Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-21
ODD BUT PROFITABLE BUSINESS.
How Back-Number Budd is Getting
Rich Out of His Newspaper Files.

From the New York World
A dimly-lighted, musty-smelling cellar at the
corner of Broadway and SD street, is the head
quarters Of a stalwart rather goodlooking col
ored man, who carries on profitable business
by saving old and curious numbers of New
York papers, and selling them at fabulous
prices. He is known to all newspaper men,
and in fact t0 everybody as "Back-Number''
Budd, and his business is the outgrowth of an
old hobby Of his for saving old newspapers.
Ten years ago he came to New York from WASH
iEgton and started in as a bootblack
World reporter called at the place few
days ago, and while looking for an ancient
paper ''Back-Number' Budd told something
about his queer business
said he, .'thS(hought flashed across nv mind
one day about saving all the old papers could
find. had grown little careless about my
boot-blacking business, and eight years ago /
started with but So in my possession. I opened
little stand at the place where Palmer's thea
ter now stands. 1t was very hard pulling at
first. and got the window man in the Gilsey
house to save me all his papers, which bought
by the pound. 1t was awful slow work, for Il
hardly made my bread and butter out Of it.
My friends advised me to sell out but was
obstinate and was bound to make complete
file as far back as could As the file kept on
growing larger and larger my trade commenced
to pick up, and resolved to stick il out at all
hazards. As soon as found / was likely to
succeed made a uniform set Of prices as fol-
lows: copy OF paper one week DID,
cents; copy OF any scent paper one week
old, cents; copy Of any paper thirty days
old, 10 cents. For each month after thirty
days and cents; copy OF a paper one year
old. so cents. For each year after the first add
70 cents. An exception to these prices 10
made when paper is very rare or out Of
print.
''Yes, and always stick to my price, and my
customers kick, too. A short time ago a prom.
inent lawyer came here and wanted q copy of
the World printed in 1877. Igot and asked my
regular price-S3. He was very indignant and
that it was my mode Of living he paid the price
and left The lawyers are my principal GUS
toners, as they often win big cases by getting
back numbers Of papers for evidence. They
are big kickers, but I know they must have the
papers and therefore remain firm in my price
Ny principal files are the Sun, from 1883 to
date, the World from 1850, the Heradfrom 1888,
the TRIBUNE from 1841, and the Times from
1851. have also very complete files Of many
dead papers, including Truth, Dial and others.
put twenty copies away day Of the World,
What was the highest price You were ever
paid for q paper?"
"A lawyer paid me $40 for two copies of a
paper published IN 1861, and have often re.
ceived SIS and S18 for old and valuable papers.
Newspaper men often come here and give me
from 81 to % just to look over very valuable
paper. A large part Of my trade 10 in the
country, but ! never send papers out until
they are paid for. Gen. Grant came to me
shortly after the Grant 4 Ward failure and
bought a two months file Of the daily papers,
containing an account Of the affair,
charged 10 cents copy and got every cent
Of it.
"Ill show you some curiosities," said Budd,
as he led the reporter to the back part of the
cellar, which is known as the curiosity shop.
Among the faded and dusty papers were q Her
aid Of Aug. 20, 1860 which contained full &C.
count Of the opening Of Central Park: o copy Of
the Sun OF June 20, 1884 with turned column
rules for the death Of Lafayette; Police
CARTE of May 20, 1865. with q badly drawn pic.
ture of the capture of JET Davis on the front
page; Frank Leslis's, Of May 1885, gave q
picture OF two men throwing body wrapped
in sheet into the water. II was entitled
The Assassin's End" meaning Booth, the
murderer of Lincoln. He had also first copies
of the World, Herald and Sun, and hundreds of
other valuable relics.
The reporter then went to Ravenswood, L. L.,
where Budd has 4.0OO, 900 copies Of papers
stored away. He has a system by which he
can readily turn to any paper desired without
loss of time. He 10 now making money very
rapidly, and his back files are Increasing In
4 value every day