Evening star., 1937-09-05

on Tobacco.
Mr.. George Arents, jr, and Mr.
Jerome E. Brooks, could not have
found a more psychological moment
in which to bring out that first volume
Of an edition de luxe, In the fullest
sense 70 the term, of the history Of
tobacco from the earliest time Of the
weed down to the present century
when cigarettes have largely taken
the place Of the pipe, and the women
Of the world are consuming their full
share OF the enormous output, than at
the present time when the queenly,
oul-satisfying weed. the Divine herb"
which Edmund Spenser eulogizes In
his "Faerie Queen" is in this Ammo
Domini 1887, coming into its own
again after several years OF what
Representative Thomas Burch of the
old tobacco belt district in Virginia,
characterized as Years Of gloom and
despair" which enshrouded the tobacco
growers Of the United States, and had
its effect on the entire tobacco growing
world. 1t is estimated that the tobacco
crop in the old belt alone, which in
cludes several OF the Southern States.
will bring around $l6O0OO,00O, or
$10,000,000 more than last year, al
though it will be 100000 less than
1885.
Rare Collection Valued
At S500,000 to 31,000,00o.
Tobacco" Its history illustrated
by the books, manuscripts and en-
cravings, in the Library Of George
Arents, jr, is now arriving at the
fulflllment of long cherished dream
OF Mr.. Arents OF New York. who has
spent As years in assembling a library
on tobacco which now consists OF
$500 books, mainly first editions,
manuscripts. prints and engravings,
acknowledged by collectors and biblio-
philes to be the finest in this field.
This collection valued at from $500 900
to $l,O00,000, was begun when Mr..
Arents was boy Of II and obtained
the first item for the collection which
was a pamphlet printed in 1889 con-
tanning selected poems that James
Thomson, British poet, otherwise
known as "B. w." had contributed to
the monthly periodical, "Copes To-
bacco Plant" Since that time with
the aid OF dealers, connoisseurs in
collecting and devotees Of the weed,
he has searched different parts of the
world for rare books and manuscripts
dealing with the history Of tobacco
from commercial and medicinal, as
well as. the standpoint Of literature,
economics and social aspects.
Mr. Arents, who is the son Of Mr..
George Arents. ST., one Of the founders
OF the American Tobacco Co., Is a
well-known financier. yachtsman and
clubman of New York. He is a great
nephew of Maj. Lewis Ginter Of Rich
mond Va, who was on the staff Of
Gen. Stonewall jackson; it is to that
relative that he attributes his pursuits
as hard-riding lobbyist, because in
his early youth the major, who was
delightful company to the boy. advised
him to take up hobby. Maj. Ginter
was frequently introduced as Straight
cut. suh," owing to his association
with that brand
Ten Years Required to
Compile Tobacco"
This rare collection Of Mr.. Arents',
which includes books and manuscripts
in g different languages, has provided
the basis for monumental history or
catalogue OF the Arents library, which
has been compiled with the aid of
many scholars by Mr. Brooks, who
has spent 10 years in the undertaking
and which 1t is understood has been
financed by the owner of the library
to the extent of s25o,oOo. Mr.. Brooks,
formerly with the DR.. A. S. w. Rosen-
bach Co., Is historian and expert on
collecting, and his introduction to the
hrSt volume or catalogue Of Tobacco"
is not only comprehensive history
OF the weed, but is an essay of rare
literary value. In his introduction he
points out that the annals of tobacco
begin with the discovery OF America
by Columbus, who 1t seems wrote in
his journal that he saw tobacco on
October is. 1892, in the canoe of a
West Indian. In giving the facts and
early story of the plant he has made
it read like a romance: something
human; something in the early CEN
turies necessary to the welfare of man.
London Times Carries
Delightful Review.
The London Times Of June. 1897,
in dattering review OF Tobacco"
says: "Bibliographically a notable
feature Of this book is that facsimile
Is given Of the title page Of every book
described. Another excellent point
which gives the catalogue greater
value for reference than most private
catalogues, is that where a rare and
important book is absent from the
collection, Mr.. Arents has taken the
trouble to procure photostat Of
copy existing elsewhere. which Is fully
described and illustrated as the other
books" There will be 300 numbered