He writes
from Milan in the year 1519: 'I am thinking every day about sending you
the "Budaeus" for publication in your most elegant style. You must add to
your former favours by being very diligent in bringing out my friend's
book, of which I now send you the manuscript revised and corrected by the
author. You must take the greatest care, dear Francis, to present it to
the public in an accurate shape, and this indeed I must beg and implore.
I want beauty and refinement besides; but this we shall get from your
choice paper, unworn type, and breadth of margin. In a word, I want to
have it in the same style as your "Politian." If all this extra luxury
should put you to loss, I will make it good. I am most anxious that
the manuscript should be followed exactly, without any change or
addition; and so, my dear Francis, fare you well.' The book appeared with
a dedication to Grolier himself, in which Francis of Asola recounts the
many favours received by the elder Aldus in his lifetime, by himself, and
by his father Andreas. The presentation copy was magnificently printed on
vellum, with initials in gold and colours. Grolier inscribed it with his
name and device, so that it became easy to verify its subsequent history.
It appeared among the books of the Prince de Soubise, and belonged
afterwards to the Count Macarthy, and in 1815 was bought by Mr. Payne and
transferred to the Althorp Library.
[Illustration: BINDING EXECUTED FOR GROLIER.]
Grolier's books were generally stamped with the words '_et Amicorum_'
immediately after his name, to indicate as we suppose that they were the
common property of himself and his friends, although it has been
suggested that he was referring to his possession of duplicates.
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