The volumes were soon returned in a resplendent state, and, it is said, quite to the satisfaction of his lordship, whose pleasure, however, was sadly damped when a friend pointed out to him that, although the discoloured edges had all been ploughed off, and the time-stained blanks, with their fifteenth century autographs, had been replaced by nice clean fly-leaves, yet, looking at the result in its lowest aspect only--that of market value--the books had been damaged to at least the amount of L500; and, moreover, that caustic remarks would most certainly follow upon their public exhibition.

Those poor injured volumes were never sent.
Some years ago one of the most rare books printed by Machlinia--a thin folio--was discovered bound in sheep by a country bookbinder, and cut down to suit the size of some quarto tracts.

But do not let us suppose that country binders are the only culprits.

It is not very long since the discovery of a unique Caxton in one of our largest London libraries.
It was in boards, as originally issued by the fifteenth-century binder, and a great fuss (very properly) was made over the treasure trove.

Of course, cries the reader, it was kept in its original covers, with all the interesting associations of its early state untouched?
No such thing! Instead of making a suitable case, in which it could be preserved just as it was, it was placed in the hands of a well-known London binder, with the order, "Whole bind in velvet." He did his best, and the volume now glows luxuriously in its gilt edges and its inappropriate covering, and, alas! with half-an-inch of its uncut margin taken off all round.