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NOTES AND QUERIES. 112 s. v. A., in

ancient records accessible to the general reader. It is requested that anyone interested in this matter, who would assist in the formation of such a Society, should communicate with one of the undersigned : M. DORMER HARRIS, 16 Gaveston Road, Leaming- ton : FREDK. C. WELLSTOOD, Shakespeare's Birth- place, Stratford-upon-Avon.

BOOKSELLERS' CATALOGUES.

WE have just received from Messrs. Maggs Bros, another of their fine Catalogues, namely, No. 380, entitled ' Manuscripts and Early Printed Books.' This profusely illustrated Catalogue contains 36 full-page reproductions of items therein. It is divided into four parts : Part I. Manuscripts ; Part II. Incunables ; Part III. Illustrated Books of the Sixteenth Century ; Part IV. Aldine Press, and other Rare Books or the Sixteenth Century.

One of the most interesting manuscripts is doubt- less a French Bible, in 3 vols., written on parchment, and richly illuminated, which comes from the library of Diana de Poitier. Diana de Poitier was the contemporary and perhaps the rival of Grolier as a book collector. It was the suggestion of Diana de Poitier that one copy of every book to which the royal privilege was extended should be printed on vellum and handsomely bound, and deposited in the Royal library. This edict was issued by Henry II. in 1556, but Diana was assuredly at the bottom of it. Several reproductions from this manuscript are given, showing us how interesting the French art of the middle of the fifteenth cen- tury was. It is a curious fact that both the arms of Aymar de Poitier, the grandfather of Diana de Poitier, and Diana de Poitier's arms are to be found on most of the miniatures, including the motto " Et puis hola." An English Manuscript Chronicle, writteu by an English scribe, upon a roll of vellum, measuring 20ft. 5 in. long by 12 in. wide, with illuminated border and ornamental genealogical tree, is a valuable early historical manuscript. It was presumably completed before 1465, the year in which King Edward IV. was married to Elizabeth Woodvill. Another Chronicle of Kneland, written in French by an English scribe of the fourteenth century, appears at item 1682, arid is a French version of Le Brut, similar to that in the British Museum. Item 1691 of the Catalogue is a Twelfth-Century Medical Manu- script, also written by an English scribe, in Latin, in the first half of the twelfth century in England, on vellum. This must be of high im- portance to a student in medicine.

Many important manuscripts with miniatures complete Part I. of the Catalogue.

Time and space prevent our dealing at present with the other three Parts, but we propose to comment upon them in our next issue.

MESSRS. MYERS & Co., 59 High Holborn,have issued a Clearance Catalogue of Scarce and Interest- ing Books, Autograph Letters, &c,, containing a number of items relating to America ; the Edition de Luxe of the Lea and Dove Edition of Walton's Angler in morocco extra, Ql. 6s. ; Sir H. Wotton's Elements of Architecture, 1624, 4Z. 15s.; Sanderus's Chorographia Sacra Brabantise, 1659-95, 41. 4s. ; Book of Common Prayer, with arms of Charles I. on sides, 4L 10s. ; Dickens's Oliver Twist, first octavo edition, original cloth, 51. 10s. ; Koempher's Japan, 1727, 51. 10s. ; Pettus on Metals, 1683, 4Z. 4s. ; Tom

Brown's Works, 1730, 2Z. 2s ; Churchill's Poe first collected edition, 1763-65. in a beautiful C temporary English binding, Ul. ; Milton's Para< Regained, 1671, very fine copy of the first edit: 211. ; Prelleur's Modern Music Master, the very i first edition of 1730, SI. 8s. ; Complete set of Catl Indian Portfolio, 1844, 181. 10s. ; a number of old morocco bindings, and many scarce and ou the way items relating to Freemasonry, Irela Law, Medicine, Shakespeariana, &c., &c. Man the works in this catalogue come from the family library of the Cotton family at Comberm and have either their arms on the sides, or armorial bookplate inside the covers.

CSbituarn.

RICHARD WELFORD.

THE death of Mr. Richard Welford, M.A. Gosforth. near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on June last, at the age of 83 years, removes from amor us an old and valued contributor to ' N. & His first contribution was sent in Janui 1891, his last in 1915. Durine: the interver years he sent about two hundred and fourt separate contributions to ' N. & Q.' Mr. V ford was a native of Upper Hollowav, but brought up in the village of Hadderiham, Buckinghamshire. He went to Newcastle in 1! a little while before he reached the age of 18 yei and resided there for the rest of his life. Aft< very strenuous ten years' apprenticeship to j< nalism and literary work generally, which star on the lowest rung of the ladder, he adopte< commercial career. In this he was highly succ' ful ; but it is by his labours as an historian antiquary, a biographer, and a bibliographer t he is best known. His chief works are ' A Hist of the Parish of Gosforth,' 1879; 'A Descripi and Historical Account of the Monuments in Church of St. Nicholas, Newcastle-npon-Ty: 1880; 'History of Newcastle and Gateshead in Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventee Centuries,' 1884-7 ; ' Men of Mark 'Twixt T and Tweed.' 1895 ; ' Early Newcastle Typograp &c. An obituary notice o/ Mr. Welford was r at the July meeting of the Newcastle Society Antiquaries bv Mr. John Oxberry, who said t when Mr. Welford passed away the North of 5 land saw the end of an eminently useful career, the friends who knew him bade farewell t charming personality.

ON all communications must be written the n and address of the sender, not necessarily for r, lication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

WE cannot undertake to answer queries pri vat but we will forward advance proofs of &nsv received if a shilling is sent with the que nor can we advise correspondents as to the vs of old books and other objects or as to the meam disposing of them.

CORRIGENDA. C' Three Black Crows'): A\ p. 160. col. 1, 1. 28 from foot, J. G. T. Grosse she be "Grasae." (" Scotchman's Post "): p.! col. 1, 1. 17 from foot, Arran should be "Annan.