An Essay in the History of Gold-Tooled
Bindings by Herbert P. Horne
London 1894
Roman Academy, to get from all places the most excellent Books, and to adorn them with gold,
purple, and all manner of neat and curious workmanship, by such excellent Workmen, as lived in
his house; and had diligently perused them all: his greatest care in the next place was to travel
all Europe over,' to acquaint himself with both ancient and modern civilisation, • and from thence
carry home as much as he could, to treasure up in his Library.' From these travels, Peireskius,
and his brother Valavesius, brought home with them so great a collection of whatever was rare
and excellent, that 'all men, of whatever Rank or Nation, that were studious of great and rare
things, came thither to see him, and his most renowned Study.' • Also new things were
continually brought him, not only from all parts of Europe, but from Asia, Africa, India, and the
new World': and others 'were daily sent him, from choyse men dwelling in the principal Cities
and Haven-Towns of those Provinces; who were by him imployed with all their diligence, to
procure such things, to his infinite charge and ex pence. And because those Men, with all their
Art and Industry, could not fully satisfie Peireskius, he oftentimes sent others from his own
House, into all the Islands of the lEge an Sea, to the Mountain Atho, to Constantinople,
Alexandria, and those miserable Reliques of Memphis, and Carthage: who for him, and with his
money, should seek to procure, besides other Rarities, chiefly, the ancientest Books in the
Greek, Hebrew, Arabick, Persian, Coptick, and lEthiopian Languages.' 'In which practise of his,
verily, he seems with a mind truly royal, to have imitated the care of those ancient Kings of
Pergamus, and Alexandria; as also of our France, in the magnificent setting forth of their
Libraries. And to this his Shop and Store-house, of wisdom and vertue, Peireskius did not only
courteously admit all Travellers, studious of Art and Learning, opening to them all the Treasures
of his Library; but he would keep them there a long time, with free and liberal entertainment;
and at their departure, would give them Books, Coins, and other things,