New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-24
QUEER THINGS AMONG. OLD BOOKS.
HOW PEOPLE BUY THEM AND SELL THEM

HOW PEOPLE BUY THEM AND SELL THEM-A
TRUE STORY THAT SOUNDS LIKE FICTION.
aThere is probably no dealer in old books' said one
~ the hest known men in that business in this city tho
other day. "who has much experience and sharpness
as not TO be caught mapping now and then spend the
most Of my leisure time going about among other
dealers, and It is wonderful 10 see what valuable
things they win sell sometimes for small price, ana
what absurd sums they viii charge for things that
are worth next to nothing. The other day ] was
looking over the books placed outside the door OF
sbop and found tied UP In a bundle file Of little
paper published at Brook Farm, that experiment In
co.operatIon tried years ago at West RoSbury, Mass
II Is now one Of the rarest of American periodicals.
The bundle was marked 80 cents could scarcely
believe my eyes Is that the price you ask forifhis
bundle |? / said to the dealer.
ale looked at the bundle and then said csrelessly
soh, no. no ; you can have that for 35 cents,df you
want it.
4And in buying books people don't know, often,
when they are getting good bargain. Here IS an old
French book that few know anything about, but II Is
exceedingly curious Librarians see II Oh my cata-
logue but they never heard Of II before and think
Il isn't worth anything. Well, II somebody doesn't
buy It shall double the price Of It in my next caa
logle and If II doesn't sell then shall double the
price again. and by that time some one VIII DO sure
10 want t.n
DO you never get nolu Ol UOohS u1o1 ~" NNN ~
impossible to sell at am
"No, never; / have had so much experience thai
can tell when see any book whether have ever
had calls for II or am likely to have any.
"a good many queer things happen In this Dnsihess'
but here Is one that sounds almost Ike neioh'
though II Is every word true. man came Into my
shop here one day and introduced himself, saying
that though he had had good deal OF correspondence
With me he had never seen me. but being n New
he thought that he would call, though for no ether
purpose than TO say good day as he did not wah'
to buy anything at present We talked pleasantly ior
a few moments and he looked about the shop 'Hha'
is in that big basketP he said, at last.
The basket that he pointed 10 was the same ono
that Is there behind you now and II was full oil oia
legal documents
"oh, nothing Of any consequence, replied, set
ting the basket on the counter for him TO look a.
He turned tho papers and finally asked me
what would take for them. i don't know SAID,
what will you sivo for themP
"I'u give you s1o for the lot he said, and TOOK
the offer at once
He picked out two OF the papers and put them IN
his pocket and then said send the rest any time
but now that you have bought this STUFF and paid
for g. said, 4 suppose you won't MIND telnns m'
SiNot In the least was tho reply 4 am the ex'
ecutor Of an estate mp I'm Of the northern counilcs
and II has been impossible TO prove the title TO certain
parts Of g. Nobody ever disputed me last owner era
now, here in your basket lind the genuine deeds Oh
q ny customer was naturally delighted with what
that he had collected over $4,000 In rents that he
could not &c. before for want Of those deedS'