Evening journal., 1905-04-07
'OTED ROWFANT BOOKS
features of Locker Lampson
Library Now In New York.
CONTAINS ABOUT 1000 VOLUMES.

Volumes-All Are In Fine Condition.
One of the most distinguished and !
raluable libraries that has ever been
brought into the United States, the
Rowfant library, collected during many
years by the late Frederick Locker
Lampson, the English poet and shake
spearean collector was recently pur-
chased practically en- bloc by one Of
the big publishing firms in New York
city, says the New York Post. The IL
brary contains about a thousand vol
umes and Is known to book collectors
and bibiiophiles the world over. While
the purchase price has not been dis
closed, II is known TO have been many
thousands Of dollars.
In 1886 Locker, who died In 1895,
compiled the catalogue of his books,
known to collectors as the Rowfant
library and named from the estate in
Sussex which was the home OF his
second wife, the daughter of Sir Cur
tbs Lampson Of Rowfant. 1t was after
this marriage that Locker hyphenated
his name, adding Lampson.
The catalogue was divided into three
parts-part one, English poetry and
drama, 1850 to 100; part two, OF the
same general character as the first,
with some prose added, 100 to 1880,
and part three, American literature.
Practically all Of the volumes in the
library are first editions and are fur
ther notable on account OF their i'm
maculate condition. matter Of prime
importance to the book collector. In
the third part of the catalogue, the
American books, poetry predominates.
The library was purchased from the
poets son, Godfrey Locker-Lampson,
who married a daughter of TennysOn.
After the death Of his father Godfrey
LOcker-Lampson compiled and issued
an appendix to the catalogue OF the
Rowfant library. This appendix noted
the books which had been collected
since the preparation Of the first cata-
logue and was likewise divided into
three parts, the old portion, the modern
portion and that Of foreign books The
end of part three Of the appendix emu
merates the valuable collection OF auto
graph letters and albums which the
poet collected. While the entire libra
ry Of printed books and manuscripts
was purchased certain presentation
copies OF works, notably those Of Ten
nyson, Browning and Holmes, some
drawings and pictures and personal let
ters were retained by the poets family.
The purchase Of this library is de-
clared by collectors to be Of an lmpor-
tance equal TO the requirement by
George II. Richmond Of the remarka-
bie Irwin, Lefferts and DeForest libra
iries. Frederick Lock -Lampson's IL
lbrary contains many rare Elizabethan
and other volumes. In addition to inter
esting and valuable memoranda, per
sonal and biographical
The Rowfant library catalogues are
y epbellished with memorial verses from
81 ,eral hands, and the supplemental
Cd alogue has preface by Augustine
Birreii. who married daughter Of the
poet In the original catalogue these
verses by Andrew Lang appear:
THE RowFANT BOOKS.
(Ballade en- guise de rondeau)
The Rowfant booksl How fair they shew
Print. autograph, portfonol
Back from the outer air they call
The athletes from the tennis ball.
This rhymer from his rod and hooks.
Would could sing them one and all,
The Rowfant books!
The Rowfant books! In sun and snow
They're dear, but most when tempest'
fall;
The folio towers above the row
As once DER minor prophets. Saul!
What jolly jest books and what small
''Dear Dumpy Twelves" 10 nh the nooksl
You do not find on every stall
The Rowfant books!
The Rowfant books, These long ago
Were chained within some college hall;
These manuscripts retain the glow
or many a colored capital;
While yet the Satires keep their gall.
While the Pastissier puzzles cooks.
There IS JOY that does not pail
The Rowfant booksl
ENVOY
The Rowfant books! All, magical
AS famed Armida's golden looks.
They hold the rhymer for their thrall-
The Rowfant books,
Austin Dobson contributed a poem o
six stanzas to the catalogue, Of whicl
these are the first two:
His books Oh yes. his books know
Each worth a monarch's ransom,
But now beside them row on row.
see, erect and handsome,
The courtly owner. glass IN eye.
with half sad smile, forerunning
Some triumph OF an apt reply,
Some master stroke of punning.
When the, poets son produced tn
supplemental catalogue Andrew Lam
" wrote these verses, which are Interest
ing IN view Of the recent sale:
How often to the worthy sire
Succeeds tn unworthy son!
Extinguished Is the ancient fire.
Books were the idols OF the squire;
The sraceless heir has none.
To sotheby's go both old and new,
Bindings and prose and rhymes;
with Shakespeare. as with Padeloup
rhe sportive lord has naught to do
He reads che Sporting Times.
Behold a special act Of grace!
On Rowfant shelves behold,
The we'll loved honors keep their plac
The new won glories half efface
The splendors Of the old.
------
Motors For the shah.
The shah OF Persia has placed an ol
der In Paris for two touring autom'
biles, the price OF which is reported
be $4,000 for each machine.
OLD POINT COMFORT, RIcHMoN
hMn NatnctasntNN.t