Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 8.djvu/409

 10 s. vm. OCT. 26, 1907.] NOTES AND' QUERIES.

339

JHisllane0us.

NOTES ON BOOKS, &o.

Book - Prices Current : October, 1906, to July, 1907.

(Elliot Stock.)

THIS is the coming-of-age volume of Mr. J. H. Slater's invaluable record of prices, and as we go through the volumes year after year, we appreciate more and more the pains and labour that have been bestowed upon their contents, and often wonder that the book world was so long left in ignorance as to auction prices. Auctioneers used to keep their marked catalogues as trade secrets, and only the privileged few had access to them.

Mr. Slater informs us that of late an exceptionally large number of unusual and valuable books and manuscripts have come into the market, and have been sola at prices which a few years ago would have been looked upon as impossible. That American competition has been to a great extent responsible for the increase which has taken place in the prices paid for rare or unusiial copies of the English classics, whether in print or in manuscript, is common knowledge. " But it is not only books of that class which have been affected in such a way; it may be said that all books of sufficient importance have been the subjects of much keener competition during the past twelve months."

The table of contents shows that some 31,800 works have realized nearly 134,000^., being an average of 11. 4. 2d., the highest reached since 1893, when the system of striking an average was inaugurated. Illuminated mediaeval manuscripts, many of them fetching very large sums, have not beeri brought into the computation. The libraries sold included that of Mr. Van Antwerp, of New York, which stands at the head of the total amounts realized 16.35H. Among the 243 lots were the unique copy of the First Folio Shakespeare, which reached the extraordinary sum of 3,600?. ; the Third Folio, 1664, 65W. ; the Kilmarnock edition of Burns, "001. ; Cicero 'On Old Age 'and other pieces printed by Caxton in 1481, 600Z. ; Hubbard's 'Troubles with the Indians,' with the White Hills map, 1677, 450. ; and Walton's ' Compleat Angler,' 1653, 1,290J.

Dr. Garnett's library comprised the three Shelley notebooks which had been given by Shelley's widow to her sou Sir Percy Shelley, and he and Lady Shelley gave them to Dr. Garnett. These brought 3,OOW. All the other notebooks are in the Bodleian Library. Mr. Slater gives the contents of the books as described by Mr. William Rossetti. Mr. L. W. Hodson's collection was rich in choice Bibles, and William Morris's manuscripts of his published works, including 'The Earthly Paradise,' which was sold for 405. Charles Lever's library contained a group of his novels with this note in his hand- writing : " This collection of my stories, which I gave to the dearest wife, and which she loved to call her own, I gave at her death to the dear daughter, who nursed and watched and cared for her during years of suffering that same Julia on whom she called for help till her voice was still for ever. May God, who blessed me with such a wife, comfort me and my children in our now sorrow and affliction. Charles Lever, April 28th, 1870."

Sir Henry Mildmay's library brought 7,45&., while that of Mr. Samuel realized 8,364^., many of the books being enclosed in morocco cases. Among these was a first edition of Browning's 'Pauline,'

with an interesting autograph note, 225^. ; thus in 1896 had fetched only 1457. A presentation copy of ' The Christmas Carol ' sold for 48/. An instance of the truth of what Mr. Slater tells us as to- American competition is afforded by ' A Relation of Maryland,' complete, with the rare map, 1635. This copy, when previously sold by aution, fetched 161., but now brought 400^., being purchased by the firm of B. F. Stevens.

There is a note of encouragement to those of moderate means desirous of possessing good books. While very valuable books are becoming more costly, those of moderate value are decreasing in price, the reason being that the energy of rich collectors is devoted almost exclusively to the former, which, as they see, are fast slipping from their grasp. " As to the latter, they can be obtained at any time, if wanted, and there is no present need to trouble much about them." We can fully confirm these remarks. In our constant search through booksellers' catalogues we are often sur- prised at the prices of good historical, biographical, and other works, all well within the reach of a- moderate purse. We have only one suggestion to- make to Mr. Slater, and that is that he should give- just a few words about the chief persons whose libra- ries are sold. Three or four lines would be sufficient, and would be of increasing value in future years.

We are glad to see that Mr. Slater promises u* shortly his second Index vo_lume, in wnich he has- been at the labour of grouping the results of all the sales of each volume, so as to present at a glance the variations in price which any work has under- gone during the past decade. This plan will render the Index of immense value, as it will save the time necessary to hunt through ten separate volumes.

Random Recollections of Hampstead. By G. W.

Potter. (Eyre & Spottiswoode.) MB. POTTER'S modest little book, much of which has been given to members of the Hampstead Antiquarian Society, was well worth the perma- nency of book form, for it preserves for us much that is being forgotten in the rapid changes of modern building. Of some interesting features he has made sketches from memory which have received the approval of " an old inhabitant," a feat which would be neyond many antiquaries.

The book has numerous points of interest. Sixty or seventy years ago the Heath was, we learn, almost wholly covered by gorse and bracken. Drainage was conveyed in open ditches to water- cress beds. "The donkey-drivers were a clan by themselves, apparently of gypsy blood " ; and Hampstead was surrounded on all sides by meadows. Lights and water conveniences which have come in modern times were so bad that it is a wonder that much of the population of Hampstead was not blind or diseased. The sedan chair, about which there has been much in our columns, was used as- late as 1853 ; the police were despised and suspected as dangerous novelties, getting no such respect as; the cock-hatted beadle.

Mr. {Potter has much to say of old inns and' historic houses such as that in which Keats lodged. There was ariiple occasion for gaiety, which has since been regulated and somewhat reduced by law or custom. Cricket clubs included "gentlemen, tradesmen, and mechanics," and there were no< professionals pining for high averages and other sports, now confined to a few country places or-
 * ' records." belauded by the popular press. May Day