The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-04-21
GUTEABEkG'S GOSPEL.

Eight Thousand Dollars Paid for Copy OF
Book Sales.
The event of the Brinley book sale in New
York was the struggle fora copy of the famous
Gutenberg Bible, which, says a special to the
Chicago Tribune, is the only one in America,
with the exception of a copy in the Lennox
library. Although the Brinley copy of Guten-
berg's work bears no date, it is believed to have
been printed between the years 1850 and 1865,
the work probably occupying considerable
part Of that period. Belonging to the extraor-
binary, rare first edition, it may properly claim
to be the first book ever printed with types.
The text Is the Vulgate of St. Jerome with his
prologue, familiar only to scholars. The type is
Gothic; and not only the hundreds of iliumin-
ated capitals, brilliantly colored and decorated,
but but the the pa;ucity Of typographical i errors
its title to precedence of many 9TH
err copies in point Of origin, and its production
as an exemp]ar. The capitals are many of
them emblazined with concentrations in gold.
and the two volumes arc in the original bind
ing, thick oak boards, sheathed in calf, beauti-
ornamented shields of brass, and decorated at
the center with designs in the same metal and
bosses. The Gothic letters are as fresh as
they were 400 years ago. For four centuries
the book lay buried in the obscure library Of
the Predigerkirche, at Erfurt, where it was
discovered some fifteen years ago. It is older
than the vellum copy IN the national library in
Paris, possibly by two or three years. The
copy is in an excellent state of preservation,
unstained by time or midew, and has evidently
NEVER BEEN WASHED.
The room where the book Wassold tonight was
crowded with collectors and others interested
in such rare works. Just before the bidding
began quiet gentleman, apparently about
forty years Of age, dropped in silently, and sta
toned himself in distant corner of the room,
whence his full, sonorous voice could be dis
tinctly heard by the auctioneer, while he was
masked from view by group of lockers n.
The first bid wae So, 900, made by Mr. John r.
Bartlett. This was raised $500 at once, when
another voice called out So, 600, when the quiet
man in the far off corner bid Sc, 800, aud it
kept on raising the bids until 81, 500 had been
reached gentleman named Brayton Ives
had been very anxious to possess the book, and
finally ran the price to $3.50. The auctioneer
had just resumed his logical discourse to prove
that the book was worth at least $40, 900, and
that a copy of it would not prabably be offered
again for a quarter of a century, when the duel
was decided by bid Of IS, 600 from the corner
in the same distinct. sonorous tones as before.
The auctoneer now seemed to be aware that
the struggle was ended, and argued the case in
hopeless, perfunctory way. Three or four
minutes passed before the hammer fell heavily
upon the desk, in token that
THE GUTENBERG BIBLE WAS SOLD.
rush was made for the corner to congratu-
late the new owner, but he had already slipped
out Of the room, silently, and his place was va
can't He had long before been identified,
however, as Mr.. Hamilton Cole, a lawyer Of
this city. It was marvellous how instantaneous
ly the crowd vanished after the event of the
evening was finished. A few collectors still
fingered and the few remaining works were
disposed of at good prices, but the Brinley sale
was over, so far as any living interest in it
was concerned
THE HIGHEST PRICE
ever paid for Gutenberg, or as sometimes
misnamed, Masearin bible, was 400, and
that was for the Perkins IA vellum) copy with
two fac-simile leaves 1t was purchased in
1878. In the same year third copy went at
the Sykes sale for 81. 600. It is stated that
the receipts of the Brinley sale here will be
nearly $4,000 The sale Of Part 1, which
took place in the spring OF 1873, aggregated
$48, SSO.76. Part 2 was sold year later for
$50, OO3. ~, making total OF ISL 1874. OF at
the two previous sales. Adding to this total
the $50, 900 obtained from Part 8, finished
tonight, the value of the collection thus far
sold foots up something over $11O 900, with
Part 4 yet to come.
The store occupied by J. G. Geraty, in Rose
mount. was destroyed by fire. Only a small
part of the goods were saved. There was 81
900 insurance on the goods. OF this So. 500
was in the Ttadesmen's Insurance company of
New York, and 81, 400 in the Northwestern Of
M;1wankao The bui1ding belOnpad IN Franz