The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-31
H.E.HUNTINGTON
BUYS 100000
HALSEY BOOKS
Rare Collection Added to
Vast Library Goes to
Public Eventually.
MANY GEMS AMONG
FINE FIRST EDITIONS

Henry e. Huntington, THE Sun
learned yesterday. has just bought. through
George D. Smith. the library Of Frederic
r. HalAey Of % West Fifty-third street.
one Of the best private collections Of
rare books In America and valued at
between Si.Oo0.o 900 and 3l.26O,o0o. Mr..
Huntington will add II to his own
collection. already the best on this side
Of the Atlantic and comprising the
cream Of the famous Robert Hoe library.
the Duke OF Dewonshire's Caxtons and
quartos. the Beverly Chow
books and other large acquisitions.
Mr.. Huntington possesses the only
In America Of some Of the
rarest Of the Haisey books. These
duplicates he will probably dispose Of
since II 10 said to be his
intention never TO sell his whole collec-
ton. but to make 1t public property
after his death. The price he paid for
MT Halsey's books has not been re-
vcaled. but II was less than the value
Of the books taken separately. because
Mr. Halsey preferred to dispose OF the
collection as unit to some one who he
knew would keep It practically intact.
A Collection of Readable Books.
The distinctive thing about Mr.. Hal
sey's library is not its value, or the
rarity OF its contents. but their literary
appeal. Most collectors prize rarity
above all. Mr.. Halsey looked at the
book as a book first and its scarcity
second. In consequence. his collection Is
rich in English and American authors
who are universally read. He gathered
Dryden. Dickens. Pope.
Poe. Hawthorne. Lowell.
Emerson, whittier. Longfellow. oliver
Holmes. Bre, Harte and Ten
nyson. He took pains to get complete
first editions Of the moderns-Rossetti.
Kipling, Meredith. William
Dean Howells. He also got first editions
Of all the works Of the Elizabethans-
Beaumont and Fletcher, Marlowe. Peele,
Ford, Ben Jonson and Dskker. The
result 10 a library almost unique In one
10 not only full OF rare,
costly books, but these books are read
able.
The most important item In the collec-
LlOu 10 Ot CtuiS Sc tnt iouT SudhtSbtdiV
folos. All are there--the first folio Of
1923, the second OF 1882. the third OF
1868, the fourth Of 1885. Marsden J.
Perry paid 10000 S50.0oo) for the
four in London not so long ago. Even
better than the folios is perfect copy
of Shakespeares "Sonnets." worth about
$3.50 Only four perfect copies are
in the British Museum. one
In the Bodleian Library. third al
ready In the possession of Mr.. Hunting
ton. and this copy. Mr.. Halsey had also
many Of the Shakespeare quartos. which
followed the folios.
Next to the Shakespeares Is the Poe
collect ion, Of which Mr.. Halsey had the
only complete set Of first editions In ex-
stence. including 'Tamerlane" Boston.
1870. worth $4,000 alone There is
alsso one OF the three known first editions
Of THE Murders in the Rue Morgue." for
the Maier copy OF which the late J. p.
Morgan paid &3.s00.
Fine Array OF Dickens.
Mr.. Halsey had the best collection of
drawings in America and
hat Is said by experts to be the finest
collection OF first editions OF Dickens In
the world. The Dickens collection Is
worth $4,000 to $4,000. 1t even con-
tains the rare "a Strange Gentleman"
with the original drawings.
The Cow Chace" tNew York, 1850.
roem bv Mator Andre. the spy. and
Fsop's Fables are other treasures
There are two books by Robert Ascham
hat are worth together perhaps $4,000
They are "Toxophilus'' London. i545),
4 which there is only one other copy IN
America. and Tho Schoolmaster"
fl570). There is a copy of Audubon's
Birds" with the colored plates. worth
.bout $4,000. and first edition on
Bias"
Mr. Huntington already has about the
inest lot Of Americana anywhere. but II
will be enriched by the addition OF the
,nly uncut copy OF the first New York
Directory I7S6): Dentons History Of
New York" I670). worth $500; VOL
ey's journal" Of New York history
this Is the Hoe copy. worth $3.0OO)
John El'ot's Indian Bible printed at
Mass, 1661-3 Zone OF the
inest copies known), and Woods's New
England Prospect" u63D. valued at
1000.
Hard Even to Guess at Value.
Many OF these books have not been
,old In so long that II Is impossible to
10 more, than guess at their value.
pauline" was Robert Browning's first
book. Here Is a preso ntation copy with
his own inscription Among the first
editions of Robert Burns is the Kill
Of 1885. A frst edition Of
Robinson Crusoe" is worth about
1000. There are several books printed
~ Benjamin Franklin. The assembly
u first editions Of Oliver Goldsmith, In
,luding the "Vicar OF Wakefield" rep
.esents about $4,000.
In the collection OF first editions Of
Charles Lamb II the only known copy OF
,is king and Queen Of Hearts' I.on-
ion, lS09) and also the rare Poetry
'or Children" In two volumes 1SO9).
rhe Poetry for Children" derives inter-
,st from being the copy Augustin DAILY
,sed to own. 1t sold for $4,000 more
han fifteen years ago. The rare
'Lycidas'' (l63l) Of Milton Ia rivalled
~ both issues Of the first edition OF
Paradise Lost" There IL copy Of
dIlton's immortal poem with the large
title and ono with the title In small
etters No one really knows which was
printed hrst.
The copy Of Montaigne's "Essays'
London, le03) contains several leaves
Unknown TO other copies and Is worth
|2.5O0 The nrst editions of Scott are
n their original boards. Many of Mr..
Haisey'S books, though not In their
original bindings. have special bindings
~ noted artists.
Ann Ev nRunA Vrn era N ~