The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-23

ures for the Foote sale, six years ago, and
the sale week ago. are given below;
Wthorre: The Gentle Boy" Boston
1889 in original paper covers and very
rare. SSi and S5li "Grandfather's Char, "
Boston. 1874, very scarce. S25 and sec;
The Celestial Railroad" Boston, 1S4S. .
remarkably we'll preserved copy in FIRST
covers, SIS and Sl24,
Lcngfel!ow, lie Ministre de Wake
Held. Boston, 1881. sl9 and So; "Outre-
Mer, IN two volumes. both in original
covers, and the finest examples OF the
edition that remain. SS5 and $50: Poems
on slavery" one Of the very rarest OF his
books, s42 ard $50; Ballads and Other
Poems, SIC and S54. and "Eyangeline, IS
Bos on, 1S47. So and s9l.
Lowell; Class Poem, tine rare copy.
Sll.lS and S5250: The Vision Of Sir I-aun-
tal, with book plate OF E II Bierstadt,
SIS and SS5. "A Years Life" s55 and SAL
Emerson: Poems Boston. 1S47. in its
original boards and uncut, $3.50 and $50.
Holmes Poems" London. 1916. a pres
e1tation copy with autograph inscription
and note on the title page. $50 and SAT
Poems" Boston. 1919. with long auto
graphic letter SEQ and s51: The Autocrat
OF the Breakfast Table" Boston. 1858. an
uncommonly fine copy of the first edition
containing an autograph poem, SIS and
S35; The Professor at the Breakfast
Table" Boston, 1860 likewise with three
verses Of poetry written by the authors
hand, $3.50 and s53
Whittier: Snow Bound" Boston. 1866
No. of an edition of fifty copies on large
paper s2.25 and s2S; THE Stranger in
Lowell" Boston, 1916, covers uncut and
rare. S14 and s47; Poems Boston, 1887,
unusually scarce, 81 and $3.50; Mol
Pitcher" Boston, 1882, crushed levant
morocco, edges uncut and from the library
OF Thomas ]. Mckee, $3.50 and $500.
Ihoreau: Walden" Boston. 1854, original
cloth. IS and $50; "A Week on the Con-
cord Boston, 1S49, s. and $50.
Old books and rare editions touching
on the drama have in recent years ex-
cited the deepest rivalry among New
York collectors. Reference to the prices
at which several of these were last sold
also shows a marked advance in value
in the last year or two. Sir Richard
Bakers 'Theatrum Redivivum; or. the
Theatre indicated" first edition, limo,
full morocco, by Riviere, London. 1862.
which brought s37 this week. was con-
sidered high when sold at Boston several
years ago for s.. Another case in point
was the sale of De Ranoldes' "Th' over
throw of Stage Playes," second edition,
small quarto, London, 1929, for s3l, or
Just W. more than good copy bought a
year or so ago. in London.
who are they that are willing to nav
these tremendous prices for books they
viii probably never read?" the unen-
lightened man will ask They are mostly
men who have reached that stage in life
and culture when they want only those
things that are caviare to the multitude
and that others as rich and surfeited as
themselves also eagerly desire There are
others who collect books with an eye sin
gle to money making, and when they have
got together a considerable array of books
that are really rare they are sure of SELL
ing out again at a very great advance
In the last five years New York has be-
come market for rare books that. in
the matter OF prices reached, has put Lon
don and Paris to the blush at times. At
public sales, However, these real book
buyers seldom attend. Their buying is
done by hired agents, and the latter are
not generally inclined TO reveal the names
OF the rich collectors they represent; this
Is how rare first prints and autograph
editions sometimes sink out of sight into
some private collection. and are never
heard OF again by tie people who haunt
the book shops and auction rooms.