Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1889-03-16
QUEER THINGS AMONG OLD BOOKS.
How People Duy and Sell Thcm-A True
Story That Sounds Like Fiction.

How People Duy aud Sell Thcm-A True
Story That Sounds Like Fiction.
"Therc is probably no dealer in old
books" said ono Of tho best known
men in that business in this city the
other day, who has so much expert
encc and sharpness rs not TO be caught
mapping now and then. spend tho
most Of my leisure time going about
among other dealers, and il is wonder.
full 10 SEQ what valuable things they
will sell sometimes for "a small price,
and what absurd sums they will charge
for things that arc worth next to
over the books placed outside the door
of a shop and found. tied up in a
bundle. "a file Of n little paper published
at Brook Farm. that experiment in CO.
operation tried years ago ut West Rox-
bury. Mass. II is now one Of the rarcst
Of American periodicals. The bundle
was marked so cents could scarcely
believe my eyes. Is that the price you
ask for this bundlcl' | said to the
dealer.
.'llc looked ut the bundle and then
said carclcssly: oh, no, no; you can
have that for thirtytivc cents, if you
want it,
And in buying books people don't
know, often, when they are getting "a
good bargain. Here is an old French
book that few know anything about,
but it is exceedingly curious. Libra
| rians sec II on my catalogue. but they
never heard Of il before and think Il
isn't worth anything. Well, il some
body doesn't buy it shall double the
price Of il in my next catalogue, and
If il doesn't sell then shall double tho
price again, and by that time some ono
will be sure 10 want il.
do you never get hold of books
that you find it impossible TO sell at
all!"
No. never; have had SO much cx-
pericncc that | can tell when SEQ any
book whether have ever had calls for
it or am likely To have any.
"a good many queer things happen
i'll this business. but here is one that
sounds almost like fiction. though it
is every word true. y man came into
my shop here one day and introduced
himself, saving that though he had
had a good deal Of correspondence
with me, he had never seen me, but
being i'll New York he thought he
would call. though for no other purpose
than In say good day, as he did not
want to buy anything nt present We
talked pleasantly for few moments
and he lookcd about the shop. What
is IN that big ba>kctl' he said ut last
The basket that he pointed to was
the same one that is there behind you
now, and it was full of old legal doc
umcnis.
oh. nothing Of any consequence
replied. setting the basket on the
counter for him To look ut.
'Iie turned over the papers, and
finally asked me what ! would take
for them. 1 don't know l said;
what will you give for themi'
"'I'll give you $40 for the lot he
said, and took the offer ut once.
''IIc picked out two of the papers
and put them in his pocket, and then
said: Send me the rest any time;
there is no hurry
"'But now that you have bought
this stuff and paid for it, / said, I
suppose you won't mind telling mo
what you want oI il.
"'Not in the least was the reply.
i am the executor Of al estate up in
One Of the northern counties, and it
has been impossible To prove the title
to certain parts Of il. Nobody ever
disputed the last owners title, and he
was careless about his papers And
now. here in your basket. find tho
genuine deeds of the property
Il
lighted with what he had found, and
he wrote 10 me aftcrward to say that
he had collected over $4,000 in rents
that he could not get before for want
Of those deeds New York Tribune.