The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-13
Tendency of MiIli0nares
Here to Become Bib
iIOnaniaCS
DR.. SP0FF0RD GIVES VIEWS
MeH Of Wealth Usually anxious fo-
Fine Collections, He Says, But Eu-
rope Need Have Ec Uneasiness N
Consequence Gems Lately Acquired.

rope Need Have Ec Uneasiaess N
Consequence-Gems Lately Acquired.
The inroads OF the Congressional Ii
brary and other collectors OF rare and
valuable books and manuscripts upon
the collections Of tbe ola World and
NOS particularly upgu gac best Of the
English collections. Has caused nCte
OF alarm 10 be sounded. by many Of the
English papers, that is re-echoins
throughout the world.
This feeling Of uneasiu=zs Within tbe
breasts of our English cousins does not,
however. find a responsive vein or tais
side OF the water. 9fr. s. r. SpoGord.
Chief Assistant Librarian of The Con
gTessicnal Library. who is one OF the
greatest authorities in the United States
on the value o. books. stated Rat while
the American collectors were and al
ways would be in the market for desir-
able books ana manuscript there sas
absolutely no danger Of the libraries
OF Europe teinE depleted.
Tbs London Times which was enc
OF the Hrzt TO- sound the note OF alarm.
recently published a special article ask
ing If nothing eould be done TO stop
the ecntiHuous wholesale. expectation Of
rare and early printed books and IL
Illuminated manuscripts TO the United
States.
a Warning to Englisbmen.
In this article is described another of
the many significant collections Of
works that have recently been pur-
chased by interested American coHec-
tors The collection in question is
believed to have been that recently
bought by Mr.. J. Pierpont Morgan.
whose very name the English have come
to fear
This library consists OF 200 items.
each OF the highest interest and value
1t vas formed TO exempI1fy the origin
and Development OF early illustrated
books and includes thirty-two fine ex-
amples Of the Caxton press and the very
choicest manuscripts and printed books
from The late William Norris fae IL
brary, n addition TO hundreds Of other /
c2oice examples for which the collector
o. the library secured Europe for many /
yeas The formation CT another such /
collection. says the Times, IS scarcely I
within the range OF possibility.
d.. SpoHord's Views.
II conversation Regarding the mat
ter, DR. spoBord stated.
Books are certainly among the good
things of lise. Al good things are N
demand That which is II demand is f
likely TO 20 where the demand is
greatest There has alwa-s been great
demand IN this country fer good books. f
This demand IS fncreasinr- I trust that
it VIII continue TO Increase. With cash
always waiting TO be exchanged for de
siTa13s works il is not surprising that
Libraries Of immense value have been
brought &c this country IN the past half .
century
In the forty-cne years that I have
been connected with this library we have
constantly scanned the markets OF Eu-
rope Tor valuable works OF all kinds
Last falI I went around and secured a
notable collection CT books relating 20
he local history of England. ireland.
Scotland and Wales. There were over
5000 volumes. They did net come from
London. however as il was necessary 10
visit many Of the provincial towns IN
order TO secure them.
Valuable Collection on Dante
''hmong the most notable recent addi-
tons TO the library are the many edi-
tons and commentaries on Dante The
collection is a most excellent one We
have also added largely to the collection
Of Illustrated works OF scientific and
geographical subjects. The library Of
maps has also been largely increased
during the past few years.
One Of the most valuable works in
the library is the edition Of Millions
Paradise Lost that you viii ind in the
glass case up stairs Il Is one of the
Oldest editions extant. the proofs prob /
ably having been corrected BY the great
poet himself This work found in q
LONDON auction house twenty years ago.
and bouSh- Tor Q fraction Of its real
value About FIVE years before that
picked mp ar the same place me first
folio edition Of Shakespeare works Of
1873 I paid G3I5 for IT, but IL is now f:
worth Sd. oG0. That edition is also now
in me Library. There are not over
thirty or forty copies in existence
Wealthy Men Bool-ish.
II is difficult 20 keep track O. the
great American buyers Of rare books. rs
man Of The former collectors o. gems
are dead Practically all OF the wealthy
men of TIE country are constantly IL the
market Tor literary gems. cut despite
this fact there is no danger Of The fsr-f
eign supply being exhausted. as there
are enough Left.
@Tae English are not inclined 10 pa-ti
with the originals Of their best books
and manuscripts. ard iC IS usually only
copies that are sold and brought 10 this
country
Opinions Of BcoIzmen.
Mr. Dodd said the collectors cf rare g
e another authority Tor tle statement
that the collectors Of the United States 4
are absorbing the literary rarlr5es OF
Europe. especially OF England Al
though THIS has been going CA for the
past generation. he stated. the fact wasi
true 10 a greater extent today than in :.
former wears