LLEGA

ERHAPS there is no work to which the rising generation of the close of the last and beginning of this century owed so much as to Bewick's History of Quadrupeds. Before the advent of the great engraver, the popular idea of animal natural history was derived from prints which in many instances, at least, bore but slight resemblance to the living originals, and it was on such models as these that nineteen persons out of every twenty gathered the little information it was possible to obtain on the subject.

In those days, it must be remembered, there were no Zoological Gardens where the habits of almost every kind of animal and reptile could be studied from the front of iron bars or glass cages, for only sixty years have elapsed since the Zoological Society of London, to which we are now indebted for what the late Mr. John Timbs calls "the finest public vivarium in the world," was instituted under the auspices of Sir Stamford Raffles, Sir Humphrey Davy, Lord Darnley, Sir Everard Home, and other distinguished naturalists.

Bewick has justly been called the reviver of wood engraving in England, the resuscitator of an almost lost art; and though his Quadrupeds is perhaps not equal in point of merit to his later productions, still the representations which are given of the various tribes possess a boldness of design and a correctness of outline which convey at the first glance a lively idea of the subject portrayed.

In this respect Bewick was equal to any of the ancient masters, and so immeasurably superior to his contemporaries that it may be said he was the founder of a new art based upon all that was correspondingly excellent in the old. While discarding the grotesque, and smoothing the exaggerations which everywhere prevail, even in the productions of such artists as Van Aken, Baldung Grien, Albert Cuyp, and others, he yet knew how to appreciate their genius, and did not disdain to take a lesson from their works.

So far the English engraver displayed a deep sense of wisdom, for in too many cases it was and is the fashion to deprecate anything that smacks of antiquity, and to assume that enlightenment is in its essence hereditary, owing everything to the genealogical tree, and nothing whatever to the labours of past generations.

When, therefore, it is said that Bewick was the founder of a new art, it will be understood that he did not ignore the past, for he knew perfectly well, as we SEPTEMBER, 1886.

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know, that the practice of wood engraving had been brought to the highest pitch of perfection in times past, though of late it had sadly deteriorated.

His mission and object was to revive, and in this he so well succeeded as to overleap at a single bound the mediocrity of the day, choosing to seek inspiration from past rather than from modern sources, which, as he saw, might possibly corrupt him with their influences.

If ever there was an instance of advancement by leaps and bounds, surely this is an example; the art was in England as crude as it well could be, so crude that Bewick's first plate conveyed the idea of complete novelty, and in this sense he became the founder of a new art, and the father of modern engravers in other countries besides our own.

The first work in which the genius of the engraver distinctly made itself felt was his general History of Quadrupeds, and copies of this book, particularly in the original, are eagerly sought after by collectors, and as a necessary consequence have been steadily rising in price for some time.

It is impossible to say what value may eventually be put on Bewick's productions, for they are becoming every year more difficult to acquire, partly owing to their absorption into public libraries, from which institutions they never of course emerge, and partly through excessive handling, since Bewick appealed in a great measure to the young, and many specimens of his work have passed through several generations of infantile fingers before they reached our own. Nor are these highly prized volumes always treated, even in our own day, with that respect which is usually granted as a matter of course to the great; we occasionally meet with persons entirely ignorant of the master and his works, and when this is the case but little care is bestowed on any specimen that may chance to ornament the "parlour" table, or be stored in the garret.

There is, or was, in the possession of the Society of Arts a letter signed by Bewick, and dated the 22nd May, 1788. In this the engraver states that he transmits to the Society some specimens of woodcuts with proposals for publishing by subscription a general History of Quadrupeds, "containing a concise account of every animal of that kind hitherto known or described, and embellished with accurate engravings on wood of each animal." The prospectus itself is printed on a broadside with specimens of the illustrations, and is addressed to the public.

Whether Bewick actually received any assistance from the Society we are not in a position to say, but at any rate two years after, namely in 1790, the History saw the light, and between that date and 1824 ran through eight editions, comprising no less than 12,250 copies of the work on different sizes of paper.

The first edition contains this descriptive title-page, "A General History of Quadrupeds. The figures engraved on wood by T. Bewick. Newcastle-uponTyne: Printed for S. Hodgson, R. Beilby, and T. Bewick. Newcastle: Sold by them, by G. G. J. and J. Robinson and C. Dilly. London, 1790.”

The edition contains viii.-456 pp., and is illustrated with 200 figures and 104 tail-pieces; 1,500 copies were printed on demy at 8s., and 100 on royal 8vo. at I2S. It is also said that two copies were printed on "Whatman's fine wove atlas vellum," though these were not for sale, and were probably given away to patrons or other ardent admirers of Bewick.

At the present day the value of good copies of this, the first edition of the Quadrupeds, has enormously increased, and as a matter of fact it is almost a hopeless task to endeavour to procure a copy on royal 8vo. We saw one, however, the other day which contained proof impressions of the engravings, and was altogether in excellent condition, marked at £20. As for copies in demy 8vo., these are comparatively speaking common, and may frequently be met with in booksellers' or auction catalogues. For instance, Lot 43, Walker Sale, 23rd June last (Sothebys), was knocked down for £2 9s., and comprised a very fair copy bound in half green morocco extra.

The second edition appeared in 1791, and is in every respect similar to the last, except that the woodcuts are increased to 212 figures and 108 tail-pieces. The principal addition is "the bats;" but in this issue, as well as in the first, many of the cuts were reprinted or given in duplicate. There are 483 pp. instead of 456. This edition consisted of 1,500 copies on demy published at 9s., and 300 copies on royal at 12s. The present value would appear to be about £2 10s. in the former case, and £5 in the latter.

The third edition (1792) is almost a reprint of the second, the number of pages and illustrations being precisely the same. There is, however, a slight alteration at p. 392, where a foot-note has been added, and some of the tail-pieces have been varied, notably at pp. 16, 80, 87, 94, 192, 194, 207, 236, 290, 344, 351, 357, 386, 391, 398, and 419.

Of this edition 1,500 copies were printed on demy and sold at 9s., and 300 copies on royal at 12s. The present value is about 30s. in the former case, and £3 in the latter.

The fourth edition, which appeared in 1800, shows a marked improvement on the preceding. The figures are increased in number to 225, though the tailpieces have fallen to 100, and for the first time the Linnæan names of animals are given. Of this edition 230 copies were struck off on imperial 8vo., and published at 21S.; 300 on royal 8vo., at 15s.; and 1,000 on demy 8vo., at 10s. 6d. The present value would appear to be about £4 for a good copy on royal, and half that sum for demy, while a copy on imperial 8vo. might sell for about £5 or £6.

The issue of the fourth edition was the signal for a dissolution of the partnership which had hitherto practically existed between Beilby, Bewick, and Hodgson, and considerable difficulty seems to have been experienced in adjusting individual claims. The matter was, however, settled between them by each taking a third share of the whole, with liberty to dispose of it as he thought fit. Beilby first

sold his share in the copies to John Bell, a Newcastle bookseller, whose name consequently appears on the title of a portion of this edition. He (Beilby) then sold his interest in the copyright and engravings to Bewick, and the death of Hodgson, which took place on the 4th of April, 1800, still further complicated

matters.

The position then stood as follows: Bell was entitled, by reason of his purchase from Beilby, to one-third of the total number of copies forming this edition; Bewick to another third, and also to two-thirds of the copyright; and Hodgson's widow, as executrix, to a third of the books and the remaining third of the copyright. On this basis a violent altercation arose between Bewick and the executrix, who apparently could not be made to see why she should only be entitled to one-third share of the copyright while Bewick had two-thirds, and they both eventually appealed to the public, the result being a free statement of their woes in the Annual Register for 1804. This contest does very little credit to the common-sense of either of the parties; but there is no doubt that Bewick was in the right, and would have been better advised if he had taken his stand upon it, instead of appealing to an authority which had no interest in the dispute, and cared nothing for the result.

The fifth edition appeared in 1807, and was printed by Edward Walker, of Newcastle. It contains 226 figures and 101 tail-pieces, but in other respects was the same as the last. One thousand copies were printed on demy at 135., and 230 on imperial 8vo. at £1 11s. 6d.

The present value is about £1 5s. and £2 10s. respectively.

The sixth edition, published in 1811, is in every respect the same as the last. A number of copies were, however, printed on demy paper and sold at £1 IS. The present value runs to about 15s. demy, £1 royal, and £1 5s. imperial.

The seventh and eighth editions, published in 1820 and 1824, respectively, were the same as the sixth, and copies of each were taken off in demy royal and imperial at £1 Is., £I IIS. 6d., and £2 2s. A copy in extra imperial 8vo., pp. x.-528, original boards, is mentioned by the Rev. Thomas Hugo, and priced by him at £3 13s. 6d.

These are the eight editions of the famous History of Quadrupeds, a book which has delighted the hearts of thousands, in days when smaller publications of the sort were mean and pitiful productions, inviting to smiles of derision where they should have instructed. Since those days book-making has steadily improved in all its branches, and the art of engraving has become more refined, a result which is in no small degree attributable to Bewick and his labours.

Prior to taking leave of the subject we must refer to what may be called curiosities," though this term will perhaps be objected to by the Bewick collector.

In the year 1818, 25 copies of the figures to the Quadrupeds were printed on demy 4to. paper, but without letterpress, and disposed of at two guineas each.

At the same time a few sets of proofs were taken off on white India paper. A second edition of these prints was issued in 1824, in 8vo. as well as 4to., and this contained a supplement in which numerous vignettes appeared. Both impressions were exceedingly limited, and the first edition is now so rare, that were a specimen to appear in the market, it would be bought up almost regardless of cost. There is no copy of this edition in the British Museum.

Bewick always seems to have considered that his engravings would be peculiarly acceptable to children, whose love of animals is generally a predominant feature; he therefore determined, after the first edition appeared, to take off a number of impressions of the animals upon strong laid paper, fit for colouring.

The labour and expense attending this enterprise was so great that he abandoned it, though not before he had completed one or two copies of a series of 99 engravings, which were coloured by his apprentices, as it is said, for his own children.

The possession of one of these copies is the corona, without which the largest and finest collection of Bewick's many works is necessarily incomplete.

Mr. Hugo once found a battered and ragged specimen in the possession of a woman, who had derived her infant ideas of lions and tigers from its wellthumbed leaves, and who refused to part with an old friend, though sorely and desperately pressed to do so.

How often is the enthusiastic Bibliophile thwarted when his hopes are just on the point of being realized; how often must he succumb to what he may consider to be nothing better than prejudice and obstinacy!

MILDEW, which shows itself in the form of roundish or irregular brown spots, cannot be cured, but its development may be effectually checked by thoroughly drying the volume and afterwards keeping it away from damp.

IN many cases the leather bindings of old books will be found to be dilapidated. Should they be broken, rubbed, or decayed, plaster the part with paste to fill up the crevices; then take the yolk of an egg, beat it up with a fork, and apply it to the leather with a sponge, having first cleansed it with a dry cloth. To produce a polished surface a hot iron must be passed over it.

THE remedy against oil stains is sulphuric ether. If the stains are extensive, roll up the leaf to be operated on and insert it in a flat-mouthed bottle, half full of the ether, and shake it quietly up and down for a brief period. On removal the stains will have vanished; the ether rapidly evaporates from the paper, and a little clear water is then all that is required.

IF it should be found advisable to remove stains of any kind from the interior or exterior of a book, observe that in the case of common writing ink, the best purifier is a mixture of spirits of salts and water in the proportion of one to six. A solution of chloride of lime is also good, and in both cases the part should subsequently be well washed with clean water. Grease or wax spots are easily removed, either by direct evaporation, which is accomplished by holding a hot iron close to the place affected, or by washing it with ether or benzine. To complete the latter process it is advisable to use the iron as in the former instance.