It had been discovered
that certain classes of books were the necessary furniture of every
gentleman's library. If a man of quality built a mansion he would expect
to find a book-room and a quantity of shelves; it was a simple matter
further on to order so many yards of folios or octavos, all in red
morocco, with the coat of arms stamped in gold. Such collections, said La
Bruyere, are like a picture-gallery with a strong smell of leather: the
owner is most polite in showing off 'the gold leaves, Etruscan bindings,
and fine editions'; 'we thank him for his kindness, but care as little as
himself to visit the tan-yard which he calls his library.' We must not
forget the financier Bretonvilliers, who about the year 1657 determined
to become a bibliophile, and so far succeeded that some of his local
books on Lorraine were purchased for the National Library. He first built
a Hotel, not far from the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, with a large gallery
in which with infinite pains he built up a magnificent book-case; the
contents were of less importance; but he succeeded after a time in
filling it with books stamped with his new device of an eagle holding the
olive-branch.
One or two of the more serious collectors may be noticed before we pass
to the great age of Rothelin and La Valliere. Henri du Bouchet had
gathered about eight thousand books, all very well chosen, according to
the testimony of the Pere Jacob; on his death in 1654 he bequeathed them
to the Abbey of St.
Pages:
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188