Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-20
PEER SELLS FAMOUS BOOKS
Lord Amherst DIspOses of Great Col
lection TO Pay His ObliEa-
lions.

LONDON, Dec. 1s.-(speciaI)-Just over
two years ago book collectors all over the
world were astonished by the announce
ment that the magnificent library of Lord
Amherst of Hackney, one of the finest in
the world, would be sold at public auction.
When the most inquisitive looked around
for a reason for this extraordinary action
on the part Of the famous English peer,
who had devoted the best years of his life
and a considerable part of his great for
tune to the collection Of his library, they
We're told that the noble lord was COM
PEELED to realize Immediately a sum ap-
preaching $4,000 o to cover a debt of honor
incurred through the dishonesty of his So
~licitor. And although the announcement of
the sale was premature. events of the last
few days have proved that Dame Gossip
spoke the truth regarding the cause, but
grossly underestimate the amount. A re-
cent action against Lord Amherst in the
English courts brought forth the official
announcement that the amount which he
had lost was not a mere $780, 900. but more
than a,2J0,OO, and the sale Of his books
took place last week at Sotheby's.
Although Lord Amherst is known to be
an immensely wealthy man, owning as he
does a large and juicy slice Of Hackney, a
suburb of London, the fact that he was
compelled to sell his beloved library to meet
his large obligations, has occasioned little
or no surprise in England. There are few
Englishmen, even among the richest, who
would not have to do a deal OF chasing
around and scraping to raise 1880 900.
Most Of them owe their wealth to enor-
nous landed interests, and entailed and tied
up as their property is under the English
law, they would find it extremely difficult,
If not impossible, TO convert any part Of it
into gold. So 1t was with Lord Amherst,
and although 1t was much like parting with
his life's blood, he was compelled to take a
last fond look at his almost priceless Cax-
tons and his first folio Shakespeares, low
ingly handle for the last time his historical
bindings and tearfully send them off to the
auction room to be eagerly bid for by rep
resentatives of all the great collectors of
the world.
Lord Amherst began his collection half
a century ago, before the multi-million-
aire American purchaser with the bot
tomless purse entered the field. Thus
he was able to buy at extraordinarily low
prices, and IT is probable that the sale
OF last week realized for him several
times the amount of his original out
lay. To enumerate the unique books
that composed the collection is a task
beyond the writer's powers. His seven
teen famous Caxtons formed but one
item in the long list. The collection Of
books and tracts on the reformation and
the Church of England had no rival out
side of the British museum, including
as it did Queen Elizabeth's copy Of the
1858 Bishops Bible and Charles rs copy
OF the Authorized Version" One Of the
~ xfnna &c rG-,Nzz a. -
in existence of the first book printed in
the English language.
Evidently Lord Amherse felt that IL is
necessary to pay the debts incurred
through his solicitor Immediately, for
If he had had a few years grace he could
undoubtedly have liquidated them with
out sacrificing his library. His income
is commonly and openly quoted al $780,
900 a year, and for many years past he
has probably lived up TO il, entertain
ing lavishly at his Norfolk estate. Did
lington hall. Both he and his wife, how
ever, have eschewed the so-called "smart
set" He has no son, but no less than
six daughters, and his title viii 20 by
special remainder to the eldest, Lady
William Cecil Although there is not
much likelihood of their being called
upon TO do SO. each of the daughters
is able to go out into the world and
earn her own living. having learned some
useful profession For instance, Lady
William Cecil is interested in horticul-
ture. one of her sisters has taken UP
bookbinding, another is successful in
poultry farming, and so on.
Lord Amherst vas raised to the peer
age as a baron in 1889 by Lord Sails
bury. He is not to be confused with
Earl Amherst.