Morris tribune., 1897-06-16
FaaE STORY OF AN ALMANAC.
MEaur George Brinley Profited In Trade
Of Books.


azmw George Brinley Proflted In a Trade
of Books.
"A notice in the Review of Books
and Art of the first Bradford alma
macfor the year 1856 recalls shrewd
RSece of book bargaining The fact
that the spider and the fly were both
Yankees lends added zest to the
STORY.
Wallace, in his Commemorative
Address (page 26), stated that ap-
parently only one copy of this al
1naIlac had survived, although sub
sequently another turned up in the
Library of the late DR.. David King
of Newport, R. l., and brought $500
at auction in May, 1888, Nj. Stone
being the purchaser. At the time OF
our story, however, only one copy
WAS supposed to be in existence, and
that was in the library of Judge
Sewell of Massachusetts,. He had a
lot of old almanacs, Is in number,
which he had had bound into one
small volume, and while from all
accounts he had some idea that they
were valuable, yet the extraordinary
rarity of the Bradford one appears
Nd have been unknown to him, al
though quite number of experts
were we'll aware of its value. Some
librarians confidently expected that
the Judge would will it to an insti-
Autlon.
Among the experts who learned
of Judge Sewelps possession of the
book was the late George Brinley of
Hartford, man who had earned the
reputation of getting w hatever he
was after During a call on the
Judge the conversation eventually
Gfrifted to books. Naturally the
Iuage showed Mr.. Brinley his treas
xres, and casually expressed his re-
gret at being unable to obtain com
gaIste set of The Gentleman's Maya
x5se, which even at that time COM
xs4zided fancy prices.
ZIr. Brinley saw his opportunity,
IL, in the most matter Of fact way
GEs::lared that he was gradually be-
mg convinced that bulky, bound
sets of books were nuisance in
grivate library where room was
limited; that he was slowly getting
I'D Of his sets, and finally declared
HAT he would rather have that little
volume of almanacs than the entire
sset OF The Gentleman's Magazine.
The judge was amazed and
thought Mr.. Brinley was joking,
huf TO make ce1 tain he asked him if |
Re was IN earnest, and on Brinley's
Affirming that he was, he agreed to
make the exchange if Mr.. Brinley
would be entirely satisfied. A formal
agreement was executed and the ex-
il1ange made. Mr.. Brinley had not |
neturned home long before stories
began TO get around that he was los
E1g his mind, and among those who !
heard of it was an eminent historian |
aaf Massachusetts,. The story was /
zraRsd to its source eventually, and |
ss=@ found to have originated with
Judge Sewe1l's family, who were so
ssaaaxN1 at having secured a full set
af IT, Gentleman's Magazine that
they concluded Mr.. Brinley was a
M1x1e off, to make such an ex-
raauge.
When the Massachusetts historian
that the highly priced
sf4naEac was no longer in Massa
ss22gzzsetts his chagrin and disappoint-
EaeE1t were intense. Mr. Brinley's
~ RIty was no longer topic of dis
'ssszszsion Here is Mr. Brinley's bal
xnase sheet relating to this transac-
katsza- The set cf The Gentleman
6Esa gazine, bound in half calf, had
cEsst him something over $500. He
ssEss5f up his volume of a1manacs, IL
az sVfaich he had bound separately at
q esasf of SIS per volume After his
a3ka11 these IL volumes brought
xSED, on $50 each. Four remained, of
s9Eza5ch three together sold for $13O,
7varile the remaining one, the Brad
fssEt3, brought 1855. Not the least
Ealnable asset in this transaction,
to the book lover was the
of possessing this great
treasure
Grevys Quick Wit.
~ Een the late President Grevy of
gF~gs71e,6a vicito6 q T,io&11ro rro How, bo |