San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-03-15
OLD BOOK COLLECTORS.
MANY ANTlQUARIANS AND THEIR
HOBBIES AND WHIMS.
Some of the Costly Books That Have Been
Gathered by the Bibliomaniacs-A Few
of the Treasures Discovered by Chi
cago Reporter.

Look at this" said an antiquarian book
seller, unwrapping a thick paper parcel and
producing small octave volume with musty
brown covers. 1t was a copy of Burns
poems and on the title page appeared the
bold signature Of George Washington. The
dealer handled it with the same tenderness
with which a lapidary would handle pre-
cious jewel
This" said he, "is an example of the ro-
nance Of old book collecting. This little vol
ume, copy of the first American edition,
with the autograph of the father of his coun-
try. together with his book plate in front,
and that Of Bradwell Washington on the
back cover, has for forty years been buried
in an obscure Canadian village. 1t is gen
uine treasure and will bring several hundred
dollars easily"
LONDON's MUsTY COVERS.
Are similar finds made often'"
ION the contrary, they are rare. 1t is
their rarity which stimulates the search that
is going on constantly through public libra
ries, old attics and ancient ancestral be-
longings. Plenty of books worth their weight
in gold are undoubtedly hidden all over the
world, In the possession of people who have
no idea of their value. The vast bulk of them,
as they come to light, find their way to Lon
don. That city is the great antiquarian book
market of the world The value of an old
book" he continued, depends upon circum-
stances. Often its rarity, but quite as fire.
quently it is its history, associations and
ownership which determine its worth How
much of a treasure, for instance, would not
| any little thing seem which bore evidence of
having been once in the possession of Shake
speareE"
as the number of old book collectors in
creasing?"
''Al the time in all parts of the world, es-
| pecially in the English speaking portions of
it. They are bidding up the value of chief
works. When twenty men want one book its
| price naturally rises Book collecting is one
of the most virulent of fevers. Once it attacks
a man he remains its victim his whole life
long, and every year the disease takes
stronger hold"
what is Chicago's rank as an old book
marketF'
Important. And it has become much
more so in the last two or three years. There
are hundreds who are afflicted with the fever
of book collecting. Its most hopeless victims
are men in moderate circumstances. Many
of these make great sacrifice to obtain
coveted volume. Rich men, the architects of
their own fortunes, seldom become biblio-
manics, but their sons do"
HIGH PRICED LIBRARY.
DO they show queer tastesw
Yes. They buy books on one subject, and
that one which is entirely removed from
| their vocations. Books on music are not
! bought by musicians; art works are picked
up by men who care little for pictures; doc
tors never buy the hideous old medical books,
Two men here collect everything Obtainable
on He'll Several others-and clear headed,
! practical men they are-buy books on witch
craft One of the finest collections on that
- :. :aG ~ 40 i thisGi1 Two Other men