[Several editions of the Bible were printed in the early part of the
sixteenth century at Lyons, some of them ornamented with cuts from
designs similar to those of Holbein. Two or three from the press of
Mareschall are in the British Museum. We believe there were no Bibles
printed at Lyons in which it was acknowledged that the cuts were
designed by Holbein. The following notice of the monogram occurs in
_Dictionnaire des Monogrammes_, par F. Bruilliot, part i. p. 421., No.
3208.: "Cette marque, dont on ne connait pas la signification, se
trouve sur une copie d'une gravure en bois de Jean Springinklee,
representant l'enfant Jesus couche a terre, entoure de trois anges, et
adore par St. Joseph et par la Ste. Vierge. A droite au travers d'une
fenetre pres d'une colonne on remarque le boeuf et l'ane, et au milieu
du fond deux bergers dont l'un ote son chapeau. La marque est au bas a
gauche pres de l'habit de St. Joseph. Bartsch decrit l'original, _P.
Gr._ t. vii. p. 328., No. 51."]
_Heraldic Query._--Can you help me towards ascertaining the date and
meaning of the following device, which I find upon an old picture-frame,
the portrait once inclosed in which has long since been destroyed?
On a disk, of about six inches in diameter, are engraved the royal arms of
Great Britain, without the harp, but with the Scots lion. You will at once
perceive the peculiarity of this bearing, the harp and the lion having been
added at the same time by James I. The leopards occupy the first quarter,
the ground of which is semeed with _hearts_; the Scots lion the second, his
feet resting upon a quaint band, which seems to occupy the place of the
usual bordure. The three fleurs-de-lis, very much broadened, and taking
almost the shape of crowns, occupy the places of the third and fourth
quarters.
The only instance I can find of a single lion or leopard appearing upon a
coin without the harp, is a coin (a half-florin) of Edward III., on the
obverse of which appears a leopard crowned, with a banner of the arms of
England fastened to his neck, and flowing back upon his shoulder.