Note 3 — EXPLANATORY LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOLUME I. (continued 3)
Henry Yule translation
I have made personal enquiry at the National Libraries of Naples and Palermo, at the Communal Library in the latter city, and at the Benedictine Libraries of Monte Cassino, Monreale, S. Martino, and Catania.
In the 15th century, when Polo’s book had become more generally diffused we find three copies of it in the Catalogue of the Library of Charles VI. of France, made at the Louvre in 1423, by order of the Duke of Bedford.
The estimates of value are curious. They are in sols parisis, which we shall not estimate very wrongly at a shilling each:—
“No. 295. Item. Marcus Paulus; en ung cahier escript de lettre formée, en françois, à deux coulombes. Commt. ou iie. fo. ‘deux frères prescheurs,’ et ou derrenier ‘que sa arrières.’ X. s. p.
***
“No. 334. Item. Marcus Paulus. Couvert de drap d’or, bien escript & enluminé, de lettre de forme en françois, à deux coulombes. Commt. ou iie. fol.; ‘il fut Roys,’ & ou derrenier ‘propremen,’ à deux fermouers de laton. XV. s. p.
***
“No. 336. Item. Marcus Paulus; non enluminé, escript en françois, de lettre de forme. Commt. ou iie. fo. ‘vocata moult grant,’ & ou derrenier ‘ilec dist il.’ Couvert de cuir blanc, à deux fermouers de laton. XII. s. p.”
(Inventaire de la Bibliothèque du Roi Charles VI., etc. Paris, Société des Bibliophiles, 1867.)