The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-06-04
A BOOK BONANZA.
A Book Seller Hunts Down q Valuable Lii
brary-I. was Dug Up, as it Were. from the
: Grave-A Fortune in Books.

A noticeable feature of book-collecting
in England and probably in every oldest
tied country, is the continued chance Of
staring fresh photographed game and
hitting on newly discovered haunts Of
old treasures, whose very existence is IN
known to the present generation. A re-
markable instance of this lately occurred
in London. In some one of Dibdins
books the name of Lord Acheson is casu-
ally mentioned as a book-buyer and
member of the Roxburg Club. In pro
cess of time he became Earl of Gosford7
and was gathered to his fathers some
fifteen years since, no memory of his con-
nection with books remaining among
mankind Last autumn q 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,
disregarded, but were certainly not among
the most cherished possessions ofthe fami
| ly. The bookseller went, saw, and was
almost struck dumb at what he did see
perhaps the very choicest lot of books in
Europe, exactly such as are most passion
ately sought for in France and England
at this moment. proving that the purchas-
er must have been man of consunmate
taste in advance of his own time, and with
almost prophetic anticipation of what
would be most desirable in the eyes OF
collectors of the next generation. The
| result was that large portion Of the
| L n NJ r. h,1f on
shrined in the first floor of well-kncwn
house in Piccadilly, where, in moderate
sized room, may be seen by the favored
few from $125,0O0 to $15O,000 worth of
books.
| Here the most urgent entreates of Par
isian booksellers and amateurs have as
! yet 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
liehr, Longepierre, ETC., Libraries; Others
; from the collections of Madame de Main
tenon, Madame du Bari, the Frenct
princesses, and royal family, displaying
}, the choicest work of Du Seuil, Padeloup
De Rome, and the famous old French ar
fists, whose productions are now valued
!, almost literally at their weight in gold
l in the most perfect condition. Thu
! choicest Elzevlr editions are there, in The
best state; and, as q sample of the temp
tations successfully resisted by the owner
: two books may be mentioned: for ths
Elzevir Tacitus, in two small volumes
: that might be slipped into vest pocket
:. Count Hoyn's copy, with his arms MOI
|, occo double, he has refused e1Oo, offere'
by Partisan bookseller, and for choic
e copy If the 1772 edition Of Moliere, il
|, six volumes $40, with Moreau's plates
formerly sold by its present possessor TO
81 Is q guineas), he has been offered
q vain 5000 francs. It. is imEsssible
i, tell what the future fate of this collection
l. may be, but the chances arc that it VII
/ be sent en- bloc to Paris, where the highes
+ prices now rule for works ofart generally
IS There, few months since, the collection
y of French books of an English amateur
q, Mr.. Robert Turner, of the Regents Pari
$ sold for over 900, having cost tn
4, owner about $4,000.