Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-09-04

Stories Outside as Well as Inside Their
Covers-some Of the Places Frequented
by Collectors.
One must make the round Of the second
hand bookstalls in our big cities to get the
real aroma and atmosphere Of books.
These bookstalls are usually in the by
ways, and they are oascs of uuaintness and
fascination to the bibliomaniac and col
iector. These old bookstalls are usually
sandwlched in between other shops or
down IN grimy Easements The master il
all OF piece with his wares, in the scar
and yellow leaf, down at heels. out at ell
bows, and general air of dilapidation-
just as the books are q bit the worse on
the outside feg the battle Of life. but with
In contain heart as pure and Young as
when the back was straight and the cover
a thing Of beauty. Few Of these old hook
stalls are ever advertised One stumh,es
upon them. The dingy shelves often hide
among countless miscellaneous Volumes
rare treasures, veritablo finds. editions
long out of print, autographs editions
that have driftcd into this promiscuous
collection Of old books no one knows how
All these books are old Veterans who
could a tale unfold besides that bound and
printed between the covers. Some OF these
books wear the Anticipated garb Of yellum
so fashionable in our great-grandfathers
days; some have quaint black letter tyne
with curiojisly illuminated chapter initials
At the bookstall the new book counts
for naught, and the shabby old book takes
precedence. Many and various are the
reasons why old books acquire their value
They may belong TO limited editions or to
editions that have long been out of print;
they may 10 autographic or have a valua-
bic eI libris, or bookplatc Of some former
owner. BE it primer, almanac, Bible or.
in fact, anything between covers, with this
treasure in it, it is "a prize that marks
rcd letter day to the finder Age at the
boosstall is at a premium that in many
cases goes for u bargain. The uninitiated
mortal little thinks of all this as he heed
lessly passes these diney old stalls, while
the collector or bibli0nauiac is ever on the
qui yiyo to find an Elzeyir, an Aldine d
Bordoni or carly American editions with
the Bradford or Benjamin Franklin In
print.
Not long since friend Of mine became
the happy owner Of an extended edition
OF The New York Stage in which q
great amount Of additional newspaper clip
pings on tine stage had been bound in with
the book, besides plates and photographs
OF the successive actors and actresses TINT
have delighted the public for years This
valuable edition was procured for a mere
song, and the same luc1y mortal picked
up first edition of Thackeray' s works
with broken backs ana dog cared leaves
Ny friend showed me his treasures with
tie pride OF Pompev and told me Of the
rcmarkable old fellow Of whom he had
purchased the books This old man aft
erward interviewed and l found him q
character Although not a literary man.
h had inhaled the book atmosphere So
long that by "A strange intuition he knew
the inside as well as the outside Of his
wares, rs if the books had confdcd TO him
al their secret being. Then he had CLEAN
ell a lot Of valuable information from col
lcctors and experts Out Of the confusion
verse confogndcd that always reigns in q
b0okstall the old, vendcr can produce Just
what one asks for without any real search
III dark, dingv, dusty corners, where to
tie purchaser disorder seems supreme
hcse old stalls have II fascination for me
l weave stories about these books that are
no" IKE some i7es' tossed about from pill
A-r % POSI-
FOR tie collector London offers rare op
pof.0li'leS ~ 1he QlStrlc5 @bout r. Paul 5.
= ~ '1fl7 y unique IN the stalls over
Lhl&lilg tAe Scltc' where all sorts and
c"Iuieiohs oI h'en mover over All sorts and
o,huiti9hs OF DOCKS, VINE the busy river
Z i'i'S on Le'Weeh the walled mp banks,
: ihs 10 'Ae observer marvellous effects OF
iiShC ana SIii!'lc, ana tAe Old city hreathes
rs strange sheh that has won SO many
io,Cfs lof heF rom an quarters of the globe
70" !! on tae quay oltalre the time
i','NStS llhs the "liid' lor between the las
y mining ia DOORS ana tho panorama OF
,.''ure ana humanity asd the capTlc1ous
"FVs-oAs OF SMOKE that give shade Of
h'y sterF 10 the scene, citen found that
~ ill9hV WAS Slowly yl9ldlhg to the mys-
oflt'as reign OIL hlSh'. hAd hau neglected
u ouSlheSs ahloilS Vhe oid DOCKS ana had
!'oI dreaming Cfclills ai4u seeing visions.
= "a iar apoNe 'ile spires ana dwellings OF
! 'Ai7' u'irhiF ou'4he'l against luminous
p.cA erolihu OF western say, was the young
{ eacc'lo moon gisteh'he' golden scythe
4 q iiei'l Oh countess stars Inc olu Nend-