£010 FOR A BIBLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12269, 13 May 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

£010 FOR A BIBLE.

INTERESTING OLD BOOKS UNDER THE HAMMER, A most interesting library— of Sir Thomas Gibson - Garmichael, whose arttreasures were disposed of in May last —is in process of being " dispersed by auction." " Sotheby's" was filled with an interested crowd of book-lovers and dealers participating in the sale of the hrsfof five instalments of the collection. "Lot 58" was the most important, and after keen competition Mr. Quaritch secured a well-preserved manuscript copy of a Latin Bible for £610. It dates from the thirteenth century, and probably represents the life-work of some old monk.

At the beginning of each book there is a miniature representation of some episode referred to in the ensuing chapters. These miniatures are marvellously painted, the groundwork being of thickly applied goldleaf. The figures are very quaint, and all the men are endowed by the mediaeval artist with a curious fringe of whiskers. Two hundred and forty-four pounds was the price realised by a vellum manuscript of one of Boccaccio's works, containing fprfy richly-illuminated illustrations. Sir Thomas Gibson-Camiichael was a great admirer of Burns, for the Scottish poet was well represented in manuscript and print at the sale. A presentation copy of " Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect" (which fetched £187), attracted great attention because it had a long autograph inscription on the fly-leaf to John McMurdo, Esquire. In, the course of the inscription Burns wrote : — " However inferior now or afterwards I may rank as a Poet; an honest" virtue to which few Poets can pretend, I trust j I shall ever claim as mine;—to no man ; whatever his station in life, or his Power ; to serve me, have I ever paid a compliment jat the Expence of Truth. The Author."