Page:The autobiography of a Pennsylvanian.djvu/180

 Out of it I picked an old Dutch book. Said Henkels, “If you want that, take it along.” It proved to be the first book in Dutch in America, a catechism of the Reformed Church written in Albany, printed by Bradford and before unknown.

William Brotherhead had a second-hand book store on South Street west of Broad. From his shelves I selected a little volume of poems by Edgar Allan Poe, printed when he was a cadet at West Point by Elam Bliss, which had been thrown away by the Cadwalader family and for which I paid sixty cents. I had no knowledge of Poe editions and was not seeking it, but there is an instinct born within which guides a man in these pursuits. The day was one of idleness and I went from there to the auction rooms to look over a library offered for sale. At the time George P. Philes, a very wise man in his knowledge of books, and others of the craft were gathered in an inner room, and as I wandered about I overheard the conversation. One of them said: “I wonder whether that second edition of Poe will ever turn up again?” The remark caught my attention and I stepped closer.

“Is it a scarce book?” I inquired.

“Did you ever see a copy?” came the query instead of a response.

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“I have one in my pocket.”

I produced it and astonishment gathered over their faces.

“Do you know what that book brought in the Brinley sale?” asked Philes.

“No, I don't know what it brought in the Brinley sale.”

“One hundred and fifty dollars.”

“I am very glad to hear it.”

At this time there was a man in town named Frank E. 166