The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-18
Only Other Copy in British
Museum and Its Title
Page Is Gone.
II. E. HUNTINGTON NAY BUY
Fear Of Opposition by Press
and Government Influenced
Collections Owner.

George ID. smith. the book dealer who
bought most Of the famous Hoe library.
confirmed yesterday report which haA
reached THE Sun that he has purchas ed
tn. library OF the Duke OF Devonshire
containing the most valuable copy OF
Shakespeare in existence. lie made this
statement absolutely without qualifica-
ton.
late cable despatch from London
contained denial by the secretary OF the
Duke of Devonshre of the reported sale.
Owing to the hour MIR Smith could not
despatch.
Mr.. Smith said he had bought the
library after consulting Henry +: Hunt
ington. but not as Mr.. Huntngtons agent.
He had acted entirely upon his own re-
sponsbility. Since the deal was COM
pleted Mr.. Huntington. according 20 MT
Smith, has agreed to buy the library in
tact, The risk and negotiations were en-
tirely Mr.. smiths Plans to secure the
wonderful Devonshire collection were be-
gun three months ago and the entire
transaction was completed without the
knowledge of more than four or 1--WE per-
sons
The price paid by Mr.. Smith was a IT
tie more than 100000. AVID 1t Is under
stood that Mr.. Huntington takes over the
BOOKS for a lump sum not far from ST..
500. 900.
Mr.. Smith refused to discuss the sa,e
yesterday and i was explained that the
Who'll. business was conducted virtual!
under pledge OF secrecy II was repre-.
scented that news OF the sale would bring
upon the Duke OF Devonshir. a storm OF
obloquy. There was great dread OF active
opposition by the English Government
possibly extending to interference by Par
lament. 10 prevent the books from leaving
England.
So far no attempt has been made 10
ship any Of the Devonshire collection to
this country. The process of recatalogu-
Ing the volumes and manuscripts is under
way and 1t IS not likely that the trans
portation OF the works Will be undertaken
before this listing has been completed.
Third Great sal. to Mr. HUNTINGTON.
This is the third sale involving 81.
N'N.'N' OF moro NIldA Nlls -illANIs mas llfuV
to Mir Huntington. Among the Hoe books,
,otalling over 81 100000. that Air. Smith
bought AID sold TO Mr. Huntington Vas
the Gutenberg Bible. which was bid In az
the Hoe sale FOR $4,000. The library Of
the late T.. Dwight Church was bought
by Mir. Smith ana resold TO Mr.. Hunting
ton In 1911 for sum said to have been
81, 100000. In October, 1919, Mr.. Hunt
ington bought the library OF Beverly
Chew. rich in rare copies OF early English
authors. for 100000.
The gem OF the library accumulated
through the last three centuries by the
Dukes of Dcvonshire is "A Hamlet quarto
of 1903 only one other copy is In X
!stence and that Is In the British Museum.
Each copy lacks page, but not Inc
same page. The Deyonshre copy has
the last page missing and Is more vaiu-
able than the Mus ums copy, as there
Il is the title pace that hd5 been lost
No other piece OF Shakrspearana csn
approach this Hamlet" quarto in rarity
or value. /, Is worth anywhere from
$50, 00O UP. in the estimation of book ex-
perts Probably 100000 would not be
too much to pay for it, II was said yes
tcrday by Frederic \ htclcr mauagins
partner Of J. Pearson a Co. Of London.
thu firm which shares with Quaritch Of
London the rank Of the worlds greatest
dealers IN rare books.
Besides the Hamlet quartn the Dew
onshire library contains l2i other
Shakespcar" quartos-the volumes pub
lishcd IN his lifetime-and all of the
Shakespeare folios printed soon after his
death.
There is also a prayer book that be
long,d to King Henry VII Of England and
which contains inscriptions In the Kings
own hand In the front is n legend be-
queath!ng the missal 20 the Kings daugh-
tr. Margaret. and elsewhere Ii note
Of the .lonarchs In which he reminds
the Princess:
Pray for your loving father that gave
you this book"
The mIssal is BEAUTIFULLY Illuminated
Another hand colored and illuminated vol
ume OF great rarity Is the Hcnodictonai
OF st Ethewold. which dates from the
tenth century. II was wrought for the
saint when he was Bishop Of Winchester.
963 10 3S4 A. d.
There are twonty-siN Cdxtons IA the
library-Nolumes from the press OF Eng
lands earliest printer Wule TINS item
does not compare with the CaXtons col.
lected by the late j, T. Morgan, those
owned by the Devonshires are of immense
value and are not to be duplicated by any
other collector
The browning distinction is an assem-
b!age of 5000 origina! plays by the early
English MarlOwe. Ben JON
son. Fletcher, Beaumont, Sc. The collec-
tion Of Ben Jonson's works is said .
have no parallel.
A few years Ago tho libor Vsritatia Of