The New York herald., 1876-09-30
THE BOOK TRADE SALE.
BOOK FAIRS vs.. AUCTION sALEs-DIsposAL o.
LARon QUANTITIES OF LITERATURE.

BOOK FAIRS vs.. AUCTION sALEs-DIsposAL OF
LAR0n QUANTITIES OF LITERATURE.
1t was thought at the Inauguration OF tho American
Book Trade Association, which has instituted the hold
ing OF book fairs, that there would any
necessity for holding any auction sacs. This theory
would hold good II there such thing as "dead
stock" remaining the shelves Of the publishers
If not absolutely worthless works. at least such az are
slow Of SALE Tho book fairs, Of which three have
now been tried have scarcely filled the bill, or, In
other words. boen successful wished by their
warmest advocates 1t 10 true the trade has
beer brught together under one roof, where
all tho productions OF the different publishing houses
could be inspected and thoroughly examined and full
purchases made without bcing compelled TO visit .
number OF different houscs yet there seemed to exist
apathy among buyers which 10 almost nexpltcablc,
and the brisk business prognosticatsd last week did
not come . realization. Such extensive houses as
Harper Brothers, Appleton Co., Soribnor, Armstrong
Co., Hurd Houghton, George RouIledge Il Sons,
Thomas Nelson Il Sons and others, of New York
James r. Osgood & Co., Lee Shepard, Little, Brown
Co, Roberts Brothers, &C, OF Boston; j. z. Lip
pincott Co., Porter Coates, &c, Of Philadelphia,
and so on TO the end Of tho chapter, loaded their
stands with sher choicest productions and yet buyers
have shown an Indifference to making purchases,
while they took full inventories OF tho prices OF goods
Whether the country trade is not ready yet TO in
vest In holiday stock or whether the season VIII be
passed by In default without replsnis,ip much ex-
hausted STOCK is problem which the future only can
solve As Il is the book fair Of the last four days
was by q glittering success, although some
OF the firms represented did average bust
ness. The fair closed on Thursday night, but
order to await and participate in the sale Of stereo
type plates and sale OF books and stationery
comprising miscellaneous, holiday and juvenile books
also stationery in large varieties which Messrs George
A. Leavitt Co. advertised to imms msdiaely after
the conclusion OF the fair.
Yesterday morning the large saesroom was nlied by
extensive audience, each present being intent
his catalogue and diligently scoring the limos OF tho
offered goods and noting the priceG Messrs William
X. Leavitt ana Pratt onicated as auctioneers. The
1rst invoice offered was lot OF stereotype plates
being remanders OF editions published by Messrs
James X Osgood x Co.. of Boston This arm rep
resented at the sale by Mr. Benjamin IL Ticknor and
Colonel John II. Ammon. The Offering among other
publications embraced .Arnoid's Life and Letters"
py Rev Thomas Arnold, L. L. ID. 'fhe Dickens bio
rionary,n by Gilbert A. Pierce; Charles Reads's
novels, 16mo. edition. and the same, l2mo. edition;
T. Sterry Hunts ''Chcmical and Geological Essaysb
(six,y four volumes were offered and sold; tho plates
Adirondack (tev. W. H. H. Aurray's works; forty
eight copies and plates Of 'The History, Theory and
Practice OF the Electric Telegraph" BY George
writings and Le;" Henry Crabb Robinson's
"Diary, "reminiscences and Correspondence, a 81 SO
book; samuel smiles' works on engineering Harriet
Prescott Sponord's writings, Charles Algornon Swim
burns's poems, "rhe Queen Mother and Rosamond"
and others; Jules vernes "rour Aro1nd the World in
illustrations TO the Waverey Novels, comprised
In 22S iullpage wood engravnss These en-.
sssvnss ns Edon ns the n
46 Dickens Household edition; assorted 1873 Charles
Dickens edition; assorted sets Dickens House,
hold edition. half calf 45 sets Dickens Library ed.
ton; assorted 65l sots GsdshIll edition; assorted
20 Eiiot Library; 2 vols 90 novels; svo. cloth 3i6
% smiles worki; assorted 10 New England Legends;
paper The Union series, comprising 1.-The Boy inven-
Tor, or Memoir Of Matthew Edwards;" 'Alics's
Never Fade, "Picturcs and Flowers for ChiIdloversn
ana large lot OF other choice publications too hume.
Ths next the catalogue the clearance sale In.
voice OF Messrs Lee Shepard, OF Boston, and con-
Shakespeare" 100 Godsmith's "Etching Club Poems.
200 "Ballads Of Beauty" by George NJ Baker 200
Ballads Of Home" BY the same su.hor rs sets
"LIfe OF Dickens" vols. IN q illustrated. SO sets
"plamond Dickens" cloth illustrated 20 ''Longol-
10 sydney Dobelrs "roems." 10 owen Mefedlth's
'sSsw Poems;'' vols 6 Lowell" vols rs Her.
voy's Poems" 20 White. Natural History OF Sell
borne" Is southeys 'Life OF Nelson" Is Her.
bcrt's Poems" also his prose works 10 'srwice
Told Tales BY Nathaniel Hawthorne. 10 ''studcs and
Stories" BY Mrs jameson 10 "MotherweI's Poems"
or the "Red Lin Poets" l16 volumes; $50 ''Memors
of Baron siocknar," by his son Barren H. Won Stock.
mar 90 THe Princes o. Ar ,a Ensravcrs Painters
tho Spaniards;' 25 "Reynard the Fox" so Cruden's
Concordance" 1000 volumes OF "Houschold Dick
OF "ElJah ksilogg's works;n about 200 Of Professor
James De Miles Works; about 900 volumes OF
"Oiiver optics" series; 900 assorted roy al ium,n
aed legends by Marcus Ward, and many others offered
In sets from I've 10 600 copies
In nearly every instance the prices obtained wore
satisfactory, and the sale fully demonstrated that
books are in demand, although at the trade sale the
prices not as fixed at private vendue All the
goods sold wore Knocked down At tho highest prices
"a eRa0 pnfQ war tot.,.
and any dealer desired to duplicate no charged the
regular publishers prices
The sale lasted Until ten O'Clock last evening and
but onchalf oil the catalogue was exhausted The In.
voice OF Ncssrs Lee shepard was iully dsposed OF
This mornings work will be commenced with contrl.
button hv Aossra William i. Gnl 4 Coz oi Boston