New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-27

volume from which we cannot withhold our coih-
mendaton as beautiful creations, but WHICH, iioN'
one point Of view, have lost their identity "s
literary works amid profuson OF prints al"
Illustrations and are longer admired as literary
productions. but simply as reccptacles LOT Pilh's
and autographs: and he quotes the saying oil
well known book lover: In the emu'auioh
among eXtra-illustrators to produce books with u
Greater number of pictures than the other fellow.
the most absurd paradoXes in time and SUBJECT
are the result ! remember seeing an elegantly
bound copy Of a Life OF Andre crowded WIN
PORTRAITS of persons in every age of the WORLDS
history. beginning with Adam and Eve Some
trivial alluson TO the Garden of Eden was Tespoh-
sbe for this farccal perversion OF extra Illus
tratipr.n Precisely Emulation, wholly non
literary is responsible for most of the eXtraVa-
gance in extra illustrating. If Moses and Shake
speare happened 70 be mentioned in book on
cookery. this kind of eXtra-lllustrator would feel
bound to have their portraits inserted. lhls Is
not bibliomana; it is hobby-riding with ven
geance.
These two volumes arc both full of interesting
facts and intelligent discussion. Mr.. Treadwell
shows clearly that extra illustration is not u
profitable investment: but neither is boolS-buying
MS a rule No doubt some books do acquire a
Fictitious, what might be called an auction.room.
value and by careful nursing in the catalogues
Napoleons OF book selling like Bernard Quarltch
contrive to keep up and even TO increase thcir
saable price. But in too many instances thcSe
books are not priced for their intrinsic WORTH
They are the examples merely OF Jldlclous poo'i''
ing: an art whch has no relation TO literature.
Some books bring forty per cent OF their value AT
auction: but Mr. Treadwcll is probably rieht III
considering twenty-five per cent nearer ap,
proach to the average returns. what is heeue"
in buying. binding and extra illustrating
is greater knowledge and discrimination. Not all
the work even OF great binders, is Valuaoie'
Houses like Chambollc Durer Lortio Freres David'
Cuzin, Ruban, ALA, Marius-Alichcl, ne doupt
turn out magnificent work at their pest; put theN
are not always careful 10 keep up their stahharu'
and it is 10 bc feared that IN dealing WIN Ior-
cioncrs they do not invariably resist the tcmpta-
ton 10 exploit their inexperienced customer
Time alone can protect the amateur in such MAJ
tors however and experience will amend his
taste also. and render him more appiecia'lVe' anu
al the same time more cXactng -,
II remains TO he said that in Mr.. Trcadweil
book among Ioo many examples Of lnJudlcIous
illustration. there Will be tOund apunudH' ~
stances of thorough and mdlciCus work IN ms
line Perhaps sympathy flows mos. nH'I ho4s
toward men who delight to cNieh" up o,
about their own profession. NO one can thIIiN
it unnatural, for example, that lawyer shoni3
take pcnsurc in cNtra-lllnstnilhg d copy ".
Campbelfs Lives Of the Chunc"iiors. or lha'
AN actor or q MANAGER should extend Cunning
hams Nell Gwynn, Or Doran5 book about ne
c:acc. There are many notable cases OF ms
NnG in Mr. Treadweil's pages, and very interest
Ing they arc II is pleasure to Dip into books
written by mcn so competent a. ar. lrcaIWo'!
and Mr. Henri Pcue du Bois, and they at biHt
demonstrate that tastcs which are Of a refining
and erliehtcning nature, and which speak OF a
rand growth Of arts allied 70 literature are
becoming far more widely disseminated n
nigbt have been believed in the absence Of this
conclusive evidence.