The sun., 1918-08-25
K are Books
A Yarn About a First Folio
To Burn Fine Library
On the Trail of Stevenson

A MOTHER copy of the first folio edi-
n ton of Shakespeare s plays has been
\ accounted for if we are to believe
the amazing story Mrs. Humphry Ward
tells in Harper Magazine, which is to the
effect that so recently as 1883 a Spanish
librarian burned this copy in a brasero when
engaged in arranging for sale the library
In which it had been.
Mrs. Ward says that one Senior Gayangos,
executing a commission for an English gen
tleman in Spain. found the copy of the
plays on the floor with a mass of other dis
carded books; being attracted by the name
of Shakespeare and the date, 1923, he exam
ined the book to discover what it was, and
yet did not know what it was. He knew
enough to determine that it had once been
the property of Count Gondomar, who in the
day of Shakespeare was Ambassador to the
Court of st. James's and who had made
marginal notes in the volume. Returning
to England he told Sir Thomas Phillips and
Mr.. Halliwell of his discovery; then he hur-
ried back to Spain, only to find that the
treasure was ashes.
Just moment s eursory examination of
this amazing tale will suffice
If the Senior Gayangos was considered in
telligent enough to be intrusted with an
important mission in Spain he would have
recognized that any book dated 1923 and
having the name of Shakespeare on its title
page was one worth laying hold of and
would have saved it instanter. There is not
pushcart book pedler on the streets of
New York that would not have gotten that
book if it was the last thing he ever did.
Yes, the story is tragic; but it is only a
story.
n Bookworm on View.
Alexander NJ. Brown, the Beekman street
bookseller, found fine healthy specimen of
bookworm at work in an old Latin book.
He has preserved the critter and will be
pleased to show it 20 those who have never
seen one of these destructive insects.
1t is said that no less than sixty seven
different editors have edited Shakespeare
OF this number thirty three spell the name
Shakespeare, seven give it as Shakspear.
nineteen as Shakespeare and eight as Shaks
pere.
The Cleveland PIdindedler breaks info
poetry as follows:
"When bookworEs praise The Faerie
QueeRe,
Or thrill at deeds of Roderiek Dhu.
Or tell Quo Tadis s vivid scene,
/. And rave how old Dumas would do.
/ say, Ny nightly rendezvous
Is such that books l must forego.
And though We never read them through
I've seen them at the Movie Show
Catalogues Received.
From R. c. MacMahon, IS West Fifty
fifth street: A LIST of 16S items of much
value and interest. Among the very choice
things are Castagneda s Historic deu' Indie
Orentdit, published in Venice. 1873: DIAL
rymple s Memoirs Of Great Britain and Ire.
land, Edinburgh, 1771-3-Ss; Bunsen's
Egypt's Place in UnirersnI History, Lon
don, 1s4s-Go; Foppens' S Bibhotheca Bel
gtc0, Brussels. 1879; Muentz's La Renais
sdnce en- Itdiie ct en- France, Paris, 1885.
and Sismondi s Historic les Republiqles TIA
hcnnes dH MOyen Age. Paris 1926
From Rodolphe Chamonal, 90 Rue Va
renne, Paris, S8 items of exceedingly rare
Americana. all very desirable to the collec-
tor. 1t is remarkable with what tenacity
foreign booksellers cling to excessive prices
on all the Americana they catalogue. Ia
this catalogue most of the prices are from
70 to 100 per cert higher than the items
can be bought for in America.
Personal Notes.
G. w. Humphrey, The well known Roston
bookseller, is retiring from business after a
long career IN that city and will make his
future home in Los Angeles, Cal.
Lathrop Z. Harper, accompanied by Mrs.
harper, Is on somewhat extended trim
West, combining business with pleasure.
r. ID. North has gone to Maplewood. n.
H., for his vacation. and will be away for a
month. James F. Drake is in charge of Mr..
North s affairs during the latter s absence.
n postcard from Oscar WegeIin, now on
MS wedding tour, shows him at Calgary on
August -.
Charlie Everitt sends word from the Maine
lakes that fish are so plentiful he is ashamed
to look small mouth bass in the eve.
Numerous raw spots on his fingers are
incontestible evidenc" that Adolf Stager has
had run ID with some bluefish off Far
Rockaway.
Rare Books to Be Burned.