Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-12-08
RARE GEMS TN BOOKS.
LITERARY TREASURES m THE Aston
LIBRARY IN NEW YORK,

ship and Are worth Small Fortunes
Ancient illustrations In Priceless Manu-
scripts.
Even many otherwise well informed
people are not aware that the public H.
braries Of this city contain some Of the
choicest literary gems extaat-books for
which wealthy b~ibliophiles have offered
fabulous sums. IL New York is not the
literary center Of America, thsn books
immense In number, rare in antiquity
and almost priceless In value arc not
factors in the competition.
There are thirty-four public libraries
in New York, and the number and value
Of the volumes within their walls have
grown so rapidly that Paris, Munich and
even London will be surpassed in their
library collections il the present growth
continues.
The day when the citizen of New Am
sterdam was content to sit outside hin
door. drink beer. smoke, grow fat and
die in the firm belief that he had enjoyed
life, has given way TO an entirely differ
snt state of affairs.
Twenty-Five years ago one public h.
brary collection was considered sufficient
10 meet the demands Of every class, call
ing or profession. Today nine institu-
tons can be picked out, each ons Of
which is patronized by a single class.
The Aston 10 the richest Of all our IL
brares- One million dollars worth Of
books repose upon its shelves, but not
without frequent disturbance. From
Efty to 100 studious men and ONE are
dely,ng into the enchanting mysteries q
reading rooms are open 10 the public.
The library contains nearly $20o.o 900
worth Of rare books and manuscripts,
which are seldom allowed to 60 into tbs
hands Of the public, Perhaps the largest
and finest single volume In New York
may be found there. IL any one thinks
that the contemporaries of Shakespeare
and Milton would marvel at the superb
product Of modern illustrators he is very
much mistaken. Nothing has been pro-
duced in the last century that a equal,
much less rival, tho illustrations In q
Seventeenth century manuscript entitled
-Antiphonale." 1t contains 22s pages Of
yeilum, adorned by 272 small and IS
large miniatures in the highest style Of
the French art Of that day. Some Of its
illustrations have been attributed to LIE
Brun. the great painter Of the time Of
Louis XIV. The larger paintings for
the most part are scenes from the Scrip
k1raa ,r0-On-aNa 80 Nha -a-1,,. L.-,A
festivals, and many of the initial letters
which accompany the stanzas are
illumined in a style wholly unknown at
the present day. This volume, bound in
purple morocco with gilt mountings and
orusmented with the fower-de-luce, was
designed for the coronation Of Charles
v. At 3 public sale 1t would easily COM
mand several thousand dollars.
Another valuable work is Sylyester's
Universal Photography" In two vol
umes, containing upward Of 800 finely
executed facs:miles Of medieval work.
Of art This sumptuous work is said TO
have cost the sum Of E20,0 o for its exc
cution alone. Among other r~arities is q
copy OF the first letter written by Chris
TOPPER Columbus after he discovered
America There are only six copies Of
these in existence. The letter consists Of
only four leaves, but at q London auction
sale in 1872 It brought 500.
Another rare volume to be found only
in this library is Lloyd's History Of
Columbia, Now Called Wales" pub
lished In 1854. 1t contains the legendary
narrative Of the expedition Of Prince
Modoc and a Welsh company that voy-
aged to America prior 10 Columbus, but
returned Many foreigners have
sent to this country for abstracts from
this rare volume.
The earliest known editions Of Ptols.
my's geography reposs on the shelves Of
the Aston. The dates on their title pages
range from 147s to 1921. There is also
superb specimen Of TIE "Biblia Sacra
Latina" Of 1862, the first edition Of the
Bible boundin old crimson morocco, with
gilt edges, which Is worth 10000. In
side the covers are the names of those
immortal printers" Johann Faust and
Peter SchaSeT. The Oldest polyglot
edition Of the Scriptures, executed at
the order Of Cardinal Ximsnes, which
cost $4,000 ducsts in gold and fifteen
years for its preparation, is also at the
Aston. The oldest manuscript Of all is
the "Lsctiones Evangeiiis." printed on
vellum and containing whole pages Of
Examinations. This manuscript was
executed by the monks In A D. lI7e,
and Is almost priceless IN value. No
other library in America possesses such
. treasure. Next in point Of antiquity
Is John Wyclifs English version Of the
New Testament, written In 1890, and
containing the autobiography Of Hum
phrey. duke Of Gloucester. There are
also two rich Persian manuscripts Of the
Fifteenth century, besides manuscripts
Of more recent date.
Several competent Psychologists,
among them the late Miss Amelia B.
Edwards. who inspected the collection
during her visit 10 this city, have pro-
Eonnced the library especially rich in
oriental works The great work Of
James Audubon on the Birds Of Amen-
ca consisting OF four volumes, would
probably bring 5000. Elliott's Indian
Bible. dated 1851, the first Bible printed
In America; the Geneva, or the Brooches
Bible Of $780, q copy Fl the pspal bull
against Luther, lS2d; rare Siamsse
manuscripts, and the valuable and In,
sersst1ng collection Of autograph letters
from emperors, poets, statesmen, presi-