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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades: the time of Charles I for a princely household. Fortunately it
was among the rescued, and is now in a private library.
In 1854 a very interesting series of blue books was commenced
by the authorities of the Patent Office, of course paid for out
of the national purse. Beginning with the year 1617 the particulars
of every important patent were printed from the original specifications
and fac-simile drawings made, where necessary, for the elucidation
of the text. A very moderate price was charged for each,
only indeed the prime cost of production. The general public,
of course, cared little for such literature, but those interested
in the origin and progress of any particular art, cared much,
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