Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-07
Books for National Collections.


1 understand that some pressure is being
put upon the government with view to
funds being made available for the pur-
chase of books and documents whose proper
place is clearly in one or the other of the
national collections. At present the British
Museum and similar institutions are prac-
tically without the means of adding any
thing really important to their stores with
out the trouble of public appeal, and the
fuss created by that process. as often as
not, brings the wealthy American collector
on the scene, and affects the price, very
much to the British purchasers disadvan-
tage.
A remarkable instance of this. I am told.
occurred in the case of the Shakespeare
first folio, which was secured for the Bod
leian Library the other day. When the
volume was first offered to the Oxford au-
thorties no price was mentioned, but 1t
was understood that the maximum esti-
mate of its value was f1.OO0. The copy
was placed In the hands of the Bodleian for
consideration. and while 1t was there
well-known London bookseller obtained an
opportunity of inspecting it, opened nego-
tiations by cable with an American client,
and in few days was able to confront the
owner with an offer of $4,000. The Bod
leian had, of course, to come up to this new
figure before the treasure could be secured,
whereas If funds had been available in the
first instance 1t could have been secured
for third of the money.
l believe that Sir Henry Campbell-Ban-
herman has taken a personal interes. in
this subject. and interviewed more than
one of the experts concerned with it.
Picture Sale at Christie's.
At Christie's few days ago the late Mr..
Thomas Agnew's collection from Eccles
was sold at auction, and as the pictures
showed a wide range of taste the prices
were very interesting. The English water
color section on the whole brought the good
prices expected. Turner's Colchester and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS." which were en-
graved In England and Wales" belonging
to that tanner side of the masters art
which Is losing interest among his more
critical disciples did even better by selling
for 9525 and G546. The slump In Hunts
work is not yet. but the change in modern
taste points to its nearness, and under the
circumstances a210 for Grace Before
Meat" by William Hunt, was a good price,
although 1t was bought at Baron Grants
sale dozen years ago for 93SS Three
small drawings by Cox, entitled "On the
Beach, Rhyl.' "A Rocky Landscape" and
Walton Abbey" brought G16s. ELL and
s14T. Linneis 1.-The Storm sold In 1879
for e535, brought e756; Corot's Near the
Vile d'Avray," G6S2 which must have
meant a good investment; Rosa Bonheur's
small Sheep by the Seashore" E535, and
Van Marke's Cows in a Pool of Water"
ESQ While the French work Of the mid
century went well. the English Academy
pictures of that time were in hard straits.
Mr.. Frith's 'Hogarth Brought Before the
Governors of Calais as Spy had SINH
lar experience to his other works that have
appeared at the sale room this year. In
1879 1t was sold for / 600 guineas the other
day Messrs. Agnew bought 1t for &316. A
fine portrait of a boy, attributed to Rey-
nelds, but formerly labeled as Gainsbor-
ough, brought G640, and Reynolds "Por-
trait OF Mrs. Payne E462.
l. H. MOORE.