The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-15

rare because of their age. No one among
the collectors seems to want religious
books.
Il know man who has recognized edi-
lion of Martin Luther's works, printed at
lenae, 1856 They are In four volumes,
bound in old vellum This particular copy
to which l 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 reform
er's writings The covers show unmistak-
able evidences of having been in contact
with flames, and the leaves are like punk
showing the effect of intense dry heat, and
where the flames did not touch For prac-
teal use these books .are destroyed, all
though all the reading is there. But the
demand for old religious books is so slight
that they would bring little more than an
ordinary current publication.
Scarce books on American history sell
as fast as we can get our hands on them
Early colonial laws prior to 1776 are among
the rarest of all American books. This Is
due TO the fact that they have probably
been destroyed. AT least, only now and
then does one bob up. During the war of
the rebellion the price of paper was so
high that nearly everything in the way of
old books, magazines, pamphlets and pa
pers was sold for paper pulp TO be made
over.
THAT was before inventive genius had
devised other and cheaper ways of manu-
featuring paper, and better qualities too
Many volumes of American books must
nave been destroyed, particularly in the
Southern states, where at times during the
war newspapers were printed on the back
of wall paper.
II want to tell you something that very
few people know anything about. During
the war and for many years after, book
binders cut down the margins of maya
zines intrusted to their care to an outrag-
eous extent. | have on my shelves many
volumes bound in those days, and In some
there are absolutely no margins to the
pages. The binders did this because they
could get 16 cents a pound for all their
waste paper.
1.-THE succeeding generations OF book
binders followed the pace of their prede-
cessors without knowing why they did So
Close trimming is merely relic of the
old practice during the war, the same as
the buttons on the back of frock coat are
a reminder of the garb of our forefathers
THE tailor of the present day can't tell
you why he puts the buttons there; neither
can the modern boolbinder inform you
why he trims the margins of his work. We
are getting back to ante-bellum DAYS
though, so far as book binding Is concern
ed. The volumes from the best publishing
houses nowadays are turned out with
rough edges, as in the days of yore.
Before going, lei me show you a rare
volume. See that? 1t is a copy of the
'Geistliche Magazien, which was publish
ed by Christopher Saur in 1854. This ex-
tremely rare book is of special Importance
because of its being the first religious
magazine ever published In America IL
was commenced by Saur shortly after the
completion of the second edition of his 81
BILE in recognition Of the great success OF
that work.
THE number were not issued at stated
intervals, but as he had the materials for
them. And. as they were given away
without charge, of course only few were
preserved. There is but one other complete
set of the fifty numbers known Theoph-
lus, who contributed Nos. "a and 26. was
the noted Alexander Mack. founder of the
Thinker Church. Nos. 40 and Al were writ
ten by Christopher Dock, the pious
'Schoolmaster on the Skppack'
Works from the press Of BENJAMIN
Franklin are always in demand. / know
of books from his press some Of which
are not larger than a child's spelling book
and with a less number of pages that are
worth several hundred dollars each. And
there is an active demand for them, loo.
No better investment con be found, either,
for Franklin's imprint will Increase in
value each year. The man who. 100 years
from to-day has in his possession a book
printed by the great American philosopher
and patriot has something on which he
may set his own price and of which he
will have no trouble In disposing.
Yes, our business Is a fascinating one
/ enjoy It, And ! learn something new
every day"