Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-12

eight pages wanted were of old Pennsyl-
vania laws. Was the offer accepted? Not
much: Ii was declined with thanks the
owner being something of a bibliophile him
SELF, ard knowing that the scarcity of these
pages would permit him to fix his own fig
ure for the set
The pages would be passed over or de-
stroyed by the Ordinary reader, yet there
is not another known copy in existence
You will readily understand that they are
valuable when you consider the size of the
offer. 1t is a good deal of money to put
into a few pieces of faded paper, but 1
know where l could dispose of them at a
big profit even at that figure.
Yes, our business is a peculiar one. Some
time ago bought a pamphlet from another
bookseller for 80 cents and sold it within a
few days for $40. That was merely a stroke
of luck in business I couldn't do 1t every
day. The pamphlet was on this book sellers
shelves for sale at stipulated price fixed
by himself and marked within the cover.
Should a man not in the business come
to my place with that pamphlet for sale /
would not presume on his ignorance and
offer him 30 cents. Such a proceeding
would be no less than robbery. l would
make him fair offer, one that would en-
able me in han Cling 1t to make a fair profit.
No. dealers in rare books seldom make
purchases from strangers unless they can
give satisfactory information of how the
books came into their possession This is
done partly fro m a. selfish motive and part
ly from a desire to protect their customers.
THE dealer in rare books has his regular
customers. His mission is akin to the con-
fidential lawyer with client. He is famil-
lar with the literary taste of each customer.
His first thought in purchasing is that such
or such a person would like that book The
book is put aside and word Is sent to that
customer.
Widespread Trade.
mo; 1 do not depend the trade of
Washington alone. Were l dependent
any one city the business would be dis
NAL failure. There are in Washington a
number of private libraries of rare books.
l have customers in nearly every state in
the Union. One Of my best customers lives
in Portland. Ore. There is Ettle chance fo-
deception, even were dealer go inclined.
Hardly a day passes that L don't have
brought to me for sale old papers. the own
ers of which actually believe that they
have something that will bring Them a good
price. In ninety-nine cases out of hun
dred they fac-similes, and my heart
goes out for the people who bring them.
because l am forced to break the spell of
their cherished hopes.
"A true bibliophile knows the value of a
book the minute he hears reads the
name. Therefore. when L get hold of
scarce volume, all l do is to acquaint my
customers with the fact and its state of
for book six months after it has been
snapped up by some prompt collector.
washington is a good town for the col
lection and sale of rare books, out 1t Is by
no means the best. Philadelphia stands at
the head in line Of ira lie. All through
the hard times New York book sellers have
complained of poor business, but it has not
been noticed to any great extent here OF
course, when money is scarce it affects all
trades more or less, but the people who
collect rare works are usually those who
have means to crafty what has grown to
be fad with them. 1t is a significant fact
that some of the most valuable private
Libraries can be found in the smaller viii
lagos and towns.
Il got $500 for the first Masonic book
published in America, and it is no larger
than the ordinary primer used by child.
1t had double value because Of the fact
that 1t was printed by Benjamin Franklin.
There are very few copies in existence.
They are to be fonnd in the cider Masonic
lodges. and were purchased at good round
figures.
Varying Values.
"a book that is valuable to one dealer
may not be valuable to another. Fer in
stance, book seller from another city
came in to see me one day and asked If
1 wanted a book which he mad in his
pocket, and for which he wanted me to
make him offer. 1 looked at Il. and,
as it in fair state Of preservation,
told him I would give him go. This was
satisfactory 10 MIN. ana ne volunteered a
willingness to trade the book for books on
my shelves. He selected sixteen volumes,
the combined list prices of which amounted
to $50. 1 felt that had bettered my stock,
and l have no doubt that he thought he
bettered his in the transaction
You will likely be surprised when 1 tell
you that in this God-fearing country there
is practically no demand for rare theolog-
ical books. This is due, probably, to a con-
siderable degree, to the TACT that there has
been a change in the orthodox teachings
from a century or more ago. 1t is almost
impossible to get rid of rare theological
books; that is. those books that are most
rare because of their age. No one among
the collectors seems to want religious
books.
II know a man who has a recognized edi-
ton Of Martin Luther's works. printed at
Ienae, 1856. They are in four volumes
bound in old vellum. This particular copy
to which I refer survived destruction by
fire at the hands of the ecclesiastical au-
thorities of the day. who. history informs
us, took exceptions to that great reformer's
writings. The covers show unmistakable
evidences of having been in contact with
flames and the leaves are like punk, show
ing the effect of intense dry heat, and
where the flames did not touch. For prac-
teal use these books are destroyed, al
though all the reading is there. But the