River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-06-05
A BOOK BONANZA.
A Book Seller Hunts Down Valuable Lii
braryIt was Dug Up, as it Were, from the
Graye-A Fortune in Books.

A noticeable feature of book-collecting
in England and probably in every old-set-
tied country, is the continued chance OF
staring fresh photographed game and
hitting on newly discovered haunts OF
old treasures, whose very existence is I'M
known to the present generation. A re-
markable instance of this lately occurred
| in London. In some one of Dibdin S
| books the name of Lord Acheson is casu-
ally mentioned as Il boob-buyer and a
member of the Roxburg Club. In pro-
cess of time he became Eall of Gostord,
and was gathered to his fathers some
! fifteen years since, no memory OF his CON
nection with books remaining among
mankind. Last autumn a well-known
book seller, jocularly known as the En-
peror of Morocco" from his fondness for
| binding of that material, was consulted
| by the present head of the house about
moving to the famIly-seat in Ireland a
quantity of books that were not perhaps,
disiegarded, but were certainly not among
the most cherished possessions ofthe faml-
| lv. The bookseller went, saw, and was
almost struck dumb at what he did sec
perhaps the very choicest lot OF books IN
Europe, exactly such as are most passion
atelv sought for in France and England
at this moment. proving that the purchas-
er must have been a man of cOnsummate
taste In advance of his own time, and with
almost prophetic anticipation of what
would be most desirable in the eyes OF
collectors or the next generation. The
result was that large portion of the
books did not go to Ireland, but are en-
shrined in the first floor of a well-kncwn
house in Piccadilly, where, in moderate
sized room, may be seen by the favored
few from $125,000 to $4,000 worth OF
books.
Here the most urgent entreaties OF Par
isian booksellers and amateurs have as
vet been unable to persuade the owner to
dispose OF any portion of the collection.
1t comprises an almost complete set OF
Aldine editions, all in the choicest old
French and Italian bindings, and books
nearly without end in the famous bind
ings Of the De Thou, Count Hoyn, Gro
iehr, Longepierre, etc, libraries; others
from the collections of Madame de Main
tenor, Madame du BARR, the French
princesses, and royal family, displaying
the choicest work of Du Seuil, Padeloup,
De Rome, and tho famous old French ar
lists, whose productions are now valued
almost literally at their weight in gold,
in the most perfect condition. The
choicest Elzev1r editions are there, in the
best state; and as sample OF the temp
tations successfully resisted by the owner
two books may be mentioned: for the
Elzevir Tacitus, in two small volumes
that might be slipped into vest pocket,
Count Hoyn's copy, with his arms NOR
occo double, he las refused eiO0, offered
bva Partisan bookseller, and for choice
copv If the 1872 edition Of Mollere, in
six volumes Svo, with Moreau's plates,
formerly sold by its present possessor for
Gf Is Il guineas), he has been offered IN
vain 5000 francs. 1t is impossible to
tell what the future fate of this collection
NAV be. but the chances are that 1t viii
be sent en- bloc to Paris, where the highest
prices now rule for works ofart generally.
There. few months since, the collections
Of French books of an English amateur,
Mr.. Robert Turner, Of the Regents Park,
sold for over eli 900. having cost the
owner about e2,000.