Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-08-20
LITERARY AUTOGRAPHS.
The Signature Market and It's Current
Prices.

Irices.
1t is curious how you can Judge the
popularity of authors with the great
public from the prices which tlfir auto
graphs or letters bring in open market
was talking recently with n prominent
New York autograph dealer, and he told
me some interesting facts aboIt literary
autographs Literary autographs are
wav down at present, said this auto
graph veteran. a letter by Bryant and
Longfellow always brought from 81 to
$40: now each can be had for $500.
James Russell Lowell is pretty steady
at Sl.5O. While DR.. Holmes, owing 70 his
generosity in answering letters, s'iii 'or
so cents a letter. Emerson isscFce. "ad
sells for from S. to so. Haw, orne's
letters bring about S. apiece -Four
pages of his manuscript, signe recently,
brought S125. Louisa Alcott can be had
in plenty at so cents, while Mrs. Adeline
ID. T. Whitney, on the other hand, sells
for 81. George Eliot's letters are worth
SO, while one by her husband scarcely
lr;ngs 50. Mrs. Browning commands
easily s., while notes by her husband are
easily lad for so cents. Funny, in't It:
Take Carlyle: A letter by him brings 50;
one by his wife, So Tennyson is steady
at $40. and hard to get at that figure
Charlie Dickens always sells readily for
$40. also. while Thackeray's chirosraphy,
Just signed to letter, commands So a
signed quarter Of n page of his manu-
script Is worth $3.50. / sold three OF
John Keats's love letters only last week
for $3.50. An ordinary Keats autograph
is worth aboutS25. Shelley sells for $40,
and Byron and Tom Moore about the
same. Walter Scottis higher, and brings
$50, while Southey and Coleridge COM
mand Sl5
Taking strictly those authors OF the
present day, and Tennyson's autographs is
the highest in value. Swinburne is next
at s. for letter, while Zola will bring
the same. sell number of the latter
to young girls. Ouida is the highest
among literary women, for she rarely
signs her .name for autographic pur-
poses, and good specimen letter OF hers
will easily bring $40 Mrs. Oliphant,
funny enough. is very high, for she re-
fuses. as does Ou:da. to oblige autograph
hunters. Mr.. Stowe hringsS So for good
letter. while Mrs. Sluthworth is barely
worth IS cents. Whittier will sell for 50
and George Bancroft about s.. How
ellis? Oh. IS cents will buy letter of
his. Marion Crawford is had easily at
an even dollar. Edsar Saltus? About
80 cent for lette while his literary
chum Edgar Fawcctt, brings % cents.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox rarely exceeds 40
cents Amelie Rives is plenty at half
dollar. Daudet is scarce, however, at
$3.50. and Guy de Maupassant is at the
same figure. Jules Verne is also rather
hard to getin open market, while Dumas,
on the Other hand, isonly worth 20 cents.
And so il gees. Lien, a month ago, sold
for 81 or S.: now 50 When Henry James
was the rage sold III : "ould get at
g. 30 apiece; now You can't get 90 cents
for one Of lis letters. Tolstoi is rather
high. for he rarely writes letters. Kip
ling? | haven't one Of his, but have
over 20 orders for anything in his hand
writing, and shall charge 50 for good
letter by him. Strange business? Yes,
but very interesting, watching the rise
and fall Of the literary idols. - Edward
Rol-