Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-14
NEW JERSEY BOOKS
BRING BIG PRICES
One Copy of Rare Vc..lme Is
Sold for S435 at Nell
son Sale.
RICH IN HISTORICAL
DATA OF THE STATE
Auction Which Started Yester-
day In New York VIII Be
Continued Today.

The sale Of the historical collection
of william Nelson, of Paterson, one
of the greatest of It's kind in the
United States and particularly rich
in New Jersey imprints, was opened
yesterday afternoon at the Anderson
galleries, In New York. 1t was re-
sumed this afternoon.
Representatives of the New Jersey
Historical Society were present yes
terday and obtained a number OF
books.
A rare and well-preserved copy
of the record of the trial at Raritan,
N. j., of Benedict Arnold, in 1878, who
later turned traitor to the American
cause, brought the top price of the
first session. 1t was sold for S43o.
The book was published at Philadel-
phia in 1880 by Francis Bailey. It
went to professional buyers.
The copy is one of only fifty copies
of the official edition printed by the
order of Congress. The court martial
of Arnold was held at Raritan by
order of General Washington, COM
mander-in-chief of the American
Army. It resulted In Arnold's ac-
quittal on two Of the more serious
charges, and his censure on two
others, for which he was sentenced to
public reprimand from General Wash
ington.
This episode in Arnold's career is
believed to have marked the begin
ming of his loss of affection for the
American cause that led to the at
tempted betrayal of West Point only
year later. No copy of this origi-
nal issue of the proceedings has ap-
peared for sale at an auction in re-
cent years. The book brought $50
the last time 1t was sold in London
several years ago.
Although no other prints at the sale
brought such a remarkable price, still
the sale was a marked success as to
the prices obtained and the bidding
at times was very spirited.
Another rare book, although not
old, being printed by the Bibliophile
Society in 1901. treating on the Odes
and Epodes of Horace, with a Latin
text, edited by Clement L. Smith, and
versions, paraphrases and eXpla1a-
tory notes by eminent scholars,
statesmen and poets, with an intro
duction by Archbishop Ireland,
brought s2S. This book is very rare
and is the first book published by
the society. There were but 467 copies
issued.
Among the prints purchased by the
New Jersey Historical Society was
'The Constitution of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States, con-
tanning the confession of faith, etc.
and containing three signatures and
manuscript notes of Joseph Bloom
field, first Governor of New Jersey,
and a general in the War of 1872.
The book was printed by Thomas
Bradford, Philadelphia. in 1889 and
is in a perfect state of preservation.
Another book purchased by the So
ciety was the Bradford Prayer
| Book. 1t is in eight volumes and
gives some accounts of the Book
| of Common Prayer" printed A. ID.
ITO, by William Bradford, under the
auspices OF Trinity Church, N. Y
| edited by Horatio Gates Jones),
| and privately printed in New York
| in 1870. One of the copies In this
| collection Is the presentation copy
from Mr.. Jones to J. w. Dean, with
| inscription on the cover.
| Eight volumes. buckram. on Amer
lean photography, by r. C. Richard
| son and A. e. Morse. published In
| Princeton, n. J.. in 1904, were also
bought by the society. The volumes
/ also contained writings on American
| history, and a photography published
in 1902.
Miss Maud E. Johnson. the libra.
rian of the New Jersey Historical So
ciety. attended the sale yesterday ir
the absence of Rev. Joseph Folsom
]. Lawrence Boggs and Frederick A
Garfield, the committee appointed by
the society to attend the sale
Through business duties they were no
present yesterday but it is though
that at least one of them will attend
today.
The afternoon sale of 2S2 lots, rang
ing from I volume up to 81. brought
a total of s1,30S, while the evening salt
of 2S7 lots, brought but $537 making {
total for the days sale of s1.S45.
The largest buyer at the sale prob
ably was Edwin A. Ely, of New York
who has the most complete collection
of New Jersey data in the world. Fl,
attended the sale personally and it il
thought that several professional col
lectors present also represented him.
Noah F. Morrison, OF Elizabeth, /;
professional dealer In rare prints. wa
also large buyer at the evening sale
but, as a whole, the prices were to,
high for spectators.