The British Museum was not founded until the middle of the eighteenth century, and the Library attached to the institution may therefore be considered as modern by the side of the National Libraries of some of the countries of the Continent.

From one point of view, however, it would be a mistake to consider the Library of the British Museum as a modern one, for the Royal Library containing the collections of our Kings and Queens from Henry VII. downwards was added to the other collections of the British Museum by Letters Patent of George II. in 1759.

This is not the place to treat of the Library of the British Museum as a whole, and it is only necessary here to point to its distinguished position as containing a most magnificent collection of historical bindings. The Old Royal Library possesses a matchless series of English bindings such as can be seen nowhere else. Whatever artistic talent existed in the country was sure to be enlisted in the service of our kings and queens, most of whom seem to have exhibited considerable taste in the decoration of their books.

The English binder has hitherto been too much ignored, and it is to be hoped that the publication of so many fine examples of his handiwork in this volume will help to place him in his proper position in the history of the art.