The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-03-16
COMMUNICATIONS.
The Private Libraries of Portland

EIGHTH PAPER.
To the Editor Of the Press;
Mr.. PHILIP III. BRowNs LIBRARY, is with
out doubt the most valuable OF any owned by
private gentleman in this city, as the larger
portion OF it consists of costly foreign illus
trated works, and of elegant and original edi-
tions of the standard English and French au-
thors, mostly arrayed in the choicest bindings.
Two large black walnut cases in Mr.. Browns
parlor, contain the works of A. Achard, Bal
zac, About, Beranger illustrated by Johannot,
Alexander Dumas, pere ct fills, Scarron, Emile
Souyestre, George sand, Paul Feyal, Lamar
tine, Alphonse Karr and Others.
r. Topifers wonderful illustrations OF His
toire D'Albert, LIE Docteur Festus, NJ. Crepin,
Les Voyages en- Zig Tag, MIR. Pencil aud NJ.
Vieux Bois. These are outline drawings or
sketches, done by hand of extraordinary
skill and genius, executed evidently with ra-
pidity, and yet the slightest dash Of the ar
fists pencil is expressive.
The Musee Francais in ten Syo. vols. Goethe's
works illustrated by Tony Johannot and j.
Wolf and an unusual collection of German IL
lustrations by Richter, Pletzsh and Others
Blacks Edinburgh edition of the Waverly
Novels, in full calf gilt.
Thomas Bewick's illustrated history of
British Birds, Newcastle 1909, and the history
of Quadrupeds Newcastle lSIl also Bewick's
life with numerous illustrations, by himself.
L. +. Dibdin's photographed tour, London,
1888, and the Bibliomania, London, lS42-
Jackson's History of Wood Engraving fully
illustrated, work which is now very scarce.
Rousseau's confessions and Nouyelle Heloise,
etc., illustrated by Tony Johannot; also toll
eraby complete collection of Gavarni's cele-
Fbrated carrieatures of society, among which is
to be found the .enfan's terribles.
The Library room adjons the parlor, and
is beautiful and cosy apartment The al
coves are constructed of chestnut wood, are
lettered and have glass doors. The ceiling is
arched, painted blue and studded with
golden stars, One may easily Imagine him
self in Heaven, while in such place. The
books are well-arranged, classified, and cata-
logued and number upwards OF 5000 volumes.
This number will, ere long, be doubled, as new
books are fast multiplying and Mr.. Brown is
liberal patron of the bookseller and publisher.
Sets of Periodicals, are also prominent fea-
ture of this Library. Some OF these are now
rare and connot be had except by the expen-
diture OF much time, as well as money. We
first observe complete set of Blackwood's
Edinburgh Magazine, bound in rich half calf
gilt, uniform and perfect copy in every way.
The Anti Jacobn complete, with the illustra-
tions by GilIray. The Train London, knights
Quarterly Magazine. The Etonian, Chambers
Edinburgh Journal, International Magazine,
Douglas Jerrold's Magazine, Frazer's Maga-
zine, The old Penny Magazine, Hewitt's, Corn
hill, The Punch original, The illustrated News
Art journal, aud are all complete and well
bound The most noted Of the American Pc
riodicals publications are Buckingham's
New England Magazine, The American Wing
Review, The Knickerbocker, Putnam, Allan
tic.
The beautifully illustrated works of ]. NJ.
w. Turner next claim our attention. The
River Scenery of England, The Harbors of
England The Southern Coast of England,
River Scenery Of France, Theo. Clarkson
Stanfeld's Views in France and Germany,
Views OH the Rhine Coast Scenery and Views
in the Br tish Channel, London 1886.
There are other finely illustrated works here
as The Poems on the Abolition of the Slave
Trade, London 1909, Engrayings by Smirke,
Goethe's Reynard the Fox, 1S46, Won Kaul-
bach's inimitable illustrations, Retch's out
lines of Shakespeare.
Shakespeare's Songs, Millions L'Alegro,
and Thompson's Season, illustrated by the
Etching Clubs of England and a set of the
illustrated Annals, large paper with designs
by Stanfeld, Turner, Creswick, Harding and
others. Mr.. Browns copy OF Hogarth is mag
niflcent and unique. 1t is an elephant folio
and the plates are equal to proofs, being early
impressions carefully preserved, no doubt by
some artist and inserted. This work is worth
two hundred dollars. The complete works of
james Gillray, the great caricaturist, in two
large folios is great attraction of the library.
These are chiefly of political character, and
are so broad in design that they would scarcely
be tolerated in this fastidious age.
The works of the wonderful modern French
artist, Gustaye Dore, find an enthusiastic and
appreciatiye admirer in Mr.. Brown, and he
has all of his latest and best efforts which are
La Legende de Croquemitane, Leo Aventures
du Baron Munchausen, LIE Juif Errant, His
tore du Capt Castagnette, Dante's L'Enfer,
Chateaubriand's Atala and Don Quichotte
this latter work is causing much excitement
in the art world from the originality and ex-
traordinary genius displayed in the designs.
Besides these Mr.. b. has large number OF
French Juveniles illustrated by the same ver-
satile artist. English literature for the past
two hundred years is exceedingly well repre-
sented here by the original and best editions
of the popular writers for that period. We
may note in the first place Pickering's fine
editions Of the works of Francis Bacon, and
also a fine set of the Aldine edition of the
Poets, Sir John Stockings works, London
1896, Charles Cotton's genuine poetical works
containing Virgil Travestie, a l6 mo-, London,
1884, it has curious old plates, Tom Browns
works, serious and comical in prose and verse,
London l7l5, The histories and novels of,
Mrs. Alpha Behn, London IT'S, Hudibras,
with the original engravings by VIM. Hogarth,
Anthony Hamilton's Memoirs of Count
Grammont, London 1714, with marginal notes,
valuable biographical facts in the handwriting
of the period. The Works of Soame Jenyns
London 1898, vo., Peter Pindar's works,
London 1901, 5 vols, DR.. Samuel johnson 5
writings and an original copy of his rare
tract Taxation no Tyranny, see D'Israels
curiosities of Literature, Henry Mackenzies
complete works, Edinburgh 1903, s vols,
Joseph Ritson's elegant publications of King
Arth Iy..<.i A l..l~ Dat.s 1NI
other ballads, Thomas Amory's life of John
Buncle, Prowett's nice edition of this "Unita-
rian Novel" as it is sometimes called, a beau
tiful copy in foolscap of Clarendon's History
of the Rebellion, w. II. Ainsworth's writings
illustrated by Geo. Cruikshank, John Gilbert
and II. K. Browne, Charles Dickens works
original editions with the illustrations by