Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-01-08
DR.. coNLAND's OLD BOOKS.
Catalogue Of Them Has Been Prepared
by the Firm Which VIII Sell Them at
Auction In New York

by the Firm Which VIII Sell Them at
Auction In New York
Friends of the late James Conland. who
knew of his fondness for old books and
had imbibed to a certain extent his en-
thusiasm in the helpful collection of
them, will be especially interested i'm the
recent catalogue of the doctors private
library, which the Anderson auction com
pany of New York has complied and will
sell on the 9TH and Sth at their auction
rooms in that city. The list includes
mainly American history and literature.
and few more interesting collections could
be found. Much of the history relates to
Vermont and other New England states.
with Vermont autographs of distinguished
men, broadsides and state papers, his
tories Of numerous Vermont towns. SER
mons by old-time clergymen. General
Assembly proceedings, while perhaps as
valuable as any is the perfect copy of the
late Chief Justice Royal Tyler's Con
trast,' comedy in five acts. performed
with applause at the theatres of New
York, Philadelphia and Maryland with
an engraved scene from the play by Nav
erick after William Dunlap The copy
contains list of subscribers. headed by
the name of George Washington and was
printed i'm Philadelphia i'm 1890 This very
rare publication of the first comedy writ
| ten by any American and performed ON
time the character of Brother jonathan.
| There is in the list a first edition of "The
| Algerinc Captive representing the life
ana adventures of DR. Updi<e Underhill.
printed 10y David Carlisle at Walpole, n.
| H., in 1891. This is i'm two volumes and
relates almost wholly to New England and
| prominent early Americans, chapters be-
| ing devoted to Boston and Harvard col
! lcge.
The New England primers of which
| there are various kinds. represent the
earliest as well as the latest publications.
a few of which are exceedingly rare
| There are number of copies of old news
papers. and the publications that relate to
the Connecticut river valley are all of in
| tcrest and value. There are a lot of po-
etical and miscellaneous works by early
settlers whose journals and biographical
notices refer to distinguished men of their
| day. The trials aud confessions of Grim
| mails, both in this state and Massachu-
sets, are generously represented in the
| collection. which consists Of no less than
| 1866 different publications. DR. Conland
| showed careful discrimination in his col
, lection, giving little attention to reprints
| or mutilated copies. once on the track
| of an old date. the doctor was untiring
| in his search, in which he found his
friends interested, for all delighted in help
| ing on his ambition to possess one of the
| best of private libraries \ few years
| ago DR. Conland succeeded in running
| down the first copy of Walton's Vermont
| directory, printed at Montpelier i'm 1916
| He had searched most of the old garrets in
| the county for the missing number and
| finally discovered his desired treasure in
| the attic of an old house i'm Bcrnardston.
| About this time friend of the doctors.
| who was equally Interested in finding this
| old register was rewarded in the discov-
| cry of copy in possession of the late
| Simeon lde of Claremont. y. H. the two
| copies being almost invaluable. as these
| collectors could readily understand after
| a careful and competitive search of %
| years for these old editions. Or. Conland
was known to have been one of the best
| authorities on ancient literature. His
| friends will now learn, through the pub
LEGATION of his catalogue, for the first time,
| to what extent he had succeeded in his
| efforts, covering "A period of at least a
| quarter of a century, Brattleboro letter
in Springfield Sunday Republican.