Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 10.djvu/328

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9* s. x. OCT. is, 1902.

of the Haarlem -Mentz controversy on the pre- cedence of Dutch or German typography, and a chapter on the evolution of the type mould. These are illustrated by facsimiles, and constitute the most original portion of the work.

One section is devoted to the water-marks in the incunabula which have come under the author's observation. Facsimiles of autograph letters and historical documents and of the rarest historical broadsides from A. D. 1553 to 1803 are supplied. Great interest centres in the section illustrating the use of fireworks for war and recreation, many of the pictures of the use of petards, fire machines, and the like being remarkably nai've and curious. Fac- similes are also given of a unique collection of fire- work displays. Special attention is challenged by the coloured illustrations of liisus natures, in the shape of mineral objects bearing strange resem- blance to human beings and other objects. These are held to have antedated by incalculable periods the evolution of the animated beings which they resemble. They are not mimetic, but proleptic. Mr. Hodgkin, whose collection of them is supposed to be the most important in existence, now owns all those which, as the pro- perty of Mr. Beresford-Hope, were exhibited at the South Kensington Museum. Twenty-two of these remarkable objects are reproduced in facsimile by the three-colour process, and constitute a note- worthy feature in the book. The author also supplies an excursus on notices by early writers of similar productions. Engravings in mezzotint and line fall under many separate headings as portraits of re- markable characters, early historical and satirical prints, maps and views of London, early and late, tickets of admission to theatres, &c., and innumerable other things, including a collection of portraits of drawing masters. Papal indulgences are both printed and in MS. Early English newspapers begin with the first issues, A.D. 1622. Coins, traders' tokens, old English pottery, objects in pewter (the taste for which is reviving) and in horn, are repre- sented, and there is an account of a remarkable assemblage (the largest in the country) of "beautiful objects decorated by marquetry in coloured straw a fabrique which has hitherto failed to receive the attention it deserves." Long as seems this catalogue, it comes far short of exhausting the objects of interest described or depicted, and it takes no count whatever of the historical docu- ments, which are, perhaps, the pride of the col- lection. It is, however, enough to show how impossible it is to deal adequately with a work every chapter of which might claim more notice than we can give to the whole. The work is offered by subscription, and there must be scores of readers who will desire to possess and feed at leisure upon its contents. To collectors it is invaluable, and students of early arts, crafts, and inventions will find in its perusal a constant source of delight. It is naturally a work de luxe, and its designs many of them by Mr. Hodgkin its paper, printing, and ornamentation generally constitute it one of the most covetable of objects. No long time, it may safely be assumed, will pass before the owners of the volumes pride themselves on their possession, and watch with a tempered jubilation the prices realized by the copies which find their way into the saleroom.

WE have received a Bibliography of the Town of Heywood, compiled by Mr. John Albert Green

(Heywood, Advertiser Office). It will be found a useful book of reference, not only by the inhabitants of Heywood itself, but also by those who dwell in the neighbouring towns, and students of what we may call we hope without offence the obscurer literature of the vicinity. It contains a catalogue not only of Heywood books, but also of speeches, lectures, and sermons which have from time to time been reported in the local newspapers, but have not, so far as is known, been reissued in pamphlet form. Such a collection must of necessity be imperfect, but we have here a firm foundation on which to build. The list of Heywood newspapers, periodicals, and catalogues of important sales will be found of service, though here also perfection can- not have been reached in a first edition.

THE Idler has changed hands, and is now edited for Messrs. Chatto & Windus by Mr. Robert Barr. It is enlarged and improved, and begins a complete and trustworthy account of ' The Humbert-Crawford Swindle.'

THE premature death of Mr. Lionel Johnson is a loss to literature. He was not, so far as we know, a contributor to our columns, though members or his family were, and still happily are. Three volumes in all, together with journalistic contri- butions, represent his literary baggage. These are ' The Art of Thomas Hardy ' (1894), ' Poems ' (1895), and 'Ireland, with other Poems ' (1897). Mr. John- son was born at Broadstairs in March, 1867, and was educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford. He furnished an example (unfortunately not too common in these days) of cultivated jour- nalism.

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