Evening star., 1901-09-09
TREASURES AT WINDSOR
COLLECTION OF. RARE BOOKS
PRINTS AND MANUSCRIPTS.
The Royal Library in the Famous
English Cast1e-vfctoria,s
Literary Taste.
From the London Mail,

From the London Mail.
Among the countless treasures at Wind
sor Castle which form part Of the personal
inheritance of the king is the precious COL
lection Of books. prints and MSS. whose
iordly home is the royal library.
When the two libraries formed by George
II and George III went to the British Mu-
scum the castle was for some years with
out any literature at all. But under Will
liam Nv forgotten collections were unearth-
ed 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 leis-
ure moments to the congenial task of re-
pairing the gaps In this new library
Early in the reign a Mr.. Holmes chanced
to be one Of the keepers Of MSS. in the
British Museum, and he introduced his son
Richard as an assistant, and for sixteen
years the younger book lover was pre-
pairing himself unconsctously for his life
work. When, in 1858, an archaeOlogfst was
sought for the expedition to Abyssinia,
young Holmes was taken for the purpose.
and to this episode was due his selection
vate librarian. For thirty years he has
carried on the work started by the prince
consort. until today he Is in charge OF
10000 volumes. one Of the richest private
collections IN the world.
Col. Holmes ACCOMPLISHMENTS,
Col. Holmes is a short, dapper, trim
bearded bibliophile. Of ruddy geniality. His
luxurious tome upon the life OF his august
mistress proves him to possess ready pen,
and that he also wields 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 dated printed
books, the 1457 Mainz Psalter, whose value
runs into five figures, and indeed, on one
occasion an American lady who was per-
mitted to inspect the library was very
angry because her cicerone would not ac-
cept there and then check for 100000 in
exchange for this book. Here are to be
only perfect copy of his Aesop. Cover
dale. Luthers own Bible, Mozart's first
oratorfo, the Testament that Charles I car
ried to the scaffold. his folio Shakespeare,
oriental manuscript, incrusted with gems,
and many another volume to be seen no.
where else on the planet.
Queen Victoria would never willingly
permit novels OF the moment to incum-
Der her shelves. although there are one
or two first editions of Kipiing and some
presentation volumes. There Is little
poetry also. including choice copy which
Alfred Tennyson prepared of his works as
however, Is made up Of books on history,
biography. heraldry. bellies lettres, and the
fine arts. including the caricatures of three
centuries, to say nothing Of the 10000
prints and drawings.
Bindings of the Books.
The queens bookplate, made by Mr.. G..
w. Eve. introduces the badges of Henry
garter, and the royal cipher is stamped
upon the binding Of many volume. Many
of the bindings to be seen in the royal IL
brary are maPyelOuSiy beautiful
For the last year or two an assistant has
been busy upon typed card catalogue Of
authors and subjects. in the manner OF the
Guildhall Library, and this Is understood to
have enabled his majesty to observe the
presence of large numbers Of presentation
and other volumes which can now be
spared. 1t is said. indeed, that large pro-
portion will be distributed in various di-
rectiOns later on.
His majesty's own library was formed In
the first instance at Marlborough House,
but upon his return from India the room
most of the books were, therefore, trans
ferred to Sandrfngham. There they occupy
at present three apartments and they COM
prise the works which he read before start
ing on his tour, together with a fine Cri-
mean collection, complete set dealing with
the Nelson and Wellington campaigns, and
large case devoted to farming, sport. the
Babminton library and the manifold in
terests of a country gentleman. Here also
are to be found the best romances in the
literature of all Europe, from Thomas
Hardy to Alphonse Daudet. from Bourget
to Mrs. Henry Wood. Some Of these vol
umes are to be transferred to Windsor: and
others will now be represented by dupH-
cate copies, to bear the severely tastely
monogram Of the king. and later on his
new bookplate.
The Windsor library is one Of the most
perfect retreats in all England for a rainy
day. It has a superb outlook across to
Stoke and away to Harrow-on-the-Hill,
and. as the privileged ladies and gentle
men Of the court loll In its cozy chairs.
leathered in brilliant scarlet. and rest their
books upon Its polished ebon tables iplaid
with ivory. the spirits Of the past-of Anne
and the duchess, OF Elizabeth and her tir-
ing maids, Of Charles II and Lelys beau
ties-seem to pervade the fireplace and
oriel. alcove and mullion. Little wonder
that such corner became a favorite re-
treat on Sunday afternoons.