The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-13 00:00:00

OLD AND NEW BOOKS.

OF books, as of pictures, it is often true that the
old is more valuable than the new. The mere fact
that a volume was printed many years ago is suffi-
cient to render it exceedingly valuable in the esti-
mation of many worthy and opulent men. Its
contents may be worthless or even improper. Book
collectors are all the more eager to acquire it, if,
in addition to being very old, it is also very
unreadable. In some cases a blunder will
eve a source of wealth. Copies of the Scrip-
tures containing obvious, but unintentional
misprints are literally worth their weight
in gold. The desire to obtain rare
and curious editions of old books is not so con-
spicuously manifested now as it was several years
ago, when Earl SPENCER was famous as a biblio-
maniac , and DIBDIN recorded the praises of those who
rquandered their substance in hunting after unique
copies of printed works. But if the mania of
noblemen for purchasing books be less conspicuous
in these days than for betting on horse races, it is
still manifested in several quarters, and still receives
due consideration at the hands of those who at
once encourage and profit by the malady. Mr.
Quanrrcu is well known among those who
delight to collect books they rarely peruse.
He has just published a catalogue which illus-
trates the changes in literary taste, as well as fur-
nishes information of value to those for whose
benefit it has been compiled. We find on referring
to it that the prices of old books are much lower
than they were when bibliomanis was in fashion,
while new books are to be had at a large reduction
on the publishing price, such an work, for exam-
ple, as the " Maker pieces of Industrial Art " at
the Exhibition of 1862, which originally cost
26/. 12s. 6d., being now obtainable for
7/. 10e. On the other hand, if any one
desires to possess the first edition of " John-
" son's Dictionary," he must pay 2/. 10s., a stun
less by nearly one-half than the same work sold
for in 1840, yet, in our opinion, quite 88 much as
it is worth. This is a fair specimen of the books
which are sought after, not because of their worth,
but on account of their eccentricity. The happy
possessors of them may read, for instance, " Excise,
" a hateful tax upon the commodities, and ad-
" judged not by the common judges of property,
" but wretches hired by those to whom excise is
" paid;" " Lexicographer, sharmlese drudge," and
other things of like importance, which the editors
of subsequent editions have suppressed. Some-
times the recommendation appears to resemble a
warning rather than an encouragement. Thus, of
an " Heroic poem to the Duke of York," it is said,
" the poem is remarkable only for its disgusting
" servility." Now, some persons would hardly feel
disposed to give twelve shillings for such a pro-
duotion, yet that which may deter them may be
an attraction to others. Neither should we
regard a copy of the London Gazette, cos-
aiding of more than one hundred volumes,
" a great bargain " at 30/., notwithstanding
that the original price was about MI.; still,
others may think it an attractive and interesting
work which should have a place in every gentleman's
library. there are, of course, many works in this
catalogue of great importance; but, on the whole,
the monetary, seems out of proportion to the in-
trinsic value. It is a companion, but not a rival
volume to that published by Mr. H. G. Bow(
in 1841. .The latter has never been matched as a
catalogue of old books. Notwithstanding the
taunts that are levelled against the collectors of
" large paper," " tall," and " unique" copies
of books, those who indulge in this pursuit do no
harm to their neighbours, and are, &flout, as de-
serving of eulogy as the sportsmen who amuse
themselves by bunting foxes or shooting game. A
bibliomaniae is the most praiseworthy azdong fana-
tics. - -