The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-10-04


introduced his son Richard as an assist
aat, ana for sixteen years the youngcr
boOk-lpver was preparing himself nn-
sonsSiousM for his HE work When in
1858 an arohaeologls, was seugAt FOR
the expedition % Ahyssin1a young
Holmes was taken Tor the purpose and
60 this episode was due his selection by
Queen Victoria In 1870 20 be her private
librarian For thirty years he has car
r!cd ou the work started Nv the prince
>NnsorL until today he Is In charge "
10000 volumes, one ~ the riches, prl-
vate collections In the world
Colonel Holmes Is a short, dapper
;rlm-hear,lsi hIhliophile, waNse ruddy
gen,Sll;y reminds one irvsIs,tbly " Mr.
E'rcd RurnarL His luxurious ,omt up
on the HE ~ htS august mistress proves
him To possess ready pen and that he
ais, wielis a ready brush Is shown by
his Illustrations for Mrs, Olphants
Makers oG Venice INrhars his great.
es; treasure Is one ol tho only ,wo pcr,
feet copies ~ the carli's, dated printed
hooSs the it5I Malns lsllyer whose
value runs into Ave ilgurcs, and, Indeed
IN one occasion an American lady who
was permitted % Inspect the library
was verv angry because her clccron"
would not accep; there and then check
FOR csOOo0 In exchange Tor his hooks,
Here are to b. seen also a dozen Cax.
IONS Including the only pcrtec, copy ~
hos AesoP. Coverlalt. Lu.her's own
Bible. Mozart's arst oralorlo, the tesla.
ment that Charles l. carried en the seat
fold his folio Shakespeare, Oriental
MSS. encrustrd With gems and many
another volume to be seen nowhere else
ON the planet
Qu1en Victorla-always a typical wo-
man--would never willingly permit, nov
els ot ,hc momen, to cucumber her
shelves. although there are one or two
frs, editions ot Elpllns and some pre-
sentatOn volumes. There Is a little
poetry also. including choice copy
which Alfred Tennyson presented ot
his works as laureate's git;, The
bulk Of the library, however. Is made
up of books on history biography, her.
aidry. bellies letters ami the fine arts.
including the carlca,urrs ~ three cen
turtles to say nothing ot the 10000,
The queens bookplate. made by Mr.
@. W. Eve. Introduces the badges OF
Henry VII. and Edward ILL.,. surround.
cd by the Garter and the royal cipher
ls stamped upon the binding VI many
volume. Many OF the bindings To be
seen in the royal library are marvellous.
lY beautiful The one covering coli
lection of Persian poems and verses can
only be seen at It's best % course, In
he original colors. colored repr1duc'
tions Of this and other covers appear
In Mr.. Grlgg's work on Specimens n
BookbIndlng in the Royal Library
For the last year or two an ass.s;ani
has been busy upon a typed card-cata-
logue OF authors and subjects IN the
manner of the Guild hall library. and
this Is understood To have enabled his
majesty to observe the presence u large
numbers ot presentation ana other vol
umes which can now be spared, II -
said. indeed. tha, a large proportion will
BE- distributed In various directions
later on.
His maJesly's own library was FORM
ed IN the frs, instance at Marlborough
house. but upon his return from India
the room was required Tor MS Eastern
relies, and most Of the books were.
therefore. transferred to Sandrlngham.
There they occupy az present three APP
par,ments anl they comprise the works
which hs read before starting On his
tour, tog cher with a hne Crimean col
lection. a complete SET dealing w.'h the
Nelson and Wellington campaigns and
a large case devoted 20 farming. sport
the Badminton library.