Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-29
HE ROMANCE OF BOOK COLLECTING.
An Obscure Volume Suddenly Admitted
Among High-Priced ThscksrAyana.

An Obscure Volume Suddenly Admitted
Among High-Priced Thacksrayana.
From the London Athensum
The recent discovery which has added new
Cor rather an old book to the list Of those with
which the name Of Thackeray 10 associated
strikingly illustrates the vicissitudes of things
photographed, and supplies the latest contri-
button to the History Of the Romance Of Book
Collecting"
The story nov going the rounds Of journal
ism is briefly this An almost unknown and
forgotten book Of travels-excellent in ITSELF
no doubt-has suddenly emerged from OBJ
security and taken high and permanent place
among the most cherished treasures OF the
bibliophile. This remarkable transformation
has come about in consequence Of the dis
covery OF document proving Thackeray's
connection with the book in question, the title
OF which is damascus and Palmyra; u Journey
to the East &C., by Charles q. Addison OF the
Inner Temple, in two volumes. London: Bent
ley, 1885.
1t will be readily admitted that no one would
have hought Of even looking for. much less of
finding, anything by Thackeray in such book
as this; nor is there in it any allusion to illus
traitor, or reference to illustrations omission
in itself of no little significance. The fact that
Ihackeray did produce the ilustrations-a fact
which now invests the book with its peculiar
lnterest-seems never to have been known to
more than very few persons OF whom the
principal were the author. Thackeray himself
and the publisher. With the death of these
there was danger of the knowledge lapsing
altogether, and the book would then. but for
the opportune appearance OF the document
referred to, have continued to keep its own
secret
1t would be o subject Of curious inquiry to
ascertain what the contemporary reviewers
had to say about Thackeray's illustrations.
Did they discern CLEANS OF humor in the
Dancing Dervihh" or the ''Sherbet" AID the
''Bonbon Sellersl' Did they note the Tit
marshian gayety of treatment in the Dancer
'Muezzin Calling to Prayers?" Did they turn
again to look at the "Damascene Lady or
vow to distrust the willy syrian Merchant
Most important OF all, did they recognize the
portrait of Titmarsh himself in the frontis-
piece to vol. II, where he is seated in the
bazaar placidly smoking and thinking, per-
chance. OF the wonderful successes OF Bentleys
other man "Bozf' In all probability these
discerning reviewers did not notice the illus
trations at all.
Apropos of Thackeray's anonymous illustra-
ton OF books at this time may be mentioned his
ton Museum) for douglas Jerrold's '.Men of
Character (three volumes. 1885,, which, by the
way. are infinitely better than the engravings
represent them to be. In Addisons work tie
reproduction is probably fair rendering of the
original drawings, and, curiously enough, the
work OF hthographirg these was done (by
Madely) OH the very same premises where the
copy of the book containing the proof of Thack-
erays share in it was sold by Messrs. Sotheby
Wilkinson & Hodge for E27 los; the price real
lied exceeding by exactly II los, the amour:
received by Ihaekcray on December ~. 1887
for drawing the eighteen or (if the design on
the cover be countsd) nineteen illustrations
for il.