The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-10
RARE VOLUMES.
Books Tha Are Worth Their Weight in Gold and
Much Moe.


The first printing press was brought
into England by merchnnt named
Caxton. who fCqsook his trade 10 enjoy
the favor OF the Duchess OF Burgundy,
siser OF Edward ", OF England. and in
l476 imported from Germany "a printing
outfit, which he established In a build
ing adjoining Westminster Abbey es-
pecially for the purpose OF publishing
his translation of the history OF Troy
Receuil des Histories de Troyes). 1t
was the first English book ever printed,
ami in 1885 a copy was sold by le Earl
of Jersey 20 Bernard Quaritch, in Lon
don. Cor 50, lOO
The next book printed in England was
THE Game and Playe OF the Cheese.
Copies have been sold as high as 81. 300.
says the st. Louis Star. The first Eng
lish book both written and printed i'm
England O4S9) was "Dictes and Say
ings OF the Philosophers, OF which only
four copies are known One OF them
was sold last year by the Earl of Ash
burnham for $1,000.
The first book printed In America was
"Doctrina Christiana," by Juan Crom-
berger, In the City OF Mexico. In 1859.
SO far as known. there Is not a copy
i'm existence. The second was Doc
trina Breve." by Juan Zumarraga. the
first bishop of Mexico. IL was printed
by Cromberger i'm 1543, and copies have
sold as high as $4,000
The first book printed in the United
States was an almanac at Cambridge
Ina 1859. by Stephen Daye, who estab-
-lished- the first printing press In this
country. The second publication was a
all N "A N N 1ah
Freeman's Oath" The next book was
a metrical version of the Psalms, called
The Bay Psalm Book" in i6io. Copies
are very rare. 1t is one of the most
valuable books in the world.
The first edition OF 1.-The Canterbury
Tales" printed by caxton, OF which
only two copies are known. has sold for
81. 900, ST. 100 and $9.400.
The first edition OF Robinson Crusoe
ono sells for 1926. The first edition OF
"Izaak Walton's Compleat Angler"
u653) has sold for s.. .075. The first edi-
ton of THE Vicar OF Wakefield"
printed in 1856. sold for 5000; the first
edition OF Paradise Lost" for s450;
the first edition Of Millions complete
works, containing a presentation in
scription on a fyleaf in his handwrit-
ing, $i15O.
The highest price paid for a book
last year was $40 500. by Pickering &
Chatto. of London, for Raoul lie Fevre's
"A Boke OF the Hool Lyf OF JASON"
printed by Caxton in 1890 in black LETT
ter. Ii is one OF the earliest books in
the English language and formerly
belonged 10 Bishop Heber. Some bio
graphical details on the flvleaves i'm
his handwriting greatly increase it's
value. A copy of Captain John Smiths
True Relation" printed in 1908, sold
for Sl425.
The highest price paid for an Ameri-
can book last year was $1,000. for a copy
of the Rev. Mr.. Cushman-s sermon on
the "Daner OF Self-Love." which was
preached at Boston shortly after the
settlement Of that place. IL is the only
copy known OF the first sermon ever
printed in America. and belonged TO
the collection OF the late Charles Deane.
from which it was purchased by the
Massachusetts Historical Society.
The highest price paid for an auto
graph last year was $1,000. for letter
from William Bradford to Gov. Win
thrOp. concerning the affairs OF the
Plymouth colony a few months after
the landing of the Pilgrims.