The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-02
LITERATURE.
Wonderful Prices for Old Books and
Their Purchasers.
OLD BLACK LETTER.
Famous Collections in Private
Libraries.


Whitthaus and number OF smaller collections have
been brought under tho hammer, the two former,
which were tho most important, being sold within
few weeks or each other Between these collections
tho industrious bibliopolo has managed 20 keep his
hands pretty full and his pockets empty. The result
OF these salcs has proved that books better
Investment, when purchased with discretion, than
diamonds for the latter seldom bring than they
cost while tho former pay large profit tho original
outlay book II IL Is worth anything In the first in
stance, becomes moro valuable with age, and then,
again. Is often tho only claim that many have
value There are number OF things that 60 TO make
tho valuc OF q book. Blacklctter books bring very
large priccs-thosc for instance printed by Schayc
OF Mayencc. who aourished In tho sixteenth century,
and was one OF the inventors OF the art OF printing
Early editions OF standard books-books OF which only
hundred copies have been issued and privately
printed booksal fetch fancy prices There coIiec-
tors OF books IN every department Of literature Some
make specially of blacklctcr books others OF enrly
ballads, othcrs again Of dramas, poetry Americana,
&c. So that whenever thore n salo OF books these
mon or their representatives always present and
bid on any book relating TO tho subject which they
arc tho most interested. or course there collect
OF general litcraure-perhaps than there
specialists. Americana just is at tho high lido
Of Its popularity and any book which relates the
carly history OF country Is cagerly snapped up
on this subject by writer's by the Of Smith, who
nrc however, related only In name. These Smith books
are generally in one volume, octave quarto, and
handsomely or plainly bound, according to the
OF the owpor. Among the scarce books by these
authors arc William Smiths "Hisiory OF tho Province
Of New YORK; largo paper, unique volume
quaro printed in London 1857 which was sold ut tho
Rice sale for $500; s. Smiths History OF New Jer-
scy'' Nova Cnsarial one volume octave, uncut, sold
At tho Rice sale for $780, Captain John Smiths
"Travels, Observations and Adventures" volume
loio, printed in London 1882. sold for $3.50 the
Hoffman sale last week. Another high priced small
book is James Logan's translation OF "Ciceros
Cato Major,n printed by Benjamin Franklin in
1744, which sold for S16s, the Mcnzies sale. The
largest price obtained at book sale at the time
tho John Allen collection was disposed Of during tho
war; when an enthusiastic patriot paid 900 for the
original manuscript OF Washngtons reply TO tho COM
mittce which presented HIM with the freedom OF tho
city OF New York. This letter is neither long nor
as interesting the Washington love letter published
In the HERALD OF Friday last When II comes TO
tended extra illustrated books there Is limit
the cost. 70 those who not familiar with collectors
terms II might be we'll TO explain that scxtcnded''
books those which have illustrations. autographs
&c. inserted For instance take Ireland's .sHsiory of
the Stagcr To extend that II first be carefully
read and the namc OF every person, actor, actress
playwright and playhouse UNDERSIGNED tho page
whore 1t is mentioned. Then every portrait OF any
OF the persons, woodcuts, steel engravings
costume and his her autograph is procured
together with pictures Of tho theatres, playbills
anything that In any way refers to the subject Those
gathered together to tho extcnt often OF thousand
different prints Then zach Of these prints inlaid
on sheet the size of tho page OF tho book. Large
paper copies Of books arc chosen for this purpose
though have seen books of which every page has
been inlaid. woodcuis split the back IRON the
'front.' SO that the ctcrpress will not show through.
There two who mako business OF this picture
splitting and inlaying-Tront, Of Brooklyn, and Law
renee Of New York and the best Of that done
this country Is dono by thcm The paper used for In
laying Is heavier than that used in the body OF the
book for the that when the space, which is
eighth OF inch smaller all around than the picture
to DO nad cut the edges split and edges OF
the print inserted, then fastened down. you have
q neat and permanent page As may well imagine
this style Of bookmaking costs no little money as
often to get portrait enthusiastic collector will de-
s;roy high priced book Mr. J. w. Bouton, not long
ago. sold Bible, extended TO sixty volumes, for
$4,000 Mr. Oakley Hall had history Of the stage
tended to three volumes, Tor which he paid Scribne
Wexford a. Armstrong $4,000 Some collectors spend \
great deal Of money for the binding OF their books
Tho best binding is done in Paris Wo wero shown
collectors, by tho way) the other day by Mr.. Bouton
the ''toong, engraving which alone cost $500.
"Uncut" copies Of books among the most highly
priced and, strange as It may seem, copy Of book
will pass from generation to generation for several
hundred years without having had Its pages cut Book
collectors, as rule are not reading men. They know
all about the outside of book, when 1t printed
by whom, how many copies extant &c; but
don't insult them by asking what the otterpross is
about bookseller said to a wellknown collector
tho other day, faro you going to extond that book
sold your" "Extend III" said tho indignant collector.
''Why, man alive, what are you talking about? OF
course not; I'd have TO read II II did that"
FAMOUS PRIVATE LIBRARIEs
The largest private collection OF raro books In this
country Is that OF the late Mr. Carter Brown of Proy
dcncc. This collection Is carried on by Mrs. Brown
under the direction OF Mr. Bartlett IL Is particularly
rich In Americana, but is OF general interest also Tho
value Of this library Ia varously estimated from
5000 900 TO 100000. Mr. Brown was reading COL
lector and man OF great culture and learning He
inherited his money aud had the time MS we'll as tho
inclination to cultivate his literary tastes The coec
ton OF Mr.. L. NJ. Barlow, Of this city. is second in
extent and value that OF the Brown collection 1t is
said to contain Americana than any other library
In the country Mr. Barlow Is ono of the fow colec-
tors who generous about allowing his loss fortunate
fellow the benefit OF mis- library. Mr. Robert Hoo
OF printing press fame, has remarkably nnc collection
OF unique copies OF books in fine bindings and rare
French books He Is said to possess the finest extra
illustrated copy Of Waton's Anglcr" extant; It cost
him $4,000 Mr.. Robert L. STUART the sugar manuiac-
turcr has extensive library OF books his.
tory and illustrated books Tho late Mr. Thomas Bartlett
had tho finest collection OF Shakespearcs and
Shakespearcana In the country. AT his death this
library WIS offered to the Astor Library for very
Boston Public Library Tor 49, 900 t worth all OF
$75 000), and Is known tho Barton Collection, pro-
viso under which 1t was bought j. Carson Brevoori,
tho present librarian Of the Asor Library, has fine
collection OF Americana Mr.. Phes, OF Scrbncr's,
who is walking encyclopedia OF all such Knowodgoas
IL obtained from books is Judcious buyer, and, al
though his collection small IL Is OF great value The