The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-14

The New York Tribune printed, not
long since, the following paragraphs
under the caption "Appraising Old
. Books"
!" Can you tel me whether this is a
valuable book or How much is this
book worth? p are questions often asked
at the chief secondhand bookstores by
patrons who think they have picked up
some rare old edition or who think they
can perhaps dispose to advantage OF
some volume which they own and be-
1ieve TO be priced by collectors. II the
book il obviously worthless. their in
quiries can be answered shortly and
positively, but in great number OF
cases the information they seek Is such
that no book dealer, however well in
formed, can give 1t correctly offhand.
And just because investigation is .nec-
essary to determine IL such informa-
tion is worth money. The owner of the
boo,s will not in most instances obtain
the market quotation on his property or
even perhaps find out whether there is
any considerable value in IL without
Odyliik IOl the knONleQHe.
mot all dealers win or can appraise
books in this way for patrons, for the
work requires that they shall have
large facilities in the hne OF catalogues
TO consult and shall be able 20 spare
The time oS one man for hours, days or
perhaps weeks TO search carefully
through all the lists. All catalogues of
auctions OF rare books which have been
held I'm recent years in various parts of
the world are valuable in assisting in
such work, and The last one examined
might be the only source OF the desired
statistics.
"The prices charged for the work
vary greatly, as might be expected, ,ac-
cording to- the amount OF time which
has TO be spent. one dealer who does
q good deal of this appraising seldom
undertakes TO look UP book for less
than 81. and his charges may run from
this up TO $40 I'm rare cases. when the
edition Is particularly hard one 10
trace. The charges are not necessarily
based, however, upon the value OF the
book. for frequently one worth compar-
atvely little requires just as much la
bor in the search as one which proves
TO be a rare prize. The patron takes
the risk of this, and when II happens
ne is obliged TO pay for the work and
stand the loss"
Having had some slight experience IN
such matters. the writer will attempt a
little illustration. A dealer in books af.
ter having acquired the reputation OF
knowing something OF the commercial
value of books. is approached incessant.
~ by those having old or curious book.
IN order 10 obtain the booksellers expe.
rience without paying anything for it
No living man can tell the value n
money OF any rare book BY the wort
rare we mean such books as are seer
Sive times or less i'm long life. Nov
let me illustrate this by an actual ex
pcricnce. One morning. years ago. wher
Frank Gay kept hook shop just w-her,
Browning. King n Co, now sell trous.
err. the writer was walking by Franz
had basket Of old. books standing by
his door The price marked was 3 cents
each. The writer bought one. with nc
intention OF selling "a again but while
n was lying on the desk in the writer
once. the late Henry #. Beckwifh came
IN. saw the book and wished 10 buy a.
The WRITER told Mr.. Beckwith the cir
/. oomotnnce Of the purchase and the