Page:Notes by the Way.djvu/333

 NOTES BY THE WAY.

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��Sale of the l * a f? of t. be Advocates

��sales usually took place at eleven in the morning, or half-past five in the evening, whereas one o'clock is now the invariable rule. In accordance with the more leisurely methods of the period, not more than about 150 lots were offered on each occasion in the earlier catalogues a number which has increased latterly to an average of 330. The sales now seldom occupy more than two hours and a half, though the number of buyers has, of course, largely increased, averaging nearly one hundred at each sale.

From a legal point of view the sale of the library of the College of Advocates was perhaps the most remarkable. Messrs. Hodgson began it on the 22nd of April, 1861, and it was continued during the seven following days, 2,456 lots being sold. These included an unusually extensive collection of the works of well-known writers, both English and foreign, on civil, canon, and ecclesiastical law from the earliest time, as well as many manuscripts of great interest.

Among many valuable records possessed by the Hodgsons 1907, Oct. 12. are the catalogues of the trade sales conducted by them, and as Trade sales. these comprised almost all the chief sales, they form a most inter- esting chapter in the history of bookselling in England. They were not really public sales ; they were usually held at " The Albion " Tavern (a landmark which has only recently disappeared), and were attended, on invitation, by the trade. The books were offered at reduced or " liberal " prices rather than sold by auction. Many hundreds of these trade sales were held, but they virtually ceased some twenty years ago. I think I am right in stating that the last was that of the Bentleys, whose house in Burlington Street was full of literary relics and reminiscences of the choicest kind. One trade sale conducted by Mr. Edmund Hodgson was of worldwide interest, being that of the entire stock and copyrights Sale of Scott of the life and works of Sir Walter Scott. This took place at the copyrights. London Coffee-House on Wednesday, the 26th of March, 1851. In ' John Francis,' voi. i. pp. 505-7, the following is quoted from The Athenceum of March 29th :

"The stock had been valued at 10,109?. 3s. a very low figure indeed : but the matter was open to reference afterwards. The two things must be sold as one : the purchaser of the copyright must take the stock. At length 5,000?. was offered, followed up by 5,500?. : and so on the biddings went by jumps of 500?. at a time till the figure had reached 10,000?. In this stage of the contest fresh questions began to arise : ' Were Mr. Cadell's trustees bidders on this occasion ? ' ' Was there a reserved price ? ' ' Yes,' it was answered ; ' they retain and perhaps will exercise the right of bidding.' Then followed another 500?. leap, Mr. Bohn and the Row retiring, and the struggle lying between Mr. Virtue and some imaginary bidder to be seen only by the eyes of the auctioneer. At 13,500?. Mr. Virtue gave way ; and after a farther rivalry the hammer sounded, and the copyrights were ' bought in ' at 15,000?., making the figure, including the stock, 25,109?. 3s."

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