Portrait collectors have destroyed many books by abstracting
the frontispiece to add to their treasures, and when once
a book is made imperfect, its march to destruction is rapid.
This is why books like Atkyns' "Origin and Growth of Printing,"
4o, 1664, have become impossible to get.
When issued, Atkyns' pamphlet had a fine frontispiece, by Logan,
containing portraits of King Charles II, attended by Archbishop
Sheldon, the Duke of Albermarle, and the Earl of Clarendon. As
portraits of these celebrities (excepting, of course, the King)
are extremely rare, collectors have bought up this 4o tract of Atkyns',
whenever it has been offered, and torn away the frontispiece to adorn
their collection.
This is why, if you take up any sale catalogue of old books,
you are certain to find here and there, appended to the description,
"Wanting the title," "Wanting two plates," or "Wanting the last page."
It is quite common to find in old MSS., especially fifteenth century,
both vellum and paper, the blank margins of leaves cut away.
This will be from the side edge or from the foot, and the
recurrence of this mutilation puzzled me for many years.
It arose from the scarcity of paper in former times, so that when
a message had to be sent which required more exactitude than could
be entrusted to the stupid memory of a household messenger,
the Master or Chaplain went to the library, and, not having
paper to use, took down an old book, and cut from its broad
margins one or more slips to serve his present need.
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