The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-23
NEW YORKy PRIVATE LIBRARIES
The Book Collectors and C0Ilec-
lions Of the Metropolis.
SPECIAL" AND MISCELLANEOUS. !"
Lawyers, Ministers, Doctors, Merchants, Jour-
nalists, Actors, &c., as Book Buyers.
A Curious and Interesting Exhibit Of
tho Intellectual Taste Of
New Workers.

1nO AuV0uSctu61 x86C0 OF
New Yorkers
asserttve city, selfconscious. not to say, con-
ceited metropolis; but there Is one point at least
in reference TO which New York is really modest,
too modest by hail. and in which It's real merits
are undersladOwed. Alluston is here mado to the
literary and intellectual character OF the me.
tropoLs. Ia this regard New York has been con-
stantly and persistently "crowed oyern BY Boston;
and yet In point OF fact at least as books and
libraries can be regarded as evidences OF intelec-
tuality, New York is in advance OF any other city
on the American continent Not only Is The great
library OF the metropolis. the Astor Library,
superior to any other public book collection in this
country, but the private libraries OF New York are
numerous ana valuable. creditable alike to tho
taste, the wealth and culture OF our citizens and
to the intellectual CT aracter OF our city.
The private libraries OF Now York, the book
collections IN the possession Of our private citi-
zens may be divided for convenience sake and
matter OF fact, into three classes-nrst the prom
tncnt and Immensely valuable libraries owned BY
few OF our leading men, who. by their immense
wealth or their learned leisure, are, as 1t were
class apart from the majority OF our citizens;
second, the really fine and valuable libraries in
PooSCSoAVh
fessional men, who spite OF ihc daily drudgery OF
their calling, md time to collect books and to
read them, and. thtrd. certain comparatively
small but intellectually very curious collections
OF books, which are owned by certain persons OF
very moderate means, but Of more than ordinary
taste and culture.
Each OF these three classes OF libraries demands
and will receive certain share of attention within
the compass OF the present article representatives
Of each class being given In the subjoned descrip-
tive list Of tho leading private libraries OF the city
OF New York.
THEATRICAL LIBRARIES.
1t has been proved by personal examination that
several OF our leading theatrical managers and
actors have libraries, or at least collections or
books, which are worthy attention. Mr.. Auguss.n
DAILY, for example, has for years made o s.hobbyn
OF books illustrative OF the two greatest books
which the world has produced, the works
Of Shakespeare and the Bible. The latter,
tho Douay version, has specially ex.
erciscd his attention In his leisure moments, ana
his series OF illustrative matter for this IL almost
complete; out somewhat strange 10 Say, he mas
not yet found an English text sufficiently correct
fair library. Nj: John Gilbert has some curious
books. Edwin Booth possessed some rare dra-
ings, whilc Manager Harry Palmer owned. pre-
vtUus to the fire ct Old Nlpo's some very valuable
ssrnev wans has unite coect,n WSs mr.
Conner owns notable theatrical library,
which IS often consulted by the profession. it il
street and very v Valuable. Mr. Peter alsey jr
at the Coleman House, has some curious books and
'shakcspearian Emendations." &c, He possesses
some valuable autograph letters from theatrical
some from uarricX and Peg ofinuton; also one Of
Garrck's p ayrolls IN Thomas "; rittman possesses
Volumes. as yell as the only COPY now snown to be-
10 the city Of New York o. the oldest society paper
published IN this country, the weekly visitor, .
''SArIvk AMERICAN L,srARrEs
scysra Of our Ss,zens have q late years with
the collection OF books. ehgrayngs &C., on local
or American subjects--On matters connected with
forming truly native American iiS u Prom.
inent among these patriotic TO- took men is nv
a BOOK Is e q Is os
which should be the. object OF any true
E Fssno,a Y0rks 5a envy COPY DR.
Illustrations. letters and all other matter natter
pertinent 70, and explanatory and illustrative o.
Morrel, who spent seven years at 1t, and expended
nearly 5000 on IT. Illustrations OF all the now
buildings q New Yors portraits Of az the eminent
letters from distinguished citizens curious printed
documents extracts from Old newspapers. are
ay im%enss BOOK which Mr. Arnold values. and
Mi. Morrel was assisted in his labors on this
volume BY Mr.. heidelberg, and the work was
o Mr. l. no. as me-
possession OF the present owner.
Mr. D. " T,eaaw;e Of srrookyn possesses
being especially ,cn u works us;ratys Of the
sssses perhaps tns anss. editions a Of IN, ,ns
now 10 this country. MIR. Q. 9. Jones, Of Brooklyn.
formerly southern planter, has made q speciality
Of An as0 81 nasr
also ricn in purely american" literature. Mr..
Townshend has also made specially Of collecting
The want OF distinctively 'Ancricann public
to American history. politics, science, &c, could
be found when wanted by All American-has
oo 81 CITIZENS Who Soraa X This
field, though for themselves, are specially there.
iore to DO commented.
Newspaper men, as class, are addicted to
curious, out Of the way reading and several Jour
nasts possess libraries valuable from the quality
II not from the quantity OF volumes.
Several OF our politicians have been owners OF
libraries. Ex-May0r Hail has fine collection OF
miscellaneous books at his various residences in
town and country. Ills library IL especially ricn
In WORKS on tho DRAMA fiction, neilcs lettres ana
had in his ralmy days . respectable library, con.
tanning among other works $500 edition Of
iond. Peter b. Swceny was q student and 4
thinker. and his library ab0unded IN the modern
standard works. The late lamented Hank" smith,
though selimade man ana no student, had dur
Ing the last oil his life collected quite Work-
ing" library, the works OF which were CHOSEN WIN
such sound judgment as to elicit the praises Us
well as 10 compel the wonder OF his friend, Inur'
low Weed. ..,,
uprary and Mr., Edward Kearney, the contractor,
has quito political colection Inc iase supcr .
intcndcnt ofPolice, John A. Kennedy. nsd mania
for dictionaries. and possessed curious collec.
ton or the lexicons OF all languages, while Franz
Segel has fine library devoted specaAly 10 lau-
| ruares and to Oriental literature.