CHAPTER VII. The Modern Book-Hunter, and what he Seeks. To be able to appreciate the rarity of a book at a glance, argues the possession of great practical knowledge, but still not to the extent extent many people suppose. The truth is, books are mainly divided into classes, of various degrees of rarity and value; and although, as in other cases, exceptions may and do occur, the general rules are comparatively easy to follow when once they are understood. Most of the difficulties attending the subject are made up of exceptions, and it is these which take such a long time to digest. It is, I think, the same with most pursuits, and especially so with that of book-collecting. To tell the value of a book is probably more difficult still, for as much depends upon general condition as on the state of the market and the degree of estimation in which books of the kind happen to be held for the time being. Having pointed out that condition may exercise a vast influence on the price of any work, we will try to discover what that price ought to be, and also to see in what direction, and in favour of what class, popular taste is directed. The values of some thousands of books in all departments of literature will be given later on, but at present we will confine ourselves to the present state of the English book market, pointing out the different classes of books in the order in whic they are principally inquired after. 1.-FIRST EDITIONS OF MODERN ENGLISH AUTHORS. It is only by a careful comparison of the prices realised at auction that the actual state of the book market can be gauged with any degree of certainty; and on tabulating the sales which have recently taken place, one cannot help being struck with what may be styled the desperate eagerness evinced by dealers to buy up original illustrated editions of famous modern authors. The works of Charles Dickens are especially in favour-to such an extent, indeed, that only a short time ago £22 was cheerfully paid for a copy of "Sketches by Boz,” in three volumes, 1836-37.* True, this was an unusually fine specimen with several extra plates, but the amount paid shows to what an extent the mania for collecting works of this class has taken hold of those who really control the market. At the same sale a similar sum was bid for the 1837 edition of the "Pickwick Papers," while the "Snob" and its continuation the "Gownsman," in all twenty-eight numbers of the "Cambridge Magazine," edited by Thackeray, brought no less than £125. On another occasion Barham's "Ingoldsby Legends," 3 volumes complete, with plates by Cruikshank, Leech, &c., 1840-47, realised £39; and Grimm's German Popular Stories," 2 vols., 1823-26, as much as £43. Works illustrated by Blake and Bewick belong to this category, as also do the greater number of the so-called sporting books which treat of cock-fighting and other obsolete amuse ments. 66 At all times first editions have been considered preferable to those which follow, because the text, being * The Mackenzie Sale, March 11th, 1889. Lot 613. E reason under the superintendence of the author himself, may fairly be looked upon as purer. This is the rule, though there are many exceptions to it; as, for instance, where two or more editions are published in the author's lifetime. Collectors of modern books of this class, however, take no notice of any exceptions, but pin their whole faith to the axiom, alleging the reason as an excuse for a lavish expenditure of money,- -a which, however appropriate in the case of scholarly treatises, has no application to the lighter kinds of literature. To account for the payment of such extravagant prices as those quoted, it is necessary to recognise the existence of minute distinctions, and then to take each variation as being unique. Dickens's works in the original parts as issued are nearly always worth more than when bound-an example of the multiplication of shadowy and ephemeral differences, and proof positive that the bibliomaniac who turns the kaleidoscope regards his treasures as so many pieces of bric-à-brac, and not as books to be read. Let it be confessed at once that in the case of such authors as Dickens and Thackeray it is the illustrations which constitute the pecuniary value, and the equally rapid sale of works with coloured plates will then be satisfactorily accounted for. Rowlandson, Alken, Hablot Browne, Cruikshank, Buss, and Leech, have many admirers-more by far than Dickens or Thackeray, Ainsworth, Pierce Egan, Apperley, or Surtees. This opinion will doubtless fail to commend itself to those who approve of the payment of £64 for the first edition of Tennyson's Poems, in 2 volumes, 1842,* or £16 for Shelley's "St. Irvyne," in the original boards * The Thompson Sale, May 23rd, 1887. Lot 1148. as issued in 1811,* and £31 for the "Adonais "+; but it must be remembered that these instances are exceptional, the authors being fashionable, the former in his capacity of reigning Poet Laureate, and the latter as the idol of the Shelley Society, which sees merit in such performances as "A proposal for putting reform to the vote" and the "Epipsychidion." Sir Walter Scott's works in the original, whether the text be pure or the reverse, are worth only a few shillings each, while Byron goes begging at a slightly higher figure. None of these books are illustrated, and the reason for preferring one author to the other must have its foundation in something more than a desire for textual analysis. 2.-WORKS RELATING TO AMERICA. Next to the early editions of modern English authors must be placed those relating to the American continent, provided they date from the sixteenth, seventeenth, and occasionally also the eighteenth centuries. The price paid for any stray work of this kind which may be submitted for public competition is sufficiently noteworthy to deserve more than a passing remark. Fortunately, or otherwise, such books have nearly all been absorbed by the public libraries, whence of course they never emerge, and this doubtless is sufficient in itself to account for the desire to obtain the few that remain for the American institutions, regardless of cost. A Brief Description of the Province of Carolina," published in 1666, realised £46 at the Martin Sale, and 35 folio pages of the Charters and Laws of the City of New York," 1817, no less than £79; prices which were subsequently eclipsed by a bid of £555 for 12 small quarto tracts bound in one volume. These 66 66 The Harefield Sale, April 22nd, 1887. Lot 244. pieces included Brereton's "Relation of the Discoverie of the North Part of Virginia," 1602; Hamor's "True Discourse of the present Estate of Virginia," 1615; and Captain Smith's "New England Trials and present Estate," 1622.* Rare tracts of this nature are looked upon as throwing light on the earliest history of the American nation, and are prized accordingly. Out of place in a private library, they assume a unique position in the archives of a state, and their proper restingplace is undoubtedly the country to which they immediately refer. 3.-WORKS RELATING TO SCOTLAND. Scotland would be a nonentity if unpatriotic, and so deep is the quality of patriotism infused into the national character, that it displays itself more than is usually the case in its literature. A representative Scottish library is the very antithesis of an English one. The latter, if of real importance, comprises books on a variety of subjects and gathered from all quarters of the globe. The former is usually confined to genealogical treatises and books either printed in Scotland or written by Scotsmen, as though the owner cared but little for anything save his pedigree and his country. Not being so rare as the early American-printed works, these books are at present within the reach of a moderate purse; but when found, they should be retained, for in a few years the demand will so far exceed the supply that they are almost certain to occupy a position in which money will be of but little account. The first edition of Burns's Poems, Kilmarnock, 1786, is esteemed because it is a contemporary edition of the works of Scotland's greatest poet, and not on account of its being an early-printed work. The price * The Wimpole Sale, June 29th, 1888. Lots 42 and 43. |