New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-05
GLADSTONE AND HIS BOOKS
A LETTER IN WHICH HE WRITES OF HIS
EXPERIENCE AS COLLECTOR

EXPERIENCE AS A COLLECTOR
Bernard Quaritch. the famous London book
seller. publishes an occasional miscellany under the
title OF contributions Toward a Dictionary OF Eng
lish Book Collections" In Part VIII of this work
he has Just printed In fac-simile the following letter
from Mr.. Gladstone:
Hawarden September Q. 1885,
Dear Mr.. Quaritch: The regiment OF book col
ecors stands in no d need 81 ano w en
/ have In my time been purchaser 10 the extent
therefore abide a qnanti,ative test but. as fear.
no other. A book collector ought. as conceive TO
leisure wealth knowledge. discrimination and per.
severance. OF these Rave only had two me hrst
and the last and heSS are eo NOT me e mSS' uno ma
serious amount of disability: and speaking seher,
am am gradually Transferring the bulk Of my library
TO the Institution Of 81. Dein.ois, az TINS place,
S wnah b rape for use and few Of what are
me treasures though you would apprehcnd re-
TSe odes 81 book is to say the one
longest in my possession-was presented to me per
By Ms HS Snd sven
eighty-one years ago. and was accompanied win "A
onIy the first words They were these YOU
have just come into this world, and am jus; going
time. and j have a variety OF books acquired az
!T ol History in onaro. presented to
me by his son Arthur, the subject Of In Memo
r'd Rnok hIyers Of the present day have immense
advantages in the extended accessibility and cheap
modern languages ought TO be considered class ,,
Sa h syS wh SRy cost S me- a. hold
poems In the small volumes at somewhat larger
R The enormous n development Of tho
book trade and the public spirit OF many pup pup
In one only they have lost
and that is in regard to bookbinding. ]; Is tas a
geseTa1 rye deare e than u It WAS seventy or eighty
years ba ck. and Notwithstanding additions OF duty
Worse in that vi,aily important particular. the
easy opening Of book our case con'rass very
and Italy yet as know. good plain binding can
still be had at reasonable prices showed lately
0dns el oSsS AZ we o s' shifting.
IA her TOO high. but (when at Oxford the binder
As quantity has been my strongest point. may
without offence refer TO It IN comparison WITH Ha
for An hts s" own s% use voumes They
examined and valued for sale (Which never came
o oet from 1If them $500 or little over TWO shngs
volume Nearly Eo the the e s 0 rex of of
rarlties brought mot at aucton) about f6 vol
ume. -, ., .ou., Z,
have had a few speciatics One I will mention I
accumulated more than thirty distinct Tifae &C
had pTssces Shsh eom%Gny ran to h has
blemishes Let them be removed and II will find
universal acceptance. Accordingly have per-
formed this operation and | give the Re-
formed Prayer Book TO the world" But l have
never obtained. and have never seen. second
edition of any one OF these productions. ! greatly
doubt whether they have usually paid their print
er's bills
trlcitcs But on the whole II IL vitalizing Gle
ment In n society honey combe1 by several sources
OF corruption. My apology for the poor part
have played in II Is that II could only have the
and en5s the dres and esyn 5 of my %s
| send you is very meagre one To mend II n
little | give 10 this pursuit In all its walks. from
the highest with which you Of all men the
most conversanO downward my heartIest good
wishes And that ] may not be ungrateful, ! Will
apprise you that still preserve among my most
select possessions the beautiful copy on vellum Of
the Lyttelon- G la dstone TRANSACTIONS which you
good M to present 10 me. ! remain very
faithfully yours. W. L. GLADSTONE.