The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-30

stsmtly Grcmteg Demand-An Early
Bn % Amerieana sf Whleh tn only
kneWn Cspy Turned Up IN England
Sold for alO.000. worth e1ai, 1000.
Rare booksp- said Robert Hoo Dodd
Of Dodd, Mead A Co. Rare booksP They
have been appreciated since Cicero.
There IN nothing new about them lie
added. Mr.. Dodd. who has made .
special study Of rare editions. had been
asked to talk q little about them and the
collecting Of them.
Il belisve,' he continued. that the
collector Of books not only takes great
interest in them but has an intelligent
understanding Of them. HO collects
with q purpose generally and he knows
just where the rarS editions nc into his
collection. TO just what periods they
apply. what they mean and what they
illustrate. some collectors csln quote
from their rare books a. readily N mnny
persons do from moro familiar volumes.
I remember one collector " no during
the Bacon Shakespeare controversy won
dered why people did not ask what Shake
.peare's contemporaries said about him
and his existence and who quoted many
passages from rare hooks in his library.
In this country the number OF book
collectors n increasing. and IL must
continue 10 do 90. think. in the natural
order Of events. There u particularly
a demand for Americana. the first or rare
editions Of the American classics. Emer-
son, Lowell. Hawthorne. Whittier and
40 on, and for the English classiVs ~
well. the Shakespeare. Spensers and the
rest Especially there Ia q demand
for what are called 'ausociation books
books associated directly with some
OF the great men whose regulations live.
hooks inscribed with the names Of the
famous men who owned them or having
inscriptions % presentation from the
authors OF with the book plates Of former
owners Of note. Washington. for in
stance had the habit Of writing his name
in the books which he owned.
-NO, do not know Of any larRe house
in this country which makes q business
exclusively Of dealing In rare editions.
although there are many individuals and
firms engaged in that business. II ~
the only retail branch Of business in which
We engage now. however; OF course We
have cur publishing business. No. !
don't recall any particularly long search
for any special book lasting over years,
although Il often happens that We know
of the existence OF various books for a
long time. perhaps for years. befOre ne
ever have a chance to get them.
Il do not know whether London or New
York IN generally considered the best
market for an auction Of rare editions
now. London of course used to be. but
many persons have expressed the belief
lately that higher prices would be fetched
here. IL 10 the Americans Of course who
there. I am inclined TO think that New
York would prove itself a very good
marEet Tor most collections. although
perhaps not for some Of special character.
A collection Of rare editions Of the French
classics. for example. ! should think
would command a better market in Lon
don az auction. for the reason that the
interest here in such works is somewhat
limited. whereas London would attract
buyers from a larger field. The last
really great bo auction that ] recall
here. aside froA. Daily sale. was the
I've. sale. and n ss many years ago.
We have here. hoy 'er. some very ine
collections Of rare looks. and if any
should come into the auction market We
might SO some record prices.
YES. priCs records are beinG made
anew a. IL 10 all the time. Within day or
two = rare book on the Hoosaionic In
dams. Which used TO sell. IL seems to me.
at about SIS. sold for $3.50 at auction:
and not long ago Hamor's -'virEinia.
which has cold at $500. went up 20 tsOO OF
thsreabout af auction
The dealers In rare editions catalogue
their books for the benefit % the coliec-
torn. and an idea oG the prices and tho range
Of the volumes may he gathered from q
catalogue which Mr. Dodd produced Of
books from the Rowfant LIBRARY Of
Frederick Locker-IAmpson. There. for
instance. - The Tragiciie of FerV1 and
Porrsx. so forth without adcit ion OF
alteration. but altogether a. the same was
Showed ca stage before tho Queenea
Majestic. about nine years past. vu.. the
xviii. day of IanuaFis. 1874. by the Gsntle-
men Of tho Inner Temple. seen and
allowed &c. Imprinted % London by
Iohn Daye. dwelling Ouer Aldsrugnts
us70).- IL 10 q small octave volume in
blue saraightIGrmined morocco with gilt
edges. and its modest price now 10 500
There n also. for 500. The Maske ol
Flowers. Prs~snsed BY the 0Snslemen Of
0rAiss-Inns at the COurT ~ whitehall
In tbs banqustting HOUSE.. vpon TweIfs
night. iels.- An mOre modern asoo boatI
10 Sheilsy's -Zagtroxzi." . firss edition
of his first novel and Ons 90 his raFusl
ptbliahsd works.. Back again to old
times. and you find Richard Edwards
The Paradyss % daynfy dsuiRes. Con-
/ teyning sundry ptehy preceptas. learned
4 Counsels. and excellent inneutiona. nghl
pleaaAnt and progitabls for an estates
This volume. oatalo9usd a. zone oG the
i most Important books In tho whole ranas
% EagiiNh poetry II a $50 treasure.
/ These prices. however. are usare small
change 70 the collecting ~ rare editions
Il Al Mr neIAfsa 1900 rv,au.....a -.