New-York tribune., 1884-01-28
TIE TASTE FOR RARE BOOKS.
ITS GROWTH IN TIE UNITED STATES.
WESTERN PEorLE NOW HEAVY BooK-BUYERs-
VALUABLE COLLECTIONS.

WESTERN PEorLE NOW HEAVY BUYERS
VALUABLE COLLECTIONS.
"Boolls," said Broadway dealer in rare
volumes recently. "cven than pictures and bric-
a-brao retain their vaue In the market.
He turned thin vellum pages Of an ancient missal
volume ordinary library size bound III red velvet the
leaves gdod work executed carly in the fifteenth cen
fury The contents Latin. the characters IN black
letter every worked With the pon by the hand, per
haps of forgotten old monk and standing forth rs
clear and perfect 5 faultlcss modern lthOgiaph.
Scattered through the work brilliantly colored mina-
turc paintings Of scripnral subjects: Christ In the
Garden before PLATE the betrayal by Judasall finished
with Photographic detail, and with exquisite taste and
skill The borders OF the pages and the initial letters
were traced designs of the rich and delicate
fancy devoted lifetime TO this testimonial OF re-
ngiOus devotion.
"Irefer moro particularly" continued the bookseller,
to that class books which have attained fixed place
OF the student offer particular atrac
tion the amateur collector Nalues nuctuafo TO
some extent and influenced from time to timc by the
changes OF fashion prevailing among collectors but an
article of this Sort You understand, Is always one OF
the gems that do chane much except TO increase in
value as q rule the absorption into permanent deposi-
tories OF the moro desirable books manuscripts and
literary curOsies scarcity and prices, Ike those
OF good wine, improve with age. when man who has
collection Of finds himself In financial straits, his
the first to be sacrificed before his pictures or
curios though you heard hm laud them his dear
est friends TO be parted with This may be ao-
counted for possibly from the fact that he usually
obtain better percentage on the first costa welghty
consderatonthan could be hoped for from his other
treasures indeed he is assured OF profit he has used
Judgment in the collection of his books"
Are libraries ordered articles OF furniture ~
"To appear IN the bookcase dummies rs in The
Potiphar Papers Not the class Of books OF which we
have been talking, Cheaper books have known 10 be
ordered to fill shelf space and enterprsing owner by
- ~
wel-known rarities. could resort 10 dummies. and
possibly might get the reputation OF being the owner OF
many coveted volumes. They, however. arc too
valuable be purchased except investments as well
There frequent instances where the sale
OF carefully selected library has returned marked ad-
vance its first cost am reminded OF instance in
which gentleman of means aud cultivation. who lacked
the technical knowledge OF texts and editions 20 be
Qured only through experience desired me TO purchase
for him such works as I thought would retain their
market value From time TO time was able TO secure
exceptional copies of books until in few years he
found himself possessed OF a valuable library. /
surprised at its extent when came 10 examine It with
the view OF placing 1t on the market The SALE remem-
ber something Of event. end. netted him 25 per
cent profit He often very nervous especially when
ignorant acQuants nces hearing what he had paid for
aome Of his books would him that he had been
yictimized but has since become quito connOisseur
TRICKS OF THE TRADE.
"The trade has its peculiar tricks There is one, well
known now. which practised efectualy some years
ago large collector known have OF the rarest
books offered 10 several colleges $4,000 each, the
amount TO be taken in books at the sale OF his collection
or the colleges were deslrous 10 improve the
chance. The sale widely advertised all bookdeal
ers were present and bidding high only the
nuggets but everything. The collector realized
profit of 100000 after his gifts deducted Yes,
se same thing has since been attempted not with
success the being too well known to book-buyers
The collecting Of books, autographs, typographical
rares etc, is of the hobbies OF those who have
the means and cultivation TO enjoy it, There in IT the
advantage over other hobbies that 1t be
prosecuted without decided gain In general and special
knowledge over a wide range OF topics"
"who are engaged I'm this trade now Z"
In exclusively books there are few dealers now
d. g. Francis used TO be known as the dealer OF whom
you could get anything. j. W.Bouton has now the
largest and most valuable collections A. Luyster and
Charles Wexford have many rare old works. Neither
Boston Philadelphia has large dealers exclusively In