The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-12
KING EDWARDS LIBRARY.
Rare, Curious and Favorite Vol
umes-!HistOry of Their Accumula-
From the London Mail.

ton.
From the London Mail.
Among the countless treasures at
Windsor Castle which forms part Of
the personal inheritance of the King
is the precious collection of books,
prints and manuscripts whose lordly
home is the royal library.
When the two libraries formed by
George II and George III went to the
British Museum. the castle was for
some years without any literature at
all. But under William " forgotten
collections were unearthed at st.
James Palace, Hampton Court. and
elsewhere and brought together at
Windsor, and day after day for twenty
years the Prince Consort devoted his
leisure moments to the congenial task
of repairing the gaps in this new Ii
brary.
Early in the reign a Mr.. Holmes
CHANGED to be one of the keepers OF
manuscripts in the British Museum,
and he introduced his son Richard as
an assistant, and for sixteen years the
younger book lover was preparing him.
self unconsciously for his life work.
When in 1868 an archaeologist was
sought for the expedition to Abyssinia,
young Holmes was taken for the pur-
pose, and to this episode was due his
selection by Queen Victoria in 1870 to
be her private librarian. For thirty
years he has carried on the work start
ed by the Prince Consort, until to-day
he is in charge of 10000 volumes, one
of the richest private collections in the
world.
Col. Holmes is a short dapper trim
bearded bibliophile, whose ruddy gent
ality reminds one irresistibly of Mr..
Fred Burnard. His luxurious tome up
on the life of his august mistress
proves him to possess a ready pen, and
that he also Yields a ready brush is
shown by his illustrations for Mrs. OIL
plants Makers of Venice" Perhaps
his greatest treasure is one of the only
two perfect copies of the earliest dat
ed printed books, the 1457 Mainz
''Psalter," whose value runs into the
five figures, and indeed. on one occa-
sion an American lady who was permit
ted to inspect the library, was very
angry because her cicerone would not
accept there and then a check for E20,-
900 in exchange for this book. Here
are to be seen also a dozen Caxtons,
including the only perfect copy of his
Aesop; a Coverdale, Luther's own BIZ
BILE, Mozarts first cratorio, the Testa-
fold, his folio Shakespeare, Oriental
manuscripts incrusted with gems, and
many another volume to be seen no
where else on the planet.
Queen Victoria-always a typical wo-
man-would never willingly permit
novels of the moment to incumber her
shelves. although there are one or two
first editions of Kipling and some pre-
sentation volumes. There is a little
poetry also, including a choice copy
which Alfred Tennyson prepared of his
works as a Laureates gift. The bulk
of the library, however, is made up
of books on history, biography, heral-
dry, the caricatures of three centuries,
to say nothing of the 10000 prints and
| drawings.
The Queens bookplate. made by Mr..
g. w. Eve, introduces the badges of
| Henry VII and Edward III, surround
| ed by the Garter, and the royal cipher
Is stamped upon the bindings to be
| seen in the royal library are marvel
ously beautiful.
For the last year or two an assistant
has been busy upon a typed card cata-
| logue of authors and subjects, in the
manner of the Guildhall Library, and
| this is understood to have enabled His
large numbers of presentation and
| other volumes which can now be
spared. 1t is said. indeed, that a large
| proportion will be distributed in va
rious directions later on.
His MaJesty's own library was form
| ed in the first instance at MARLBOROUGH
House, but upon his return from India
| the room was required for his Eastern
| relics, and most of the books were
| therefore transferred to Sandringham.
There they occupy at present three
| apartments, and they comprise the
works which he read before starting
| on his tour, together with fine Crit
mean collection, complete set deal
ing with the Nelson and Wellington
campaigns, and a large case devoted to
| farming, sport, the Badminton library.
and the manifold interests of a coun-
try gentleman. Here also are to be
found the best romances in the litera-
ture of all Europe, from Thomas Har-
dy to Alphonse Daudet from Bourget
to Mrs. Henry Wood. Some of these
volumes are to be transferred to Wind
sor, and others will now be represented
by duplicate copies, to bear the severe
~ tasteful monogram of the King, and
later on his new bookplate.
The Windsor library is one of the
most perfect retreats in all England
for rainy day. 1t has a superb out
look across to Stoke and away to Har-
row-on- the Hill, and as the privileged
ladies and gentlemen of the Court lolI
in its coy chairs. leathered in brilliant
scarlet. and rest their books upon it's
polished ebon tables inlaid with ivory,
the spirit of the past--of Anne and the
Duchess. of Elizabeth and her firing
maids, of Charles ii. and Lely's beau
ties-seem to pervade fireplace and
oriel, alcove and mullion. Little won
der that such a corner became a ia
vorite retreat on Sunday afternoons.