The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-06
Rare Book S
News of the Trade in England
Auctions Get Under Way
Replies to Readers Questions

items. Mr.. MacMahon has assembled list
of books unusual in an American catalogue.
With the moderate prices attached they
should move quickly.
From P. F. Madigan, Bulletin SO, auto
graph letters, many Of them very rare.
Replies to Questions.
G. T. K, New YORK CrTY-A book whose
edges have never been trimmed by the
binder is uncut" When the sheets of a
book have been folded for the binder, if
the issue is to be uncut" tho top and
sides of these sheets are not separated,
and the binder is forbidden to trim them
in any way. The result is q book both Gun
cut" and unopened. It is presumed
that every collector Of books has in view
when he buys that he may at some time de-
sire to sell his collection either at public
or private sale, ard as collectors know that
books in that state described have more
value than if they had been tempered with,
the buyer looks to that to make them bring
all they cost originally, and probably more.
We cannot agree with your contention
that collectors like Mr.. Huntington are the
exception in the matter of reading their
purchases. The rule is Just the contrary.
In large collections, comprising many thou
sands of volumes, no man s life would be
sufficiently long to read tenth of the works
assembled.
Rare books are in the nature of museum
pieces to be treasured and kept in the same
condition as when bought. The joy of
possession sufiices. Many collectors own as
many as three copies of the same work;
one to treasure, another to read, the third to
lend 10 a circle of friends.
You may find what you want in portraits
at Robert Fridenberg's, 90 West Fifty sixth
street. He has the largest stock in America
and knows prints thoroughly.
The authors you mention may be ad-
dressed in care of their publishers.
]. L., NEW YORK CTTY-Thus far we have
been unable to locate the edition of the
Dancidd about which you inquire. Such
photographers as We have been able to ex-
anime fail to show any issue between 1929
and 1888, nor does the British Museum
catalogue furnish clue to it. Where was
your copy published and by whQmi
L. +. c., NEW YORK CITY-As James
Loring put out at least four undated edi-
tions of the primer, it is difficult to locate
yours. No photographer gives a notation of
the edition published by Rowland at Worces-
ter. Both of these may be of consider
able value, but as nothing definite is known
of them it would be difficult to assign prices
to them.
j. L. E., WHITE PLAINS. y. Y.-The
american Encyclopedia, Vol. ., page 597, in
4 sketch of the Rev. G. W. Bethune states
he was the son of DIVE and Joanna Ora
lam) Bethunc; was educated at Dickinson
College and in theology at Princeton Semi
nary; was chaplain to seamen at Savannah,
Ga; in 1928 pastor at Rhinebeck n. Y;
then at Utica, whence he was called to Phil
adelphia in 1884; in 1912 to Brooklyn,
which charge he resigned in 1859 and went
TO Italy to recover his health, returning TO
the United States; his health being still
poor, he returned to Italy in 1851 and died
in Florence the following year. He was a
line scholar and brilliant orator. His liter.
airy work included a number of volumes;
among them an edition of Walton s AnqIer.
TO which he appended much matter relating
to angling in America, of which his love of
nature and fondness for fishing admirably
qualified him TO write.
lG 1873 j. W. BOuton issued a catalogue
If the Westwood collection of Waltoniana
then on sale in his store. and in a footnots
to item So states that Bethune edited the
second and not the first American edition
IF the angler in 1913. the edition published
BY John Wiley in 1917 being the first.
We regret that want of space prevents
'ur acting on your suggestion as TO a series
IF papers on forgotten books, 4 subject of
much interest to collectors and which could
'nly be treated at considerable length if il
vas to serve the purpose you no doubt had
u mind when making the suggestion