The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-12
WHY COLLECTORS
HUAT RARE BOOKS
They Deny They Are Mere Bib
IiOmaniacS But Have
Real Purpose.
LIKE TO READ THEM, TOO
HIGH PRICES MEAN LITTLE TO
THE MEN WHO STUDY AND
COMPARE THE WORKS OF THE
GREAT AUTHORS.

New York, Dec. 1.-THE purchase
1t the Maier sale of the Edgar Allan
Poe pamphlet for $500 naturally sug-
gests the thought, why does a book
collector pay SO much for first edi-
ton when he can get for far less
sum the same thing better printed,
better edited. and better bound?"
Does he not pay SO high price
because the work is a rarity,
and it's possession gives him the salts
faction Of knowing he has prize few
are able to obtain? Does he not put
the work carefully away, to be handl-
ed or exhibited only as a curiosity?
II he simply wants to see what the
book is like. would not fac simile
of 1t do Just as we'll? In other words,
is not the pursuit of first editions
merely bibliomania?
What the Answer 10.
These questions have been put to
some New Workers. interested in first
editions, and their reply was virtually
what the distinguished French collec-
tor Edmond de Goncourt in his will
called his drawings, his prints, his
curiosities, his books. "those things
Of art which have been the joy of my
life." To these men the saying that
'.All is not gold that glitters." applies
as we'll to the plain cloth covered or
board bound copies of the first edi-
tions of great authors as it does to
anything else.
Stephen H. Wakeman, who is cred
tied with owning the finest collection
in the world OF first editions of Ameri-
can authors. informed reporter that
1t was unfair and untrue to say that
book collectors as q rule bought first
editions only because they were rar-
titles. He gave as an instance his own
purchase at the Mailer sale for $4,000
of first edition of Poe's "Al Aaraaf,
Tamerlane, and Minor POEMS" Balti-
more. 1920. presentation copy from
the author to his sister, used by Poe
in preparing second edition of the
same work and containing additions
and alterations to his autograph, some
of which were never published.
Asks for Transcript.
Mr.. Wakeman said that he had just
received letter from a man in Rich
mond. Va. asking for a transcript OF
these rotations by Poe for use in get
ting out a definite edition of his
works. This was case where there
was no doubt of the value of the work.
The possession of such an item was a
sentimental pleasure to him. 1t mat
tered not what he paid for it. The
newspapers were given to dilaring on
prices paid for rareties. but talk of
that kind was simply wearisome.
A first edition OF an eminent author
with his own presentation inscription
and corrections could not help having
intrinsic value. The first editions of
eminent American authors were. as a
rule. issued ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IS
Mature" Hawthorne's "Fanshawe,"
Poe's "Tamerlane," were instances.
1t was a satisfaction to a book collec-
tor to own a copy of the first work
given to the public by an author who
dilCtWdiu OCN0AhO AdAAOuS. COA kuC
book collector who bought a work on
~ because 1t was rare, Mr.. Wakeman
said, he had no sympathy.
Found It Of Pleasure.
Frank Maier. owner Of the library
IN which was the $4,000 prize, said
that when he purchased the book for
$1,40O he did not put it away as a
thing too valuable to be handled, but
carefully went through it and won
pleasure in so doing. The collecting
OF first editions improved q mans
knowledge Of an authors career. II
was an intellectual pursuit.
Many interesting facts about distin
guislled authors had been brought to
light by the finding of first editions
he said. Much about Poe himself
would be unknown II first issues Of his
works had not been discovered
through the zeal of collectors. II some
OF the first editions of eminent Amer
ican authors now in private libraries
were destroyed 1t would mean a loss
10 literature. We would be poorer of
if first folio of Shakespeare had new
er been found.