St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-18
RARE OLD BoOKs.
An Interesting Chat With a Bib
1iODbile

A great aid to the bibliophile in his
search for the antique in books are the
catalogues published by most OF the
leading book sellers, a great many OF
which are devoted entirely to rare and
out-of- print books, though they vary as
greatly in regard to the price. as to the
conditions of the same work. Ihey
form basis on which to determine the
value of book desired or possessed Dy
the reader. The bibliophile wishing to
purchase will, as does weak human
ity the world over, choose the cheapest.
The book lover scans his catalogue as
eagerly and is as absorbed i'll Its con-
tents as is the man of the world in his
copy of Puck or Life. To him it is
a chronicle of changes among
his friends and intimates, and
affords him true valuation OF
their worth. The passion for the an
tique i'll books, as in furniture, dress,
and decorations of all sorts, is at It's
height; and even the most luke warm
heart is stirred, and the spirit OF covet-
BUSINESS hard to Subdue, at an account
of a Bible. which occupied London
printseller thirty years in collecting,
aud consisted of sixty thick folio vol
umes, containing prints, drawings, rare
old wood cuts. and many leaves OF
misSals on velIum. A vellum copy OF
rare old book is an antiquity OF great
value to The fortunate pOSseSsor. and
usually sells for from four to ten times
as much as the same book on paper.
'Biblia Latina. printed in Venice in
1896, bV Nicholas JenSOn," Is ilne
example of vellum printing. The same
book, on paper. can be bought for $50,
but this velIum copy sold for S1.45O."
The early American works are far
more scarce, and therefore far more
greater curiosity, than ancient English
books. The January Bookmart gives
all account of LoudOn'S Indian wars,
one of the rarest books in American
history. But three perfect copies are
known to exist. as the fragility Of the
paper OH which the book was printed
insured it's rapid destruction. The set
belonging to the library OF Thomas w.
Field, which was somewhat defective,
sold for $500.
In Minneapolis. though it is a conf
paratively new city. are to be found.
many rare and curious books. On the
shelves of one of its bookstores, can be
seen in all stages of decay. a number OF
these tattered old relics of past age.
"Annotatens of Philippi Melancthon-
isl 1873, board, covered with velum.
"In Deutero,ninin Mosis Enarrtias,"
by David Chytreus. 1915. board. covered
with veilum and embossed portrait OF
Martin Luther on one side and Philippi
Melancthonis on the other, and many
rare old English. French and Latin
bonks form both valuable and unique
collection and one whicn in gazing at.
fills the mind with strange and sad SEN
sations, as if looking at the shrouded
forms OF those who have lived and died
centuries ago. leaving these. the cher
iShed children of their brain, to make
their name immortal.
Old books! Could they only speak;
what tales might they not tell OF those
whose fortunes good. and i'll, they have
followed for SO many. many years, to
find at last only a temporary resting
place on the shelves of an old book
Store. One could almost stop and Won
der what will be the next change in
their varied lives, and if the next gem
Grafton will gaze upon them with the
same feelings of awe with which we to-
day behold them.
Handle them not roughly. They
stand almost forgotten monuments to
the perishable glories of fame.