Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-29
LUCKY FINDS IN BOOKS.
Ten Cents for the First American Edition
OF the Vicar OF Wakefield"

Book collectors occasionally make
lucky finds. Every bibliomaniaS is IA
miliar with the story Of the famous dis
covery Of NJ Tenant de LatourS, the
well-knOwn French collector, who one
day while strolling along the quay OF
/ historic Louvre, saw small mean-lOOk-
/ ing volume lying upon book stall,
which he discovered TO be Il copy OF
"ImitatiO ChriScO. and moreover, that
upon the tly leaf was the autograph OF
j. j. RoSSeau. Securing the volume,
he quickly returned home, where he
made the further discovery in IL Of a
note written by ROSseau. dated 1868, in
which he requested his spOndcnt
to forward u copy OF the 'ImitatiO
CriSt0." This, OF course, was re-
marSable find, but is no more wonder
ful or interesting than certain ones
which have been made by Philadelphia
collectors.
MIR. PHIIEs' REMARKABLE FIND.
Not more than three weeks ago Mr..
George L. PhileS, the eminent authority
upon Americana, and especially New
York and Philadelphia imprintS, quite
unexpectedly. while glancing over the
books upon the lO-cent stand OF we'll
known old book store of this city, come
upon the first American edition of the
Vicar of Wakefield" printed i'm Phila-
delphia for William Meutl, aud sold 10y
most OF the booksellers ia America,
i71s.
In speaking of this book, Mr.. PhileS
remarked: This edition has become
80 excessively rare that but three per-
feet copies only are. at present, known
/ 90 be in existence. one OF these Is IN
the library OF the Historical Society of
/ Pennsylvania. and Judge Samuel w.
/ Pennypacker has tinec copy. II should
Dee remarked that this first American
edition Is highly priced and eagerly
sought after by intelligent collectors OF
| choice books. not merely ON account OF
/ its extraordinary rarity. but more par
/ ticularly for its typographical, literary,
and its intrinsic value. Indeed, 10 may
be said. TO possess certain manuscript
value. and faithfully represent the orig
inal text of GoldSmith'S immortal work,
being in fact an exact reprint of the
first English edition, printed at Sails
bury in 1866, and exhibiting all the pc
culiar characteristics mentioned by Mr.
Forster in his careful description OF
that edition.
The word Fudge Is not repeated Al
each pause by Miss Caroline Wilhclmins
/ Amelia Skcgg'S fascinating remarks or
| Shakespeare, high life, and the muSica
glasses" as il is in the second and third
editions. aud there is no table OF con
tents. which, also. was first added tC
the SeeoLd edition.
1t is an interesting fact that, down
To the year 1850. nearly 100 editions oil
the Vicar Of Wakefield have been pub
lliShed. Thirty editions appeared from
1868 10 1856. The original editions now
command enormous prices Whenever
they happen To appear in the auction
sales in England. Three years ago ;
lcopy of the first edition. printed 1t Sal
isbury. in 1900, brought $50 at an aue
ton sale in London. We are unable L
trace the public sale Of single copy OF
the first American edition OF the Nicai
Of Wakefield"
MIR. BRINDLEY'S TREASURE.
IL is not 80 many years since Mr.
Brindlev. the famous New York cOllec
tor. was alive and was accustomed 70
make frequent trips TO Philadelphia il
search OF rare old books. One OF his
great places for picking up treasure
was Pollock'S. One day Mr. Brindlel
happened in this store, aud seeing ;
musty little volume lying carclcSSll
upon the table, he picked 1t up, an'
upon examination discovered that Il
was the Laws of New York.
printed by William Bradfori
| i'm 1898 in New YORK, being the frs
work issued in that colony. Although
aslow with excitement, Mr.. Brindlel
calmly asked Pollock the price OF th'
book. 1t has been here for a goo'
while" said Pollock, You can have b
| for Sl6." Not waiting TO have his treas
ure cncased i'm paper, Mr.. Brindley pai'
the money and departed That Sam'
book. a few years later al the sale o
Mr.. Brindley's library, fetched $1,000