New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-07
ADDS TO RICH COLLECTION
ARCHER NJ. HUNTINGTON BUYS 21.OO0
MORE RARE VOLUMES OF SPAN
ISH LITERATURE.

To a library Of Spanish literature already
without peer in the private collections of the
world. Archer M. Huntington. on his recent re
turn from Europe, added u 900 volumes. Not
merely is there wealth of tradition connected
with the volumes themselves some of which
date back to the fifteenth century, but the
method by which they have been collected Is
one which will arouse the admiration and envy
of every book collector in the country Year
after year Mr. Huntington has made trip
to Spain in search of rare books Leaving
the beaten tracks OF the railroads and the
modern supplies of the Madrid libraries he has
taken mule train and ridden for months into
the little mountain villages. Here treasured
by the monks or stored away in remote old
castles he has unearthed volumes of price
less value
In the wealth of the collection It is almost
impossible to select striking examples. Manu-
scripts dating back far the tenth CEN
tury are included in the collection. There are
scores and hundreds of the rich, old parchments,
with beautifully Illuminated texts in Latin script,
on the margans of which are strange drawings
added by the monkish scribes. The period of
Spanish literature before the invention of print
ing is thoroughly covered by the most complete
set of manuscripts in this country. In fact. Mr..
Huntingtons collection OF manuscripts is ri
vailed only by one or two libraries. 1t contains
$50 manuscripts.
In first editions Mr.. Huntington has also an
unequaled store. On his last trip he brought
back a half dozen copies of Cervantess Don
Quxote" in its initial edition. A few from the
: long list Of first editions include the following
"Cancionero General" "Romancero General
Chronicle Of the cid" "BOsCan,' "Camoens
"Lope de Vega Carpio"
In addition to these first editions, Mr.. Hunt
ington possesses an edition Of "Camoens,' pub
lished in Madrid in 1909; a "RepOrtorio de
Caminos" Of 1j46 a Medina del Campo,
La Araucana Of Ercilla." dated 1869, OF which
only one other copy is known to exist. There is
a Sara gossa edition Of "Celestna,' bearing the
date of 1865. Then, among the curiosities OF
his collection there is tiny volume, in which
the distances Of Spanish cities and towns from
Madrid and the itinerary TO reach them is set
forth. Perhaps the most interesting and valua-
bic single feature in the collection is a COM
plete Index Iibrorum Prohibitorum." Nothing
approaching the completeness Of this exists.
To a Tribune reporter, to whom he showed
some Of the gems OF his collection. Mr.. Hunt
ington said:
This library represents twenty years Of col
Letting 1t is complete in the history and pure
literature OF Spain. From the period covered
by the manuscripts up to the present day, the
great and valuable literary and historical works
| in Spanish are contained in my library. I'm
afraid that I have pretty we'll covered Spain,
and that there is little more TO be found
II am now engaged in catalOguing and ar
ranging my books. 1t will take almost ten
wears to do this. My collection is to be kept in
INV library at Baychester. In the catalogue will
/ be plates of the books and manuscripts"