The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-10
AUTOGRAPHS 70 HUNT Up
VALUE TO CERTAIN SIG
NATURES
RARE AMERICAN AUTOGRAPHS
Mistakes OF People About Old Doc
uments-The Ruling Prices for
tho Manuscripts of
Authors.

MUCH anu SO IaSL ABOUT uer QlIDCuILy IN
finding the place. her ignorance of bust
ness methods and her genuine helpless
ness that the proprietor was puzzled as
to whether she came on q buying or a
selling errand.
'Oh! These dear old papers," she ex-
claimed motioning toward tho shelves
stacked with manuscripts and folios.
Anything Inildewed and time-worn is de-
lightful. You repair old autographs, 1
suppose those that can hardly hang to-
gether?"
The broker replied that he got an ex-
pert to repair them for him.
'And that burglar-proof safe! I expect
you have priceless papers in there" she
said.
The broker admitted that he had valu-
ables in safekeeping.
Well" she said, opening the reticule
which hung from her belt and taking
out packet, I've brought you a
treasure letter that came into our
possession through great aunt, rela-
tive of the statesman. We wouldn't
think Of selling it, only 1t seems small
minded to keep thing of such universal
interest hid away privately. Mother said
I might part with it to person who
truly understood it's value for sS0,''
Whose autograph Is it?' said the
broker. Lets see it, 1 can tell you It's
worth at q glance
Henry Clay's: Two pages Of note
paper closely written, date and all COM
plete. But" still keeping hold of it,
you'll be sure to give it back to me If
you don't decide to take It,"
Certainly" said the broker
Its fine, isn't it?' the young woman
asked after the letter had been scanned.
''It's rather interesting, "twas the an
swer. 'TIl give you 81 for it,
Two dollars!" she exclaimed, reaching
for the treasure. Are you in earn
est2'
quite. Two dollars is all the letter is
worth to me-"
But people get $500 and $500 for great
mems letters. And Clay was a famous
orator. He was secretary Of state He
was"
Eyes. He was famous but he wrote a
great many letters. His autographs,
while not drug on the market, are suf-
ficiently plentiful to make dealers indif-
ferent about securing them"
There was further information on mat
tiers governing autograph quotations, but
evidently to unheeding ears, for when
the young woman rose to go, she said,
in the tone Of a person Offering another,
the final, chance at a bargain:
so you won't give $50 for my Clay let
ter!'' And she had to be again assured
tlldI Lie HIdTh6I price WAS 81.
People have many halIucinatfons
about the value of autographs" said the
broker when she had gone No such
money value obtains as is commonly be-
lieved. Complete sets Of signatures, or
autograph letters, relating to any par
ticular epoch in history bring big prices
For instance the colonial governors, the
chief justices, the prime movers in a
great religious crisis, or the foremost
fald c%oIc ~
war. The autographs Of persons IN
known to fame, but who assisted in the
signing of some important state paper
also bring good prices. But the single
letter Of a parsonage, however great, if
1t has no such association seldom brings
over $50. Even the original manuscripts
Of verses, stories, or music scores Of
Well-knOWn writer's and musicians have
slight market value.
IAN autograph poem OF Jean Ingelow
brings So. The manuscript Of Mullen
berg's L Would Not Live Away sold at
auction lately, when many collectors
were present, for $1S. o. w. Holiness
old Ironsides' manuscript brought only
S45. The signatures of quite eminent
actors and politicians can be had for
10 and is cents
Yet people apply to me who expect
fabulous prices for their autograph
wares. Recently man offered ten
line note from Sarah Bernhardt for $40.
l showed him a longer and better one
written by her which brought $780, Some
body arrived with letter from Jenny
Lind's husband, written about her at the
time of her marriage, and which was
held to be worth SIS. 1t sold for So
"a precise old party tongue-lashed me
lately because 1 offered her $3.50 for
signed document of Hopkinson, one of
the Pennsylvania signers of the Declar-
alton OF Independence. He did little else
noteworthy, besides signing that paper.
and his autograph is more common. with
one or two exceptions, than the auto
graphs of any Of the f1fty-six commits
sioners. Yet she calculated on getting
$40 Tor her letter.
9 Never mind, young man! she said,
with particular ire. You think I don't
know about these matters and can be
imposed upon. But only the other day
the signature, the naked signature of a
signer, written on the title page Of a
book that was found somewhere brought
$3.50. And should like to know If one
Signer of that paper isn't just as good
as another And she dounced out to see
other dealers.
"Of course, could not explain to her
the relative Importance of tho signe-s
How some of the flfty-six lived long and
wrote much, and others wrote seldom, or
their letters were lost.
This Lynch referred to- the South
Carolina signer, was drowned at sea when
only thirty. He was educated abroad
and was only in America seven years
after his graduation. Collectors of the
signers' set Of autographs are wild for
even his signature Only Lynch append
ed to bills or on books or pictures is to be
had and rarely. Asfnll AUTOGRAPH from
him is impossible, unless some new I'M
thenticated letter from him exists, now
In the keeping Of a public library.
"GWinnett, of Georgia, is another signer
whose autograph Is valuable. He died at
ters in his hand exist. Documents and
signed dedications from him are rare
Taylor, Middleton and Hall are other
signer5 who left few written effects.
their signatures will assume as affairs
proceed. But of the other signers there
are from seventeen to ffty-six authentical
letters and numerous signed papers and
bills extant
Yesterday an enthusiastic Young Rus
sian submitted an album of autographs
which he held as almost too precious for
daylight to see, and valued at $1,000 In
scribed In foreign tongues the album an
sWered in way to the memory or guest
book, fashionable in modern homes. The
Russians grandparents were musicians
who lived at town where the stages
from Berlin and Paris always stopped
to change horses ensroute for st. Peters
burg. Patti, Rubinstein, List, other
notableS, when bound for the Russian
capital, We're wont to stop for entertain
ment at this musicians home and inscribe
their names in the family album before
leaving
1.-THE book was interesting, and will
probably bring 500 or $780, The boys
face, when he realized the wide gap be-
tween the fictitious and actual value Of
his treasure, was a study.
The prices OF autographs increase as
events bring the originals into pronin-
ence- The Hall Of Fame set will be
new departure. The autographs of any
of the twenty-nine men named can be
readily secured, except that of Jonathan
Edwards Although ne wrote much he