New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-06-06
OLD BOOKS REALLY
ARE COSTLY HOBBY
Expert Thinks Million Will Not
Be Too High for Some


rare book"
So said DIT. A. g. Rosenbach, this
country's most famous hook collec-
tor. who has just returned with some
100000 worth OF new manu-.
scripts. including the famous Alice
in Wonderland"
There are only q limited number
in circulation, and the supply grows
lees each year" he said. within
the next 10 years. old manuscripts
and first editions will skyrocket 10
figures that will make the $4,000 ]
paid for Alice look like picker's
price. The Alice manuscript was .
bargain. l expect to live to see rare
book treasures bring million dol.
lars each at public auctions"
Antiques follow the flow Of gold.
DR.. Rosenbach pointed out. When
the United states became the great
creditor of other nations. 1t was in
evitable that art treasures should
vravitate to this side OF the Atlantic.
Prosperity Brisags Art Treasures
During the past quarter OF 4 CEN
fury, Dr. Rosenbach has made him
self an international figure at book
auctions. He has spent at least
$50. 900, 900 buying up Europear art
treasures-mostly books and manu-
scripts. Today. French, German and
British collectors are buying books
in America.
1.-The stock market really regulates
kka hank huvtnRn 0P.
Rosenbach said. Right now the
market is so active and business 80
brisk that the book market IA quiet.
Just as soon az Wall Street calms
down q little, there will be an Orgy
OF book buying and art collecting
such as the country never has wit
nessed."
Besides being a dealer In old and
rare books. DIR. Rosenbach has 4 su-
perb private collection In which are
The original manuscripts OF the Pick
wick papers and such moder0 A.
Conrad's Lord Jim" and the much
banned "Ulysses' by james Joyce.
He has probably the finest collection
Of children's books in the world. |
though he happens to be 4 bachelor.
His love OF hooks was born In him,
and fostered by an uncle. In whose |
Philadelphia book shop he practt-
.cally grew up. When he was III
years old, he purchased his hrst
book at auction for S@<-an illus
trated edition of "Reynard the FOX
He paid for it on the installment
plan.
At ls, he picked up in an auction
room a first edition OF Gray's "Odes,
from Horace Walpole's famous
strawberry Hill Press. The youth
was willing to mortgage his future
to own the book. and received the
surprise of his life when he Got II
for $3.50. Other dealers later oheFed
IS. 900 for It, which he refused. The
book is still in his private collection
today.
The Prizes dc IMxc-Oid Dlblcs
The prizes de luxe are very old
Ribles, Dr. Rosenbach thinks. About
year ago. he paid 100000 Tor .
Gutenberg Bible at an auction Ut the
Anderson galleries In New York. It
was the fourth Gutenberg Bible he
had bought.
THE Gutenberg Bible" said the
collector, lis not only the earliest
but the most beautiful work Of print
ing the world has known. Forty
three copies have been Uncovered
80 far, ten OF which are In this coun.
try.
II bought my first copy In 1919.
1t ia now in the collection OF Joseph
Widener Of Philadelphia. The sec.
ond l bought from the late James
w. Ellsworth OF Chicago. l pup
chased another at the Carysfort sale
in London four years ago for less
than $4,000. The fourth copy.
which brought the record price for
the book. was purchased from me
by Mrs. E. s. Harkness and given to
the library Of Yale university. Some
day q million will be . reasonable
price for Gutenberg Bible"
America IL buying English book
treasures as fast as she can get hold
Of them. and faster than England
cares to have her buy. But In the
great Libraries of Cambridge and
Oxford are many books that are be-
never leave England.
~ century ago, Italy. France and
Spain were complaining OF the raids +.
made on their collections by Eng.
land, just a. England IL complain.
ing OF US today" said DR.. Rosenbach.