New-York tribune., 1870-05-09
AMONG THE BOOKSELLERS.

II s said that jeff. Davis is writing novel which
relates to Mexican affairs.
F. O'Shea has in press translation of Lacordaire's
Conferences of Notre Dame" in one large volume.
Roberts Brothers have nearly ready the reprint of
RoSsetti's poems from which weihave already given
some specimens
ID. Appleton & Co. have in press a volume of Lay
Sermons by Prof. Huxley; Primitive Man, by
Louis Figuier and The Origin of Civilization and
Primitive Condition of Man" by Sir John Lubbock
Hawthorne's English Notebooks" will be pub
lished 10y Fields, 0sgood & Co. on the 4th OF June
They will make two volumes uniform in style with
Hawthornes other works
Lippincott & Co. have in press a volume OF poems
by Paymaster Il. b. Rodney, u. S.N; 1.-The Virginia
Tourist" by L. A. Pollard and collection OF snort
stories by Harriet Prescott Spofiord, Alice Cary, I'
{. Davis, Jane q. Austin, and other popular "li'e'
Sheldon & Co. viii soon publish two editions OF
"Put Yourself in His Place" one in octave 1orii'
with Illustrations, the other to match the boston
uorsobold rdition. Theodore Tiltons long promised
"Sanctum Sanctorum' and "a new book by Mt. spur
geon entitled Feathers for Arrows''
Nature. for April H. has article on the Solar
Fchpse Of next December, an abstract OF paper by
Keith Johnston, jr. on THE Sources Of the Nlle,"
illustrated with map, and variety of miscellaneous
scientific correspondence OF more IMAM oluih'hH
interest Iii fact this excellent perlodicai always
contains an abundance OF valuable and attractive
matter suitable for many different tastes.
The June number of Lippincotfs Magazine will con-
tain an article on "Paraguayand the Lopez Family"
bv H. Hargrave. The June number of The Cathohc
Uord has for its leader elaborate and severe re-
view of Froude The Nav number of The Rddodt,
which is "A month late, promisesisone pages on WAIT
Whitman by an English lady, which MI. W NJ hos
seti introducing them to the American pubic, cails
about the fullest faTtheSt-reachlng, and most eo-
ouent appreciation Of Whitman yetput into writing
The last three volumes of Fields, Osgood &
Co.'S illustrated library edition of Thackeray's
novels including The Newcomes," The Ad-
ventures of Philip" and Henry Esmond'
hshed during May and June The other an
Reades Put Yourself in His Place which is pub
hshed by arrangement with Sheldon ~ Co, as part
of the Household Edition Of Reades novels; the see
ond volume of Mr. Bryant IS translation OF the lhad
"The Naturalist's Guide by &. j. Maynard and
"The Seat of Empire" by G. G. Coffin. The record of
Prof. AgaSsiz Journey in Brazil Is nearly ready
for publication. 1t includes Treatise on the Geo
loCy and PHYSICAL Geography of the Atlantic Prov
inces of Brazil by Prof. Hartt, of Cornell Unlver-
sity, and has about 100 illustrations and maps.
The North German Correspondent of Berlin contains
the following curious statement:
The last number of a transatlantic publication, called
lmans American JournGl surprised us with the news
that the valuable library Of Alexander Won Humboldt
IA
generally supposed but has been with great care pre-
served intact up TO the present day. The complete col
SION of Mr.. stsyens of vermont resident in London
who purchased the library shortly after Humboldts de,
in the journal have named and he adds that
not onethrd of the 1900 volumes OF which the Goec
scum. The pecuiary value OF the library he says is
mnch greater than Humboidt himself % seemed % 70 ne
titng from Herr ]. LOwenberg, who pronounces the
whole affair TO be a "humbug," emanating probably
from an I'M
mentioned gentleman gives us the following interesting
particulars regarding the library which belonged IL
Humboldt and its fate after the death OF the eminent
This collection comprehended besides MAPS, engrav
ings. medals, diplomas, astronomical and philosophical
Instruments &c-about 1900 and not H. 600 volumes-the
greatly overesmated The fortunate heir to the person
aty Of deceased found want Of tutors to supply
the newspapers with sensational notices about Its sale.
First it the corporation OF Berlin then the Prince
Regent Prussia m present Majesty) and then again
wealthy Englishman or American who was DESIGNATED
the intended purchaser and 1t was confidently as
serted that $1,000 thrs had been offered and refused
At length in summer of 1860 the library was bought
by the Berlin publishers and booksellers, Messrs Asher
Coz for 10000 thlrs and sent TO London from winch 1t
Has forwarded, on account Of other parties, to New
York The civil war had In the mean time broken out IN
the United states, and there little prospact of
nnding purchaser OF the whole collection 1t was
solved TO dispose Of the books by public auction.
catalogue printed which, however as is customary
III such matters contained the titles of large number
of books that had never formed part OF Hnmboldts
t Ie t Ti tS o9 ,T, occry in Iunc isS5 and was
soon after the subject Of article in The quarterly Re
uiCV. What books OF Humboldt had escaped the disas
ter, by being previously purchased and removed from
The premises, has never been dscertaled."
Toe writer on 10 say that Humboldt, on returning
fr nm Paris 10 Berlin i'm s brou glt VERY few books with
him. he had the greater part Of his collec
ton Ia friends before leaving the French capital The
library he gradually formed in Berlin from that period
the year OF his death Qo) consisted chiefly OF books
presented him by authors and publishers for the
pose of obtaining from the customary few lines of
thanks, which, dOugn OF course purely private and per
sOual too often uIscTpulOusy published rs recon
I've supposed, only first volumes 1t Is true the col
lection contained many works of great value suc for
example, the ChdieOgrdie du Musee Royal in IS vol
umes, great elephant size, which was present 10 the
philosopher from King Louis Philippe The copy still
eXtan in the Louvre is believed TO be the only equal
to that of Humboldt in elegance and perfection. Still,
the writer the peculary value OF the cOlec
ton has been greatly exaggerated and when he adds
that he himself prepared the catalogue after Humboldts
DEATH must admit that one Is better qualified TO
give opinion Several OF the books, he adds, con
tanned short literary biographical, critical Observa
nOns the margin in the handwriting of the great
thinker but however precious they might have been To
scholar, il would have been impossible to assign To
flatt cnl lar VAL mo in