BOOK-PRICES CURRENT RECORD OF BOOKS, A MANUSCRIPTS, AND AUTOGRAPHS SOLD AT AUCTION IN NEW YORK, BOSTON, AND TO SEPTEMBER 1, 1909, WITH THE PRICES REALIZED COMPILED FROM THE AUCTIONEERS' CATALOGUES BY LUTHER S. LIVINGSTON NEW YORK DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 1909 T PREFACE HE present volume of American Book-Prices Current is the most voluminous thus far issued. Records for not less than 16,750 lots are included. The increased number of records is brought about by the generally higher character of books offered rather than by an increased number of sales. Selections are included from 151 catalogues containing about 126,000 lots. The most important American collection dispersed in recent years was the library of Henry W. Poor of New York, sold in five parts by the Anderson Auction Company on November 17-19, December 7-9, January 12-14, February 23-25, and April 5-7. Mr. Poor had bought freely at almost all recent auction sales, and many books from the McKee, Hurst, and other libraries dispersed during the last decade again appeared in the auction room. The library of Edwin N. Lapham of Chicago, mainly first editions of eighteenth and nineteenth century English writers, sold on December 1-3, and the first part of the Jacob Chester Chamberlain collection of the first editions of American authors were equally notable for the fine condition of the books offered and for the high prices paid for special items. The library of the late John Gerard Heckscher, dispersed by the Merwin-Clayton Sales Company in three sales on February 2-5, 15-18 and March 2-4, was the most extensive library of books on Angling and kindred subjects ever offered at auction in this country. Equally notable in its line was the Samuel S. Purple collection of American genealogies sold by C. F. Libbie & Co. in Boston on February 16-19. An extended chronological list of the sales of the season follows this preface. As this volume may come into the hands of book-collectors not familiar with its use, it may be well to restate here the scheme of the record. The name of the author (or in the case of anonymous books the first words of the title) are set in black face capitals. Club or Press publications are (generally) under the Club or Press, and a few other books such as anonymous histories and biographies are entered under their subject. The titles of the V 203881 various works by an author, printed in black face lower case type, are arranged in alphabetical order. This is followed by the place where printed, the printer (in a few cases), the date, and the size of the volume. This first portion of the description is general and applies to all copies of the work. Following this general description is the specific description of the copy or copies of the book as sold, each lot beginning a new line. This specific description is made up as follows: First. A description of the binding, the abbreviations being those which are universally used and understood. Second. A statement as to the condition of the particular copy recorded, if on large paper, if with extra plates inserted, if from a famous library, etc. Third. The name of the sale where a name was given on the catalogue. This does not mean in every case that the name as given is that of the owner of the book, as additions from other unannounced sources are often included with books of a known owner. Fourth. The initials of the name of the auctioneer under whose management the sale took place. As there are only four auctioneers who have held sales which find a place in our record, the initial letters answer as well as the full name. A. is The Anderson Auction Company. H. is Stan. V. Henkels. L. is Charles F. Libbie & Co. M. is The Merwin-Clayton Sales Company. Fifth. The date of sale. In the case of sales of more than a single day's duration this date is that of the first day of the sale. Sixth. The lot number in the original sale catalogue. Seventh. The price realized. This is the price for the lot, not per volume. • December, 1909. L. S. L. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF SALES REPORTED IN THIS VOLUME September 9 and 10, 1908. Library of the late Dr. E. Q. Marston, of Sandwich, N. H. Sold in Boston by C. F. Libbie and Co. September 16 and 17, 1908. A Collection of Americana. Sold in Boston by C. F. Libbie and Co. September 23 and 24, 1908. Law Library of the late Joseph Willard, of Boston, Mass. With Additions. Sold in Boston by C. F. Libbie and Co. September 30 and October 1, 1908. A Miscellaneous Collection. Sold in Boston by C. F. Libbie and Co. October 13, 14, 15 and 16, 1908. Library of the late Joseph October 19, 1908. Portions of the Libraries of Dr. John W. Francis, of New York City, and Mr. William C. Nell. Sold in New York by The Anderson Auction Co. October 20, 1908. Library of Dr. William Payne Simpson, of New York City. With Additions. Sold in New York by The Anderson Auction Co. October 21, 1908. A Miscellaneous Collection. Sold in New York by The Anderson Auction Co. October 21 and 22, 1908. A Miscellaneous Collection. in Boston by C. F. Libbie and Co. October 22, 1908. Library of a New York Gentleman. in New York by The Anderson Auction Co. Sold Sold October 26, 1908. A Miscellaneous Collection. Sold in New York by The Anderson Auction Co. October 27, 1908. A Miscellaneous Collection. Sold in New York by The Anderson Auction Co. October 27, 28, 29 and 30, 1908. Library of the late Gen. John Marshall Brown, of Portland, Maine. Sold in Boston by C. F. Libbie and Co. October 28 and 29, 1908. Library of Dr. of Albany, N. Y. With Additions. by The Anderson Auction Co. Howard J. Rogers, November 4 and 5, 1908. Libraries of the late Albert S. Wait, of Newport, N. H., and Eben N. Hewins, of Boston, Mass. Sold in Boston by C. F. Libbie and Co. November 5, 1908. A Portion of the Library of William CulSold in New York by The Anderson Auc len Bryant. tion Co. vii |
