The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-03-07
Visit to an Antiquarian in Pennsylvania.

l had the pleasure short time since of
visiting Mr.. A. II. CasSel, gentleman who iS
possibly the greatest antiquarian in our State.
Mr.. Cassel lives short distance from Har
leysville, Montgomery county, is fifty seven
years of age, aud has spent the greater part
of bis life III the neighborbood where be now
resides. He is what may be called self
made man, never having been at school more
than six weeks in MA life. During forty
years, however, he has been great reader,
aud has gradually accumulated rare and
xoeedingy valuable collection of books
For twenty years be has been an honorary
member Of the Pennsylvania Historical So
ciety, End has been elected to membership in
various other literary associations, but he's
uniformly declined acceptance. His library
consists of upwards of ten thousand volumes.
Many of them are old books which cannot
cow be obtained at any price, They en-
brace the productions of the finest minds in
every ageiaud of the great leaders of thought
in every department of human knowledge and
research. History, politics, theology, ro.
nance, science and art are all represented.
There are many old mauugoripts in vellum
and dated in the 16sh and 17th centuries.--
This remarkable library also contains the
works of the old philosophers Socrates,
Plato and Confucius, with copies of the Ko-
ran aud the Book of Mormon.
Besides books Of every description, from
hose of the smsllS size 60 the super royal
Or elephant folios, Of which latter he has
several hundred ponderoug volumes, Mr..
Caesel has with wonderful patience and in
iustry obtained and placed on file copy Of
every newspaper published in the United
States and British America. l examined a
large portfolio containing upwards Of two
hundred papers from Canada alone. His
collection Of old alwanacs is large and com,
plete, including full set of the celebrated
{" Poor r chard's Almspacs," the publication
of which was begun by Franklin 10 1872,
! found here also remarkable assortment
of old Bibles. Among these is copy of the
second translation Of the Bible, known as
Luther's Autograph Bible, and one of the
fret translation, made few years previous
to Luther's work Among the earliest EGG
lish Bibles is huge folio, bound in hog skin
| and mounted with iron fastenipgs, to which
chains were once attached. This was done
IN pursuance of an order by Queen & izabesh,
requiring Bible TO be cbaiued to the altari
in the churches The copy in the Cassel col
lee ioO belonged TO the parish Of South Gov.
den, and CONTAINS the autographs of several
ministers who oficiated there. Among the
curious volumes may be mentioned reli.
gious work bound in human skin, and several
others in hog skin, edged with brass, and
evidently intended to last f)r centuries.
This library also contains the fullest col
lection now in existence of hooks aud print
ed from the famous old Nunnery press a.
Ephrata, Lancaster county. These books
are very scarce. One copy was recently colo
for fifty dollars. As fitting supplement tc
this comprehensive library, Mr.. Cassel haf
eleven large portfolios marked "Curiosi;ies,
and containing old deeds and documents o.
various descriptions and great Interest,"
Among these are deeds with William Pann't
seal and signature attached also, several
deeds and indentures bearing the signatures
of PENIS sons-John, Rich0rd and Thomas
The seal, which bears PENIS coat Of arms
has on one side three ciphers, representing
his peace principle and absence of arms, and
on the otHsf, three brooms. 10 one of these
portfolios were eight sheets of French letter
paper, of as many different colora, aS used
by apoIeon's secretary, M. DeVillier0, who
brought it with him to America after the
Enperor's arrest in 1915. DsVilliers dice
at NJ McCslms, in Germantown, in 1880
and the latter gave the paper to Mr. Casael