New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-25
4 QUEER SALESROOM.
Stock Ranges from Big Telescopes
TO Lie BantamS.

There are many auction rooms in London says
"Chambers's Journal
There IS, however. one which is Of unique
character This is in. Covent Garden. and Is known
as Stoveus's. Here you can purchase everything
from the mortal remains of ancient Egyptian TO
orchid or from a big telescope to n live
bantam
1T may be said that If the mania for collecting
things were not a common attribute OF human
nature 1Ir. Stevens would find half his occupation
gone The man who collects coins. postage stamps
shells. minerals. butterflies. fossils implements Of
The savage. or other product OF nature art, may
be sure that when he dies. unless ne should make
some other provision in his Will. the property lie
has acquired with such difficulty will gravtate to
Covent Garden. It is curious 10 reflect upon the
manner in which certain highly treasured objects
descend, by a natural process. like heirlooms. TO
collector after collector, each paying generally
ON enhanced price. Take for example, the eggs of
the great aux. tho number OF known examples OF
which Is seventy. Every now and then Of these
egesheU5 comes into the market. Here It VIII
maud from 200 to 80 guineas according 10 quality.
which IS far nearer to its weight in diamonds than
ii IS TO IT'S weight IN gold. The price of these
shells has 5een rising by leaps and bounds ever
since 1t became certain that the great aux was an
extinct bird.
Another natural product which comes under the
same category with regard to value IS the rare
orchid, examples OF which have again and again
found their way 70 this establishment Hero is
true story about one OF them. A visitor TO the
rooms purchased, one afternoon. two Insignificant
looking Erowths for the modest of form
apiece. II small III size. they dignfed by ter
ribly long names to make up for what they wanted
in stature. Some months elapsed before the pur-
chaser again made his way TO the rooms. this time
bearing in his hand OF the two-shIlling twins.
which by this time had put forth flower But
the blossom was not Of that particular color which
might reasonably be expected from that variety
Of orchid; it was a yellow flower instead OF
white Mr.. Stevenss keen eye at once saw
that the little blossom rarity-what experts
would call "a sport'-and he said to its owner.
Don't attempt part with II yet Let
what cen sell it for He did sell it. too and the
modest howeret fetched 165 guIneas. Mr. Stevens
has many other stories to tell Of the high prices
sometimes given by orchid lovers for rare blooms.
AN echo OF every important event seems TO
ind It's way TO these auction rooms at COvent Gar
den. a slice Of Queen Victorias wedding cake.
July authenticated by the original gracious letter
from buckingham Palace which accompanied IT,
was sold here short time back At stevens's
rooms was sold rot long ago tho sIlken undervest
worn on the scaffod by the Inflated monarch
Charles I. and doubtless the purchaser In giving
200 guiueas for it influenced by the fact that
It was deeply stained with royal blood.
Human heads fetch good price, but they must
be tattooed heads, like those OF the Maori chiefs
Of New Zealand, or must have some other peculiar
ity about them. Heads which have a high
rnerclaI value are compressed heads from South
America, the secret preparation Of which IS known
only to the Jwau tribe Of Indians. The bones OF
the skull are entirely removed, and the head is
contracted the size OF orange. These heads
are very scarce now, and consequently they all
the more valuable from the collectors point OF
view
"An echo Of the French Revolution comes TO US
as we handle the satche In which Charlotte Corday
used to carry her prayer book. This IS authenti-
Gated by q letter dated from Caen where the as
sassin or as some would say. the executoner. Of
Marat lived with aunt Just before she went 70
Paris TO Kill and be killed.
Here is a mummy believed TO be OF an Egyptian
princess but at present precise details to be
had There lies the dIminutive little body IN Its
original wrappiugs covered with hieroglyphlcs and
with It's painted mask the face. How is 1t
possible to tell we ask. whether this thing IS
genuine? How do you know that these wTappings
actually incose q human body. and that the whole
thing has not been faxed? Look here replied
Mr. stevens and he took from beside the mummy
three large E-ray pictures OF the remains. show
ing separately the head, the body and the lower
limbs IL these wonderful pictures the bony skee-
ton was revealed, together with certain dark
matches which may possibly be plates OF gold or
come less valuable metal In this wonderful man
ner the genuine nature of this mummied oody IS at
once determined