The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-20
KING EDWARDS LIBRARY.
Contains Rare, Curious and Favorite
Volumes.
From the London Mail.

From the London Mail.
Among the countless treasures at
Windsor Castle which form 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 III and George III, went to the
British Museum, the castle was for
some years without any literature at
all. But under William W., forgotten
collections were unearthed at st. James
Palace, Hampton Court, and else
where, and brought together at Wind
sor 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 libra
~.
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
himself 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
started by the Prince Consort, until
to-day he is in charge of 10000 vol
umes, one of the richest private coll
lections in the world.
Col Holmes is a short, dapper, trim
bearded bibliophile. whose rudy gen.
iality reminds one irresistibIy of Fred
Burnard. His luxurious tome upon 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 ELEPHANTS
Makers of Venice" Perhaps his great
est treasure is one of the only two
perfect copies of the earliest dated
printed books, the 1857 Mainz "Psalter,"
whose value runs into five figures. and,
indeed, on one occasion an American
lady who was permitted to inspect the
library was very angry because her
cicerone would not accept then and
there check for 100000 in exchange
for this book. Here are to be seen also
dozen Caxtons, including the only
perfect copy of his Aesop: a Cover
dale, Luthers own Bible, Mozarts first
oratorio, the Testament that Charles I
carried to the scaffold his folio
Shakespeare, Oriental manuscripts in
cfusted with gems, and many another
volume to be seen nowhere 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
hrst 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 laureate's gift. The bulk
or the library, however, is made UP of
books on history, biography, heraidry.
bellies lettres, and the fine arts, includ-
ing the caricatures of three centuries.
to say nothing of the 10000 prints and
drawings.
The Queens bookplate, made by q.
w. Eve, introduces the badges of Hem
ry VII and Edward III, surrounded by
the Garter, and the royal cipher is
stamped upon the binding of many a
volume. Many of 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 typed card cata-
logue 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 SPAR
ed. 1t is said, indeed, that large pro-
portion will be distributed in various
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 We're.
therefore, transferred in Sandringham.
There they occupy at present three
apartments, and they comprise the
works which he read before starting on
his tour, together with a fine Crimean
collection, a complete set dealing with
the Nelson and Wellington campaigns,
and a large case devoted to farming,
sport. the Badminton library and the
manifold interests of country GENTLE
man. Here also are to be found the
best romances in the literature of all
Europe, from Thomas Hardy to AL
phonse Daudet, from Bourget to Mrs
Henry Wood. Some of these volumes
are to be represented by duplicate
copies, to bear the severely tasteful
monogram of the King, and later on
his new book plate.
The Windsor library is one of the
most perfect retreats in all England for
a rainy day. 1t has a superb outlook
across to Stoke and away to Harrow
on-the- Hill, and as the privileged ladies
and gentlemen of the court Toll in it's
cozy chairs, leathered in brilliant scar
let. and rest their books upon it's pol
ished ebon tables inlaid with ivory, the
spirits OF the past-of Annie and the
Duchess. of Elizabeth and her firing
maids, of Charles IL and Lely's beauties
seem TO pervade fireplace and oriei,
alcove and mullion. Little wonder that
such a corner became favorlte retreat
on Sunday afternoons.