Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-30
New York City, May 27.-would you

This is the price recently paid at the
Anderson Galleries here in New York
for one little volume Of Will Shakes
peare's complete works, with Chand-
ler's portrait, dated 1923. It was a
first edition, of course, in remarkably
good condition considering its vast age,
and considerably the gratified purchas-
er to be q great bargain as first editions
60.
Here is something well worth re-
membering the next time you feel i'm
posed upon at having to pay $3.50 for
the latest product of your favorite au-
thor. You never can tell-in q few
years his works may be worth 9. great
deal more. Some Of Joseph Conrad's
already bring as much as $65 a copy,
while a first class edition of Walt
Whitman's Leaves and Grasses" re-
Gently sold for $3.50.
But first editions, like all other an
tiques, grow more valuable as they get
older. An author has to be dead a
long time before his books will bring
as much as $1,000 apiece, and few OF
the books published nowadays are cap
able of surviving through several cen.
turtles. Not that some Of them are OF
lasting merit, but the materials OF
which they are made are too fragile.
The Elizabethan literature was print
ed on strong, thick paper, made by
hand from rags, and in many cases re-
mains whole and firm today. The
Shakespeare volume mentioned above,
for instance, is in perfect condition as
it was in the seventeenth century, ex-
cept for q front page, where an expert
eye can detect q break in b water
mark Of the old paper, showing that 1t
had been mended.
"a good many of the old books have
been doctored," explained MIR. A. Babe
of the Anderson Galleries, as he point
ed out to us the almost impercept1ble
flaw in the precious Shakespeare vol
ume. "There are, of course, experts
who specialize in this restoring work:
Some of the books have been washed
and ironed, in which case 1t is always
apparent. Many have been virtually
ruined in the big English Libraries,
where they remained for centuries with
out proper care, ana now nave u oe
extensively repaired.
"Others fell into the hands OF care
full collectors, and have been passed
down in surprisingly fine trim. We
can usually tell from the owners label
in the front of the book just what 10
expect. To mention Il example,
books from the library of the late
Robert Hoe, which up until 1911 was
the largest private library in this coun-
try, are always in good shape. MIR.
Hoe evidently took elaborate pains with
them. Then we have several volumes
here from George Washington's library,
which are in astonishingly good condl-
ton. Washington was a great collect
Or for his day. and took excellent care
of his books. Fortunately, SO did those
who later acquired them"
Americans have always displayed an
unusual interest in collecting rare
books, according to Mr.. Babe, although
they have not been given much credit
for it. There were book catalogues
as far back as 1880. Fortunately
many of these early collectors took a
patriotic interest in the development
of the United States and carefully col
lected all material relating to its his
toric growth. Thus there is a great
deal of valuable historical data scat
tered about the various private hbrar-
les OF the country, which some day
will doubtless be turned over to q
versities or otherwise made available
to the public.
In one case a wealthy American col
lector financed the preparation OF a
complete history of all the various
tribes of American Indians. SeVerai
of the finished volumes, containing
minutely exact historical details Il
accompanied by large numbers of re-
markable Photographic plates, were re
Gently brought to the Anderson Gal
leries and placed on exhibit. They will
have to be sold because unfortunately
the wealthy collector died before the
monumental work was completed, n
his heirs have not the same interest
In supporting it. The Library. OF Con-
gress, which is an extensive buyer at
these rare book auctions, is said to
be interested in obtaining the material.
BY the way, Gentle Reader, If you
should suddenly come across any anci-
ent historical data packed away IN
your garnet or cellar, don't give 1t
to the ashman, but look it over care
fully and then consult a book expert.
1t may turn out to be extremely valu-
able. like your sreat-aunts old bureau,
which you foolishly sold to the second
hand mar only later TO discover that 1t
was a true product of the brothers
Adam. Not long ago a man sent In