Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-03-12
"PARADIsE LOST"
Incidents of the Attempted sale Oh
the Original Manuscript.

In cid ents of the Attempted sAA@ "a
the Original Manuscript.
After all, the original manuscript Oh
the first book Of Millions paradise
Lost" remains unsold. 1t was onered
for sale under the hammer few days
ago by Mr.. T. Hodge at Messrs. Sothe-
by's establishment in Wellington
street. Strand, but failed to realize the
reserve price Of $4,000. The historic
manuscript is the property Of Mr.. Hen
nv C. Baker Of Bayfordbury, who was
present IN the auction room, and 1t has
been in his family since 1772, when
II was inherited by his great-great-
grandfather, William Baker, from
Richard Tonson, brother Of the young
pr Jacob Tonson. This William Baker
was the eldest son of Sir William
Baker. NJ. =. for Herts, who married
in 1742 Mary Tonson, daughter of the
younger Jacob Tonson.
Buyers from all parts Of the kingdom
and from Paris and Berlin were pres
emf yesterday, and rarely before has
the little hall contained so many not
able literary folk. At 8 o'clock Mr..
Hodge mounted the rostrum and In In
Producing the "lot" remarked:
81 think there Is nothing to say about
this manuscript because everything
that is known has been published. IL Is
the manuscript submitted to the print
ar and, no doubt, therefore, read
through TO Milton. ] am sure It Is no
exaggeratiOn to say that II Is the most
important volume from national point
of view that we have ever had, and
think this may be said OF any other
firm. Now, what will you offer for ltF'
A period Of silence followed as the
manuscript, Enclosed in a glass frame,
was handed round for the inspection or
the assembly. Then voice from one
corner said, Fifty pounds" This was
DIR. Ginsburg, and his offer aroused
some merriment. Mr.. Hodge said he
would give f1OO for it, and Mr.. Snow
den, the manager Of his firm, sitting on
his right, Immediately doubled this fig
ure. Both gentlemen then bid against
one another, and no other person ven
tured to interrupt the competition pn'
iii $1,000 was reached, when Mr.
gnowden retired, he being com
missioned for "a private individuar
not TO bid any higher, Mr., Ellis OF
Alessrs. Elvey & Ellis thereupon offer
} ed an extra hundred, and he soon
brought up the price against Mr.. Hodge
|, TO f4.7OO. The auctioneer then bid
$1,000. remarking that it was not near
~ enough for so valuable possession
There was no other offer, and the ham
, mer fell seven minutes after the auc
ton had commenced. Mr.. Hodge sub
, sequently said, II am sorry to tell you
! the book is not sold" The spectators
E soon left the room. many observing ina
II was a good thing the manuscript wa;
not going to America.
= Mr. Hodge was besieged, however, by
few Jealous buyers, and in reply tC
| their questions he said:
2 81 do not think the manuscript VII
! be offered again for auction, but 1t may
= be sold privately, as Mr.. Baker fol
3 whom l was acting, now knows III
, actual value, There is no truth In thu
D statement that Mr.. Pierpont Morgan Oh
I any one else made us a private offer O.
{ $4,000 or even $4,000 for 1t. But an
( not surprised at this because 1t is not
8 treasure that would appeal to all mil
: lionaires. Now, If it were gorgeopsl'
illuminated, the case might have beer
different, and some of thep might hav'
coma forward. London Telegraph.