Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-11-30
RARE VOLUMES.
TAsy Are worth . Snug Little For
tune Baoh.


The FIRST printing press was brought
into England by q merchant named
Caxton, who forsook his trade to en-
Joy the favor OF the duchess OF Bur
gundy, sister of Edward Nv. OF Eng
land, and in 1476 imported from Ger
many printing outfit, which he estab-
lished In a building adjoining West
minister Abbey especially for the pur-
pose Of publishing his translation OF
the history OF Troy Rescueil des HIS
torres de Troyes) II was the nrst
English book ever printed and In 1880
copy was sold by the earl OF Jersey
to Bernard Quaritch, of London, for
$780, says the st. Louis Star.
The next book printed In England
was "The Game and Playe OF the
Cheese" Copies have been sold as
high as $1,000 The first English book
both written and printed in England
Q4S9) was "Dictes and Sayings OF the
Philosophers" of which only four cop
les are known. One of them was SOLD
last year by the earl of Ashburnham
for $1,000.
The first book printed In America
was 'Doctrina Christiana," by Juan
Cromberger, In the city Of Mexico, In
1859. So far as known, there Is not
COPY in existence. The second was
''Doctrina Breve," by Juan Zumarraga,
the first bishop Of Mexico. 1t was
printed by Cromberger In 1543, and
copies have sold as high as 5000.
The first book printed In the United
States was an almanac ut Cambridge
In 1859, by Stephen Dave, who estab-
llshed the first printing press In this
country. The second publication was
a slip containing poem entitled 1.-THE
Freeman's Oath" The next book was
a metrical version Of the Psalms,
called the Bay Psalm Book, In 1910.
Copies are very rare. IT Is one OF the
most valuable books In the world.
The first edition Of the sCanterbury
Tales" printed by Caxton, OF which
only two copies are known, has sold
for $4,000. 800, and $1,000.
The first edition OF Robinson Cru
soe," Q719) sells for $225. The first
editions of Izaak Walton's "Compleat
Angler" (165S) have sold for 5000
The first edition OF 'The Vicar OF
Wakefield" printed In 1855, sold fol
$500: the first edition of Paradise
LOST for $3.50; the FIRST edition Of Mil
toms complete works, containing q
presentation Inscription on ny-leat Ii
his handwriting, 81, $50.
The highest price paid for BOOK
last year was $4,000, by Pickering
Chatto Of London, for Raoul LeFevre'
"a Boke Of the Hool Lyf Of JASON
printed by Caxton In 1890 in black
letter. It is one Of the earliest books
In the English language, and formerly
belonged to Bishop Heber. Some bio
graphical details ON the fly leaves II
his handwriting greatly Increase IL
value. A copy Of Capt. John smith
"True Relation" printed In zoos, SOC
: for 1,425.
The highest price paid for an Amer
ican book last year was $1,000, for
COPY of the Rev. Mr.. Cushman's ser
l mon ON the Danger Of Self-Love,
which was preached at Boston Short!
after the settlement OF that place. 1
is the only copy known OF the nrst ser
mon ever printed I'm America and be
n longed to the collection OF the lat
e Charles Deane. from which II was pur
chased by the Massachusetts, Histor
ical society.
The highest price paid for an auto
graph last year was $1,000, for lei
ter from william Bradford to Gov
, Winthrop, concerning the Affairs o
;, Plymouth colony few months afte
the landing of the pilgrims.