The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-24

capital. were wont to stop for entertain
aent at this musician home and in
Scribe Their names IN the fami album be-
fore leaving. The hook was mt resting
ma viii probably bring S1oo or $50. The
boys face, when he realized the wide
gap bstwe~n the fi-ttous ard actual
Value or his treasure, was a study. The
p Ice OF autograp hs has risen n Eng land
because OF so many being exported here.
Foreigners are oveIw @efii y credulouS
rs to the amount of money Americans are
wiling to spend for matters. A signed
MSS, of L.szt four pages. is worth 81 81.
A full letter of Tslleyl and, the Prince
and French statesm N, brings IS. An
autograph document of Coun ess Du Bar
ry. mistress of Lou XIV. s.. A docu-
ment signed by Queen Victoria In 1889,
conferring the COMM s on of gn, Sc s
FOR IS. Although her death will naturally
enhance the va-ue of her handwl iting.
The prices of autographs increase ac-
'ording as events bring the originals into
prominence. The Hall or Fame set vii,
ne new departure. The autographs of
my of the twenty-nne men named can
be readily secured except that of iona
han Edwards. the metaphysician and pull
DIT orator. Although he wrote much, he
eft few letters. Collections are made of
great scientists autographs, matter that
axes time and some money, since it EN-
braces men of many countries. A let
Ter Of Volta, the italian electrician and
inventor, Is worth So. A letter of Frank
ms brings $50. A letter from Morse
$50. War letters from distinguished gen
rails bring from $12 to $40 if very interest
ng. Yet one of the famous passes given
by De Kay, Washington's aide. with
dgna ture so large 1t was said n could
le read across the Potomac, sells at 81
rhe sets of the first congressman, of the
ontinental conventions, of the Presidents
md Vice Presidents down to the present.
IRE popular. Autographs of famous clergy
men and bishops are always in demand
Collections identified with the Wesleyan.
alvinistic, or Church of England move
1ents have value. A fine letter from EFT
veiu, the Moravian bishop, in $780, bring
SO.
THE West is the best market for au-
tographs rowadays. In Chicago, Omaha
Kansas City, there are many collections.
both among rich and plainly circum-
stanced people, The American collector
is as keen after an autograph he needs
to fill out set as he is after business
negotiations. Some collectors know what
they want, and when 10 get it, but have
% await the means of buying. Others
have secured most of the autographs COM
paratively easy to get, and spend time
md money ransacking for unique trees
ures. Some years ago private collector
who owned many fine legal autographs,
oveted certain draft of the Declaration
If Independence, known to have been sent
by jefferson to Richard Henry Lee. The
'ollector visited Alexandria. Virginia, in
terested the right parties in his quest,
and offered good money for the paper.
II was found, alb musty and mouse
ynewed, after eight years patient search
n every family attic that promised a
rail The finder received $3.50 and the
collector the very quintesceuce of pleas
ire. That draft, worth thousands of dol
ars now, will redouble in value as time
asses.
1.-The most persistently enthusiastic au-
ograph collectors are lawyers. But MANY
-ractical business men, master mechanics.
storekeepers, dry goods manufacturer
ave the hobby. Other collectors have to
ave money they buy with getting small,
OTIS at a time. Many begin when quite
6oys, with the 10 cents and % cents lists.
And the taste strengthens as they become
lder and more able to indulge it. Wo-
men often make col ections relating to the
tage, to music and art They are fond
contemporary autographs. And some
women make a practice of petitioning for
he autographs of present-day celebrities
With the avowed intention of selling them
These requests hatter the recipients, and
re often granted. The autographs are
sold to a broker The custom of inlaying
books of poems, essays or biographies
With autograph notes and engrayures of
he author has come much in vogue.
Books so enhanced are popular for Christ
mas and birthday gifts, and are often
unique and valuable. A keener interest
attaches to mans autograph than to his
ngraved portrait. The picture represents
another persons conception of him, but
re put something of himself in the auto
raph. That preserves his own will and
impulse. No person who begins auto
yraph collecting ever loses interest in the
ursuit But 1t is noticeable that the sons
# collectors seldom hesitate to turn their
fathers hobby into cash Immediately such
opportunity comes to them"
Olive r. Gunby.