2 
DEPARTMENT OF PRINTED BOOKS, [GROUND 
books collected by Mr. Robert Morrison, from the Secretary 
of State for the Foreign Department (1846). 
In the rooms containing the Grenville and the King's 
libraries, fourteen table-cases are arranged for the exhibition 
of some of the choicest objects of interest in the Library. 
The selection has been made with a view, first to place 
before the eyes of the visitor specimens of what are called 
" Block-Books," or books printed from wooden blocks — those 
very rare productions which immediately preceded the inven- 
tion of Printing with moveable metal types, and which, in all 
probability, led up to it. Next, to exhibit specimens of the 
earliest and most remarkable productions of the art of Printing, 
properly so called ; in Germany commencing with what is 
usually regarded as the first Printed Book, namely, the Great 
Bible, printed at Mentz by Gutenberg and Fust, and be- 
lieved to have been finished in the year 1455, although begun, 
no doubt, earlier. Further, to exhibit similar specimens of 
the productions of the Printing Press in Italy, France, the 
Low Countries and England. 
These are followed by examples of fine and sumptuous 
printing ; of books with Illuminations, and with wood or 
copperplate Illustrations ; of books containing remarkable 
Autographs ; examples of " Broadsides;" of books which may 
be regarded as Typographical and Literary Curiosities ; and, 
finally, by examples of rich, elegant and curious book-binding. 
The Block-Books are exhibited in Table- Cases I. and II. in 
the Grenville Library. 
The Block-Books were principally of a religious character, 
and were, no doubt, intended to aid in the instruction of the 
people according to the theology of the period. They were 
printed on one side of the leaf only, and were executed chiefly 
in Holland, Flanders and Germany during the first three- 
quarters of the fifteenth century. The wood-cut engravings 
in some of these productions are exceedingly beautiful. 
In the series here exhibited attention is particularly directed 
to the following : — 
Case I. 
1. Biblia Pauperum, or Bible of the Poor, once a popular manual of 
