The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-15
RARE BOOKS on VIEW
Illustrating the History and Growing
Bemuty OF the Binders Art.

Illustrating the History and Growing
Beauty OF the Binders Art.
In a little book shop on the second door
OF 4 East Thirty ninth street there is on
exhibition, and will be until Christmas
day, a collection illustrating the history
OF binding, ancient and modern. "A glorii-
cation OF hand work over modern binding
is what Ernest Dressed North, the owner
OF the collection, calls IL.
But it is far more than that. In the
books themselves, old first editions and
rare presentation copies. is the very essence
of literary romance. There is a complete
first edition Of -Tristram Shandy,' with
l.. sterne in faded ink IN the Ay pages
OF two volumes. Beside IL lies a FIRST edi-
ton OF THE Endymion.' as Keats first saw
the poem In print. On the back OF the
volume the price is marked. 0 shillings.
1t recently sold for 500. IL would have
been a fortune for the poet.
Near by. glowing In all the glory con-
tributed bya a master OF the art OF bindery,
isa first edition Of The Vicar OF Wakefield
No authors name appears, only the an
nouncement, Supposed to have been
written by himself II tells the story OF
Door wrongheaded Goldsmith, who. when
the book was published under the patronage
of DR.. johnson, was 80 deeply in debt that
he dared not let his creditors know that he
was to rake a few pounds from the lap OF
fortune.
The story of Shelley's life may be read
on the title pa &c of a first edition OF Queen
NAB At the foot Of the page is the dec
Iaration, Printed by p. B. Shelley" The
poet had been expelled from Oxford as an
- - 80 ha,laalIar would stand
sponsor for the volume. On the first page
il the dedication to Harriet. In many OF
the first editions the page 10 missing, but
She LEV shortly alter the publication OF the
book turned to another love. an d buying
I'D as many Of the edition as be- could cut
out the dedication.
Perhaps the strangest hist DRY OF all would
be found in the story, il one knew it, OF a
book written by Queen Victoria, on the fly
leaf OF which IL a note in the Queens hand
writing and signed Victoria e. Tn doom
ia Leaves From the Journal Of Our Trip in
the Highlands" II is the Queens account
! of a visit TO Balmoral in Scotland. The In,
sc~ription, written In q large irregular hand
reads:
40 Lord Hatherly, Lord Chancellor. in
recollection Of Balmoral, from victoria X.
| Balmoral, October q, 1909"
Il would indeed be Interesting TO know
how such a book. given to a one time Lord
Chancellor OF the realm. found its way 10
| the booksellers shelves. Henry I. Wood.
the binder, lavished all his ART on the vol
ume. II has a body Of blue Levant morocco;
the colors are scarlet and green there
are 900 inlayed pieces. There are the thistle.
shamrock and rose, with the Queens crest
in the corners.
There are other hidden stories in volumes,
with the coats Of arms Of Nine. de Pompa-
dour, Louis XVI, Louis XIV, Charles H.,
pope Clement X. and others. There are
rare folios OF Shakespeare, and last, but "a
any one with the heart OF a boy by no means
least, "Robinepn Crusoe,' the complete
edition in three volumes. giving the later
history OF De Foes hero which few OF us
have read. All the bookss are dressed as be-
Ats them-in the best hat the art Of great
craftsmen could accomplish.