New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-26
Sale Of Washiugron,s Library.

has again oailed public attention to the
varying phases of the mania for securing
rare works Of art and literature.
A sale is to occur in this city ON Tuesday
next which will exceed even that remarka-
BILE auction in the popular interest it will
excite. if not in intrinsic value. rarity and
high cost of the books. The library Of
George Washington is to be put upon the
block. Valuable rs may be some OF the
other works taken from rich private libra-
ries, they can scarcely command the in
terest that will everywhere be excited BY
this collection.
The history of the library 10 not without
interest The books have never before been
offered for sale. They como direct from the
possession of the Washington family to the
auction house In this CITY. Not ell Of the
original library 10 placed on ssle. however,
for considerable number were stolen from
the place in which they wero stored IN vir-
giniA. When the Lsdiea' Mount Vernon
Association teok possession Of the manaioa
ct Mount Vernon the books were packed
mp by MI. Robert Bell. Jr, undsr the disse.
ton of Mr. John A. Washington.
With singular disregard for the value
of relice, the memlngs Of the WashingtoA
family who had them in charge placea
them in o barn near Mount Vernon, and
the boxes containing Them were badly 60
sured from the depredations of thieves.
One by one the volumes disappeared, and
it was At last decided to sell what 20
mained. They are now here and will b
dispersed under the hammer on the TWEEN
s sS,s,eA'n instant '' A'''''' Thomas :
Tue library ut present consists of 1888 lots
of books, or 255 volumes in all. A crest
number of the books contain tho impreo.
sion of Washington's coat ofarms on one
of the fly leaves, aud ell, with tour OF Avo
exceptions only, contain his we'll known
autograph at the top of tho title paGA
Many of tine volumes arc of great value.
independent OF their connection with the
Father of his Country"
One of these IL Q volume of rare old maps
of colonies, cities and battle1elda. printed
in London in l775. 1t is in excellent condi-
ton, and is valued by book collectors VIA
have examined it ut . very high figure.
Some early maps of Virginia, South and
North Carolina, from surveys by Henry
Mousen. printed IN London in LIS. u en-
other work of great rarity, and . map Of
the most inhabited part of New England,
printed in London by Thomas Jeffreyo N
the same year, il another.
Probably the most valuable book in the
whole collection is Thomas JeftreyJ "Gea-
eral Topography of North America and The
West Indies, being . collection Of al To
maps, plans, charts and particular surveys
that have been published of that part Of
the world. either in Earope or America"
1t was printed in London in l768, il . bulky
folio, bound in calf, and contains maps and
engravings that appear to have been exs-
cuted with great care, and are still In pr;
feet order.
OF local interest, the most remarkable
portion of the work il 1.-The east pfo9peee
Of the city of Philadelphia, taken b.
George Heap, with plan Of tho city" Tie
book contains an immense number OF maps,
plans and engrsvings that are mot elee,
continent. The poems of Philip Freneause
presentation copy, with the authors and
General Washington's autograph; "Simes
Military Guide" for young officers (also
presentation copy. and which hes beeides
remal kable history connected with the leSe
civil war), and . directory of Philadelphtn,
1868, and several volumes of pamphlets, arc
rare and valuable works. An early trans
lation of "Don Quixote," in four volumes,
is another noteworthy work
The greater number of the books have
little real value. but it is expected that each
volume will bring . high price. 1t il thought
probable that the sale will be attended By
large numbers of collectors from al tie
principal cities of the Union.
On the same day some very rare boon
will be offered after the Washington library
40 uASPOoOO We "A uuUUOG Va OVV1OO Va Vss0
publications of Christopher Saur, German.
town, 1850 to 1776, are among these. They
are very rare and have an increased inter
est and value from the fact that the print
ing house was destroyed by the British ct
the battle of Germantown. They destroyed
parts of these editions, using the paper for
gun wadding.
A compilation of the constitutions Of the
several independent States-the original
edition of which only 200 copies were print
ed, is also among these collections, which
are particularly rich in works relating to
American history. Hennepin's "Discoveryof
q Vast Continent in America" illustrated
with maps and engravings, printed in 1858,
is ono of the finest and most desirable.
The publications Of the firm of franklin
& Hall, along in the middle of last century,
are numerous. The original "Book Of an
account written by the hand Of Mormon"
published by Joseph Smith, ct Palmyra, y
. book that will be valuable some day il 1t
lie not now.-PAiladelphia Telegraph.