broken up many of them and they can, at much saving of time, be found in portfolios of steel engravings at a small price apiece. Of course it is desirable to obtain proof impressions on India paper if possible. But as the search by the lover of prints is not conducted with the hope for future gain, and as proofs are not easily met with, he will lay aside all aspirations as to rare states and content himself with the relics of the dead art of steel engraving as he finds it—and be thankful.
We reproduce two illustrations showing in varying degrees the extraordinary delicacy and the fine artistic feeling exhibited in these minor illustrations of a forgotten age of books. The uppermost is one from many exquisite headpieces appearing in a "Book of Gems," published in 1836. The subject is entitled Psyche, after Beechey, and was engraved by Greatbach. Beneath it on the page are lines from Ben Jonson's "Masque at Court," telling of the search of Venus for Cupid, who has strayed away among mortals. The engraving of Cromer is from Finden's "Ports and Harbours of Great Britain," published in 1842. This was executed by E. Finden, after T. Creswick. The subject is treated in a picturesque manner, most of the others in the same book in two volumes are more topographical than romantic. It remained for Turner to throw a halo of poetry over our coast scenery and to inspire a band of engravers to translate his dreams into the silvery medium of steel engraving, but this engraving of Cromer, although far removed from him and them, is crisp and sweetly suggestive
