissioners deputed by
Edward vi, for the reformation of the Uni
scripts, and left the rest exposed to any chance
of injury. Four years after this destruction,
an undergraduate animated with sincere
love for books, gave his money, his aid, and
his influence, to the re-establishment of an
institution which seems likely to connect his
name imperishably with the library in which
he took SO lively an interest Sir Thomas
Bodley was the name of this student. When
King James l saw Bodey's bust, on extending
the library, he emitted the somewhat ques-
tionable pun, that the founder should rather
be called Sir Pitts Cody, than Bodley,
and in wonderful fit of liberality he offered
to present, from the libraries of the royal
palaces whatever precious books Sir Thomas
Bodley, on examination, might choose to carry
away. One of the many services rendered by
Bodley was an agreement made by him with
the Stationers' Company, by which the Com
papy were to give perfect copy Of every book
printed by them to the library. He left nearly
all his money for the purchase of books, so
that there was afterwards an application made
relief. Since his death the library has in
creased yearly by additions to its books, busts,
pictures, numismatical collections, and above
all, by the almost matchless and priceless
treasures of rare and valuable works, of which
space alone prevents our giving, what we
should take pleasure in doing, the names of
many of these gems. We can only find room
for few. Of Shakespeare it has the editions
of 1901, 1917, and 1923. To give our readers
some idea of the value of these editions in
1778, Stevens, one of the commentators,
valued the first edition at seven or eight
guineas. At sale some years ago it pro-
duced flO0. In 1864, Miss Burdett Coutts
gave for very fine copy f716.
1t has copy of the Koran which had been
in the library of Tippo Sahib, rare gem, the
interior ornaments of which are quite sur
prising; the binding is also curious and beau
tiful. Then there is the first book printed
from movable type, being fine copy of the
grand old Latin Bible, printed by Guttenburg
at Mentz about l455. copy of this was sold
in 1918 for f596. A copy Of the first complete
English Bible translated by Myles Coverdale.
But we must stop, for the number of
rare works is delightful reading even in their
titles By the statutes of the library, the
Librarian, or one of the sub b-Librarians must
be present when any coins are exhibited; nor
may they be shown to more than two persons
at time, unless two officers of the library, or
Curator are present. No examination of
coins for the purpose Of comparison with
other specimens is permitted. Although
the French Imperial Library is said
to contain over million of volumes,
and the British Museum over 600, 900, yet the
Bodleian ranks very high, even in mere num-
bers, for it at present contains about $50, 900
volumes, with about 80, 900 manuscripts. 1t
has surpassed in fame and usefulness some of
its contemporaries, for instance that of Angelo
Rocca at Rome opened in 1904; the Ambro-
sian, at Milan in 1909. The fourth public
library was that of Cardinal Mazarin, opened
in l643. few years ago reading-room was
added to the Bodleian; this, together with the
ancient cosy appearance of the different rooms,
elaborated with rich stained glass, magnif-
cent pictures and statues, must always cause
the Bodleian Library to be regarded as one of
the most interesting of venerable piles, as it is
one of the choicest and most interesting of
libraries
Evenings at Home.