The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-19
SOMETHING ABOUT OLD BOOKS.
Rare Editions Are Not Picked Up for Little
Cost at Old Shops.

Rare Editions Are Not Picked Up for Little
Cost at Old Shops.
Philadelphia Inquirer.
There is common impression that bibli0-
graphical treasures of great rarity are to be
picked up at the second hand book shops
by anyone familiar with the lore. of old
books, and frequent accounts may be read
of old books being bought for song and
afterward sold at fabulous prices. Nothing
is further from the truth. Dealers in old
books are usually so well posted on the
demand for valuable books that the collect
OF who is only influenced by desire to
strike sharp bargain has very little chance
nowadays.
There was Frenchman here some years
ago who displayed with great pride some
first editions of the poems OF Alfred de
Musset he bought in a Philadelphia shop.
In Paris they would have brought hun
dred times the price he paid for them. but
then it happened the dealer did not recOg-
nlZe their special value.
The general public are firmly convinced
that the older a book the greater it's value.
With the exception OF books printed before
the year 800, which usually command a
fair price, the reverse is just as true. and it
less it is worth. The genuine book lover is
above these mercenary considerations, but
some answer must be given to people who
are constantly writing that they have a
how much it is worth. 1t usually turns out
to be a work on theology, valneless alike to
the collector, the divine or the wOuld-be
Spectator. and destined only to fill valua-
BILE shelf-roOm in some library and prove a
torment to Librarians who have to tran
scribe its long, unmeaning title
There is a class of books that have rapidly
appreciated in value during the past few
years, and which are likely to remain long
In favor among American collectors. They
are the first editions of American authors,
such as Poe, Emerson, LOngfellow, Haw-
thOrne and their fellows. 1t seems more
than mere fad to care for these unpreten-
tious volumes. They mark the birth of our
distinctively national literature, and what
American is there who does not know them
prices at which they are now rated on
dealers catalogues are largely due to the
cleverness of two brothers named Leon,
who kept a little cigar shop near the old
in New York city. They sold books as we'll
as cigars, and started the rage for collect
ing first editions of American books, pub
fishing a catalogue in which, they offered
great rarities, but at enormou5 prices.
Il knew them very WELL" sad Phila-
thick-set man. with full light-brown
beard and calm. blue eyes. He had rather
a sOrrOwful way. and seemed like a won
derfully clever man. He spoke Russian,
he said, and Hungarian and his English
and French were unexceptionable / liked
to talk with him, for he was well informed,
and told me much about European politics.
! looked him up the other day. when was
in New York, but when / asked for Mr..
Leon the polite Frenchman who was keep
ing shop told me he had gone back to Po-
land. oh, monsieur he said, he was not
Leon. That was only name he took. for
he was nobleman, and so proud. One,
you know went to Siberia, but he got away
and came here. There was an amnesty last
year, and they both went home.' So there
is some romance left in the trade in old
books, after all"