Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-23
BOOKS THAT KINGS OWNED.
Louis XVI Wrote His Signature in
One, Marie De Medicis in Another.

From the New York Times.
Columbia University has on exhibition at
the present time a large and valuable col
lection of books illustrating the history or
bookbinding from the period of earliest eff
forts to make the trade a fine art. The
books were collected by Samuel P. Avery,
who has presented number of them to the
university. The collection contains some of
the best work of the great masters of the
art. But, aside from this, 1t is interesting
as containing a number of volumes from
the private libraries of French. English and
Spanish kings and from the collections of
the noble families of those countries.
One of the most interesting Is from the
library of Louis XVI of France. 1t Is a
work on the theater printed in Paris In
1775 and contains the signature of the ILL
starred monarch, together with manuscript
notes in his own handwriting. The binding
is by Derome, in red morocco. In the CEN
ter are the arms of the Countess dArtois
unsigned with a crown. This book was sold
at one time for 800 francs.
From the library of Charles " of Spain
comes book entitled I'm Funere Carroll H.
Hispaniar. Regis Catholici CRATIC Habita
in Sacello Poateficio. 1t was printed in
velvet embroidered with gold and silver
threads. colored silks and pieces of metal.
On each cover is panel on which are the
arms of Charles " in gold and silver.
tributes a manuscript entitled The Stat
utes and Ordinances of the Most Noble Or
der of ST. George. Named the Carter Re-
formed, Explained. Declared and Renewed
by Prince Henry VIII" The volume dates
from about 1871. 1t was bound by Samuel
Merne for Charles II, and bears as cipher
the interlaced &C" On the first page are
the arms of the Duke of Hamilton, in gold
and water cOlOrs, and the official manu-
script order for the issuance of the warrant
for John Werden to be a baronet is laid in.
A book on natOmy from the private col
lection of Diane de POitiers is included in
the exhibition. The work was done in 1916.
The binding is white morocco and bears the
CULVER, arrows, fieur de lis and crescent
cipher of Diane and the double interlaced
cipher "DT1' of Diane and Henri II.
Another volume of interest is religious
work owned by Marie Ueczinska, the wife
of Louis XIV. The binding is dark morocco,
with feur de lis in each corner. and in the
center the arms of the queen, for whom the
book was bound and to whom it was dedi-
Gated. An autograph note from the queen
to her father, Stanislaus /, is inserted, in
which she signs herself Mon terest cher
Papailchen de Occur ct dame vous Marie
china"
The arms of Marie de Medicis decorate
the cover of a book by Jean de Loyac. The
cover also bears the imperial crown of
France in gold and silver, encircled with
the Gordon de veuyage in silver. Inserted
Is letter addressed "A mon Cousin lie Car
dinal dOst'' and signed by Marie de Me-
dicis.
A description of the fetes held at Stras-
bourg during the visit of Louis XIV to that
city in October, TIA. is bound in full red
morocco by Pandeloup The crowned cipher
of the king is introduced in the border and
the arms of Louis XIV are in the center.