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FORTY YEARS

AMONG THE

OLD BOOKSELLERS

OF

PHILADELPHIA,

WITH

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REMARKS.

 

BY
W: BROTHERHEAD,

AUTHOR OF THE CENTENNIAL BOOK OF THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION
OF INDEPENDENCE, ETC., ETC.

A. P. BROTHERHEAD,
1440 SOUTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA.
1891.

ALL RIGHTS RESER VED.

 

  
  

 

FORTY YEARS

AMONG THE

OLD BOOKSELLERS

PHILADELPHIA.

BY W. BROTHERHEAD,

OLD BOOKSELLER.

  

, ”i HAVE been solicited by many old friends to
relate my experience as an old boOkseller for
the last forty years. I have succumbed to
their desires, and 1n doing so I have resolved to make
a plain statement.

The position of old bookseller is so totally different
from any other trade that it requires special mention
and fuller explanation. A grocer sells his candles, a

' tailor fits his customer, a dry goods man sells his goods;

each article has its special merits, which are duly
(3) _
4~ 95 G 8/ b

4 FORTY YEARS AMONG

described by its seller, then the matter is ended. The
qualifications required in each of the above depart-
ments are of a general mediocre character, such as any
one with ordinary brains can soon learn—a few months
are generally sufficient. The old bookseller—one who
is worthy of the name——must have high qualifications,
besides the mere objective merits of the general trades-
men. The first requisite he requires is a thorough
knowledge of literature—ehe should be a cyclopwdia,
able to answer questions about the general nature of
books, and their authors. The whole field of history
he should know, from Homer to Macaulay. The new
discoveries in history, either biblical or general, he
should know. The latest discoveries in Egyptian
history, such as the 3000 years old papyri, with the
biblical discoveries of Tischendorf and other profound
scholars—all should be known by him. I do not
mean a very profound knowledge, but a general one.

I am aware that in the past, as well asthe present,
mere old ragmen—old junk dealers—have been and
are metamorphosed into old booksellers—a disgrace to
its high intellectual worth. I am also aware of some
who are mere catalogue old booksellers, and who, par-
rot-like, can spin you ofi' the latest books collected by
a Bohn or Quaritch, but are not aware of the con-
tents of any of the books, nor of the special idiosyn'
cracies of the authors. Such booksellers I would

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 5

recommend to read all of Dibdin’s works, published
under the patronage of the Earl of Spencer; “Censuria
Literati,” “Lownde’s Bibliographers’ Manual,” edited
by H. Bohn; Brunet’s “Manual of Bibliography,”
‘ Watt’s great work on Bibliography; Rich’s “Ameri-
can Bibliography; ” Stevens’ “Nuggets.” These
works will furnish them with the basis of bibliography V
-—a knowledge of books—on which they can build by
experience a superstructure that will honor their pro-
fession. Goldsmith, in his “Vicar of Wakefield,”
talks about “Shakespeare and the musical glasses;”
how few of our booksellers can do this! Charles
Lamb, the kindly and most interesting of litterateurs,
should be read and studied. Hazlitt, in his brilliant
criticisms, and Leigh Hunt, in his Essays, are worthy
of careful perusal.

These are a few hints thrown out for the especial
attention of old booksellers, but only a few; the whole
scope of general literature should be scanned over,
and in process of time the brain would be so filled
with special literature that it would be a feast for the
gods.

In 1849 I commenced to sell old books at the north-‘
west corner of Sixth and Market streets. My stock
was worth about $60. It did not fill up my shelves,
and I added cigars to my stock, and filled the empty
shelves with cigar-boxes. These in a short time I

6 FORTY YEARS AMONG

took down, and in their place I covered the empty
shelves with Gatlin’s portraits of Indians. These being
highly colored, made a good show. “Annuals” were
the fashion at this day—as fashionable as a lady’s
bonnet is now; no one could do without the “ Snow-
lake,” “Iris,” and many others.

. I bought my books chiefly at auction—then carried
on by Gr. W. Lord, at the southeast corner of Sixth
and Decatur streets.

The old book trade was essentially different to what
it is now. American books were not so plentiful, and
the English sales chiefly supplied our wants.

Lumley of London sent over large invoices of mis-
cellaneous books, most of them the trash of the Lon-
don auction houses. I have seen him buy thousands
of volumes at auction for the American market.
Willis and Southeran were large exporters to this
city; their books were of a good quality, many of
them were large folios and quartos illustrated with
colored plates, engraved on copper and in aqua tint.
This class of books are not even common in the
London market, and are catalogued at prices 50 per
cent. higher than they were bought forty years ago.

Dramatic books were common. Mrs. Inchbald,
Cumberland and Bells Editions, were a drug on the
market and brought at auction from 10 to 15 cents
per volume. They would bring twice the price to-day

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 7 .

at auction. Dramatic memoirs were also in plenty.
Tate Wilkinson’s Memoirs in 4 volumes; The Itine-
rant in' 4 volumes, Life of Garrick, Mrs. Siddons,
Edmund Kean, The Kembles, Cooke and others, I
imported and sold for about 50 cents per volume. In
the London market to-day these books sell at one dol-
lar per volume and upwards.

‘ Americana, or books on America, were not much
in request forty years ago. About 1850 I com-
menced importing English books, those that were
curious and rare, among them many curious books on
America. I know of but three men in this city at
that time that bought them; those were E. D. Ingra-
ham, Jabez Fisher, R. C. Davis and John Mc-
Allister, now dead, was one of my earliest customers;
nearly every morning he came with green bag and
often bought of me. His fine library, rich in local
history, is now in possession of his son William, who
appreciates it highly; all the family are lovers of
books. Ingraham and Davis are dead; of Fisher I
am not sure whether alive or not. I have sketched
the character of Ingraham in my memoir of him in
the “Lives of Eminent Philadelphians,” which I pub-
lished in 1859. I will only add here, that he was
one of the most original bibliopoles I have ever met.
He was eccentric in person, witty in his sayings, a dry
humor prevaded his conversation—it had the bou-

8 FORTY YEARS AMONG ‘

quet of Dibdin, and was highly flavored with anec-

dotes of the most distinguished men in Europe. I

recollect on one occasion, and the only one, I had a _
copy of a very rare book then, and extremely rare"
now, “The Memoirs of Harriett Wilson,'a WOman .
of Pleasure.” Mr. Ingraham had a copy of it which
was illustrated with portraits, autographs and news-r
paper cuttings. Harriett Wilson gave the names of

many of her patrons; among them was the Duke of

Wellington. In order to confirm this statement, he

wrote to a special friend of his in London, and he

found out that the statement was true, and included

many other highly distinguished persons. About

this time I added to my importation of old books,

old engravings and autographs. Ingraham spent many

a day in looking over my collection, and added many

rare historical prints with which his famous collec-

tion of books was illustrated. The collection of R. C.

Davis’ books and autographs was chiefly indebted to

my importations; so was Fisher’s, Dr. Koecker’s, F. J.

Dreer’s famous collection of autographs, which he

has generously given to the Pennsylvania Historical

Society of this city. In 1857 I published in my

“American Notes and Queries,” a full description of this

collection. This description was afterwards printed

in quarto form on card paper; twenty-five copies were

only printed and given away.

THE" OLD. BO‘OKSELLERS:? 9 '<‘

After importing for four years, I found the mania
for collecting books on America was gradually in-
creasing. I instructed my agent to collect everything
in America he could find, either in books, engravings
or autographs.

The Americana fever increased very rapidly. In-
graham died; his collection of books was sold at auc-
tion, comprising over 17,000 volumes. Every nook
and corner of his house was packed with books—-
many were found that were claimed by different per-
sons. His penchant was first to buy—if the per-
sons would not sell he would borrow, and rarely re-
turn—the book he must have at any cost, even at the
risk of honor—at least a pardonable sin. This gave
the great impetus for buying American books, or old
books on America, illustrated with every device im-
aginable. The mania gradually pervaded every city
——east, west, north and south. New York at this
time, from 1852 and in that decennial period, had not
fairly started. She had not any special booksellers
for many years that supplied the wants of a few col-
lectors who were ardent in their desires to augment
their collections. Mr. Menzies, a Scotchman, had risen
from the ranks of labor, and became a wealthy man
———a kind and generous one, without blustermmodest
in all his dealings, and exhibited a rare taste in the
selections of books he desired. He not only bought

10 FOBTY YEARS AMONG

the most recherche editions, but they were almost im-
maculate in condition. Uncut copies were his chief
aim, and for them he would pay a generous price.
At the time when Irving was urged by his literary
publisher, Mr. Putnam, to write a “Life of Washing-
ton,” he was influenced to do this by men like Men-
zies—the result was a Life of Washington by Irving.
Its appearance caught at the flood-tide of Americana,
and the rage for illustration of books was at its height.
Irving’s Washington was the chief book, and on it
Mr. Menzies lavished his money in profusion. At
that time I was the chief importer of books in
America, including old engravings and autographs;
and for the purpose of illustrating this book, Messrs.
Menzies, Bailey, Myers, John Munroe, John Allen,
and other New York collectors, made me many visits,
and bought liberally.

Mr. Menzies found age and debility creeping on
him, and not having any one in his own family
that appreciated his efforts, he wisely concluded to
sell his famous, and in many respects unique, collec-
tion of books. > The library was sold at auction; the
catalogue was got up in superb style—a fitting aC<
companiment to his unrivaled collection of books.
The prices the books brought were complimentary to
their owner; yet, I presume, they did not bring the
original cost. Irving’s “Life of Washington” was

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 11

his chef d’ceavre. It was illustrated, with several orig- -
inal letters of Washington, original water colors of
scenes depicted in the Life, rare views and portraits;
bound in 7 volumes, quarto, and bought by Joseph
Drexel for $7,000. How much more pleasant it was
for Mr. Menzies to ponder and reflect on the acts of
his past life, that his princely expenditures on books
aggregated for his family an income that would keep
them living a luxurious life! How many princely
incomes have been spent on horses, yachting-club life,
and countless debaucheries and gambling generally,
ending in bankruptcy, suicide, or in poverty! Such
business as book collecting, and other kindred sub-
jects, are near akin to genius, and whose names live
in history, while the others mentioned are pointed to
as cases of demoralization, and always subject to cen-
sure—in fact, are black spots always to be avoided.
In January, 1857, I commenced the issue of
“American Notes and Queries ;” this was the first
American magazine devoted to this subject matter.
It was succeeded a few months later by the “ Histori-
cal Magazine,” published in New York. I only
issued four numbers, my means being too limited for
any further delivery; 500 copies were issued, and it is
now very scarce, and when sold at auction, brings
generally more than its original price, which is not a
common thing in magazines. At this time a well-

12 ‘ FORTY YEARS AMONG

known name in this city, and a peculiar personality,
was a frequent "Visitor at my store, then 218 S. 8th
street—Charles A. Poulson. He was a tall, erect man,
somewhat pompous in his manner, and reticent to all
but his friends. His penchant was the collection of -
local views of this city; many he painted in water
colors from memory. His home on Front street, one
of the old aristocratic residences 100 years ago, and I
presume built by his celebrated father, the originator,
editor and printer of the North American, was literally
covered with local Views. I am indebted to him for
several historical Views published in my first “ Book
of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.” I
wished to have a View of the house in which Wash-
ington lived, in Market street below Sixth street, south
side, now part of Wanamaker’s store, southeast corner
of Sixth and Market streets. On making careful in-
quiry, I found none had been made. I then inquired
of my old friend John McAllister, an old respected
Philadelphian. He knew of none, but referred me to
our mutual friend C. A. Poulson. I saw him: he had
none. I then knew of his local sketches, and asked
him if he could not draw one from memory. He said
he would try. He did so. When finished I then
showed it to Mr. McAllister and other old residents,
and all pronounCed it good. He also drew from
memory the views in my “ Book of the Signers,”

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. ‘ 13

“ Fort Wilson,” and “Thomas McKean’s House,”
these were all pronounced correct by men who had
seen them. Mr. Poulson died soon after he made these
views for me; and let us ever remember that the
_ antique collection of scrap-books filled with illustra-
tions and newspaper cuttings, were given by him and
are now in the Philadelphia Library, of the greatest
value to local history. I feel great pleasure in noting
here that John A. McAllister, Jr., requested Mr. Poul-
son to give his collection to the Library, and that
John A. McAllister paid the whole expense of mount-
ing them. Such men are rare, and let us pay homage
to those who devote their time and money to such
researches.
In 1850 we had about 300,000 in population; but
a greater ratio of old book collectors were active
then than now with a population estimated over
1,000,000. In the 50’s we had fifteen old booksellers.
In 1890, with a population three times as great, not
more than twelve can be counted worth mentiOning.
This state of things, in a literary sense, is truly de-
grading to us as an intelligent and cultured city ;' and,
however we may boast of our increased manufactures
and general increase of business, we are sadly wanting
. in all the elements which distinguish Paris, London,
Berlin, Vienna, or Rome; in a word, our life is. more
: objective than subjective—is more animalwthan-‘intel-

14 ‘FORTY YEARS AMONG

lectual. We had far more old book collectors, far
more collectors of old engravings and autographs,
with 300,000, than we now have with over 1,000,000
of people. Wealth and learning have always in Eu-
rope gone hand in hand together; but our desires and
highest ambition trend to the grossly material part of
our nature. I must not omit to notice the princely
sums of money that have been given by Dr. Rush, of
this city, Peabody, Astor, Pratt, Carnegie, and others,
to the erection of costly buildings and the furnishing
of costly books to the difierent libraries. These val-
. uable gifts, at least, show that amid the turmoil and
activities of business the latent idea of an intellectual
life is not forgotten. All praise to these noble souls
for such acts. V

In 1859 I conceived the idea of making a book
containing fac simile letters of each Signer of the
Declaration of Independence, and other matters per-
taining to them. This I accomplished, and in 1860
published it. It may be pertinent to state here that
this book is the only one in the world that contains
a complete monument to the founders of the nation
and of our great Republic. England has its Magna
Charta, and few similes can be had of it on an illum-
inated sheet, but the seals only of those men who
wrung'from King John this immortal document are
only to be seen. I had a number of subscribers—

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 15

several from the South. Dr. Gibbes, a well-known
' writer and historian, was a subscriber ; in 1860 when
, the late Rebellion was in its first throes, when South
Carolina became hotly belligerent, when she first or-
ganized her rebellious forces, when everything was
red hot, Dr. Gibbes paid a last visit to his old friend
Dr. Samuel Jackson. He paid'me a visit, and paid for
' his copy, adding th at “it would be the last money he
would pay me as a citizen of the United States.” Alas
for him and his associates, it did not prove to be true.
As a mark of his worth the Rebel Government made
him Surgeon in Chief of the Confederate Army. He
is now dead, and peace to his ashes. Another singu-
lar circumstance of the late war occurred: One of my
subscribers from Norfolk, Virginia, a well-known book
collector, a minister of the Protestant Episc0pal
Church, whose name I now forget, desired me to send
his copy by express, and C. O. D. on delivery. This
was done, and the money sent by express—it was all
in five-cent pieces— with a note stating he was sorry
to send such small money, but war was afloat every-
where, and Virginia would soon be out of . the Union.

As a mark of respect to Queen Victoria, I had? a
folio copy of my book sent to her through the United
' States Minister at the Court of St. James, G. M.
Dallas, formerly Vice-President of the United States,
and of this city. When the courtly and highly-

16 FORTY YEARS AMONG

talented Minister returned to this city from England.
he one morning brought me a letter of thanks from
Lord John Russell, who was then Home Secretary.
I shall never forget that fine manly presence with his
beauty and gray hair, and how courtly he flattered
me in presenting such a fine copy to the Queen of
England. This copy I had bound in full Levant
Turkey morocco. The sides were emblazoned with
the coat of arms of both countries. The sides of the
book were covered with the finest leather, and cut in
diamond shape, and in each diamond was the eagle
and the lion in each alternate diamond.

In 1861 the war was fairly commenced, business
was paralyzed, war, war, was the cry everywhere, all
business except that of war was thrown aside, old
book collectors locked up their libraries, then- engrav-
ings and autographs were thrown aside and ,men
buckled on their war armor, and on they went to
Washington to fight for their country. Newspaper
literature took the place of books. No one had, any
time to read except war news, and amid all this ex-
citement for one year books were forgotten. When
. the movements of the various. armies began, exciting
= episodes almost daily occurred, the chief andzearlziest
among them was the movements of General Fremont
in the southwest, especially that masterly .retneatxof
“General-Sigel when General; Price’attacked himi-with

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 17

Superior numbers. General Fremont’s policy was
somewhat novel and drastic in its character, and his
enemies showed him no mercy. It was to his rescue
from such undeserved censure that I wrote in his de-
fense one of the first pamphlets of war literature en-
titled “General Fremont and the injustice done him
by politicians and envious military men.” In 1862
war literature was fairly commenced and all other
literature was subordinated to it. It may be truly
stated that the history of the world cannot show a
war literature to equal either in quantity or quality,
that which we possess.

In 1860 I commenced my Circulating Library at
218 South Eighth Street. From the large stock of
'old books which I had, I selected the nucleus of
my library, and added to it the new books as they
were issued. I still continued buying and selling
‘ old books, while the patrons to my library daily in-
creased. The success of my library caused me to pay
more attention to it than old-book selling, and this
business of the library was my chief care. The lease
of my store, 218 South Eighth Street, ended in 1863,
and at that time, when the war absorbed every person
and every action, I found it difficult to rent a suitable
place. I however rented 911 Locust Street, and

added such alterations as I deemed necessary.

In 1867, I bought the property No. 205 South Thir-
2

18 FORTY YEARS AMONG

teenth Street. I pulled the old building down and
erected a new house, and made the first story for my
library, and to it I moved in November, 1867. I still
continued old-book buying and selling, and used the
basement of my house for that purpose. At this time
I had 50,000 volumes in my library, and I can say,
without egotism, that in number of volumes and first-
class literature it had not its equal in the United
States as a circulating library.

I imported many of the new English books as were
issued which were not republished in this country,
and added to them American books. This was the
distinctive character of my library, and as such it was
patronized by the Elite of this city and its suburbs. I
was proud of my library and especially of my patrons,
and felt gratified by my success.

In addition to my library in this city, I was solic-
ited to open one in Pottsville, Wilkesbarre, Washing- ’
ton, D. 0., Elkton, Md, and Dover, Del. These were
all in existence for some time, until the persons with
whom I had made arrangements either died ' or
changed their business. This method of diffusing
knowledge should meet with the approbation of all
good people, and I as the main instrument in’this me-
thod feel, I haveat least rendered valuable assistance
to obtain general knowledge.

About 1877 commenced the issue of cheap litera-

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 19

ture; the Lakeside Series was commenced in Chicago;
the Seaside followed,‘with numerous other issues that
affected all libraries like mine.

In 1878 I met with a serious accident by falling on
the ice, and injured my Spine. For several months I
was seriously sick under Dr. John Brinton’s care—at
least he advised me to go to Europe, as my nervous
condition was so shattered by the fall. This meant a
relinquishment of my business, which to me was a sad
loss; but as my health was paramount overall, I sold
out my business, first at private sale, and afterwards at
auction. I spent most of 1878 and 1879 in England,
and felt somewhat better, but it took me five years
before I fully recovered my health.

This statement breaks my chronological arrange-
ment, and I must now refer back to 1875. The Cen-
tennial was the talk of the day; everything was in
active preparation for the next year, 1876. Such a
great event as the celebration of the first century of
our Republic I thought should be honored in a fitting
manner with a "special literary monument to its found-
ers. I resolved to issue a second series of my “Book
of the Signers.” This second series is additional to
the matter in my first book. The fac-sz'mile letters are
a new issue, the historical matter new and more com-
plete. I made an arrangement with Joseph M. Stod-
dard for its publication—I furnishing all the material

‘30 FORTY YEARS AMONG

printed on sheets, and he binding the book or issuing
it in numbers as he thought fit. I added many
original illustrations to this edition which at the time
I published my first series I could not obtain.

The issues of new books on this grand occasion were
so numerous that I doubt if a dozen succeeded in
making expenses. I lost in money, exclusive of,
labor and time, over $5,000. This harassed me pecu-
niarily so that I never fully recovered from it, and
do not expect to. All this patriotic devotion and irk-
some labOr elicited only plain, bald sympathy, but
only a particle of material aid. I still live comforta-
bly and humbly, and though I cannot boast of my
thousands of dollars, yet my books will live as long as
the Republic exists—nay, they can never die, while
an historical scholar lives or our grand libraries exist.
This is poor consolation in a money point of view;
but the poor scholar looks to a brighter future, not
tinged with the dross of gold.

After my return from England in 1879, I again gdt
quietly into business with about 1,000 volumes of old
books. I chiefly sold to booksellers in different parts
of the country by‘ catalogue and otherwise; but I
yearned to again commence business in my old
style, and my health being gradually restored, I
Opened my present book store, 1440 South street;
with a very limited stock, and still live in a very,

THE OLD BooksEnnERs. -21

humble manner; and though now in my 67th‘yea'r, I
still feel vigorous, and hope to die in harness.

Having given an account of my personal identity
in old bookselling for over forty years, I propose to
sketch a few of my co-laborers in the same business,
thus partially filling up gaps of local history that

some future local historian may use.

APLEY.

The Arcade in Chesnut street, between Sixth and
Seventh streets, north side, was purchased some years
ago by the late Dr. Jayne. This fine old building he
pulled down, and erected in the place several fine
stores which are used for wholesale purposes. The
- Arcade had many claims for admiration. Its architec-
‘ture was somewhat novel and ornate. The front on
Chesnut street had architectural beauties which the
present stores cannot claim. There was a well-patron-
ized restaurant and several stores fronting on Chesnut
street. The entrance into Decatur street contained
. many small stores on each side. These stores resem-
bled a bazaar by the motley appearance of the vari-
ous goods offered for sale.

In One of those stores resided a very dirty man,
surrounded On all sides by a collection of old books
almost without form, scattered here and there with-
?out any classification. He was a man of about fifty

22 FORTY YEARS AMONG

years of age or thereabouts; he might have been older,
but his dirty and ragged appearance made it difficult
to say how old he was. He always lookeddark and
sallow. His features were not repulsive to look at,
but they had that miserly cast which at one glance
caused him to be a marked character. The windows
of his store were so thick with dirt and rubbish that it
was difficult to see the titles of the books. I have
many times visited the store for the purpose of pur-
chasing books, and in looking round through the
vistas of shelves erected at random, you would see
him in some nook or corner lift up his bedizened face,
and if early in the morning he would be cooking
or eating his breakfast. The smell of the room, with
the mustiness of the old books and the smell of his
eatables, was anything but savory or cleanly. The
description which Dickens gives in “Old Curiosity
Shop,” of the store in which Little N ell’s grandfather
lived, is nothing to compare with old Apley’s store in
the Arcade. As far as my recollection carries me, he
slept and lived in this dirty atmosphere of old books.
If he was married, and I think he was not, I never in
all my visits saw the appearance of a womanly face,
or any signs of womanly care and attention. I think
he was an American. My conversations with him
were not numerous, but I have not the faintest idea
that he possessed any bibliographical knowledge of

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 23

books. He died in the fifties. I am not sure of the
year, but his store for some time was carried on by one
of his brothers, who soon relinquished it and went into
another business.

DUROSS.

Duross is dead. He was a specimen of the rough,
gruff Irishman; a rough diamond—though he had
kindly impulses, and to those that knew him, he was
a good fellow. His old book store was in the Arcade
near to Apley’s, and though his stock was not large,
yet it was well selected. His business was very
limited; he had some means which did not render it
imperative that his daily bread depended on his
profits from sales of books. Mr. Duross died at an
advanced age.

JAMES DALLIN G.

Dalling was a Scotchman, of the old school. He
kept a very select collection of old books for sale on
South Eighth street, above Chestnut, east side, now
Green’s hotel, and was well patronized by book buy-
- ers. He was a man of more than ordinary education,
and attracted the best class of book buyers. He was
not a man who stooped to conquer, but was firm in all
his dealings, and with all the canny characteristics of
his race. He, like the majority of old booksellers,

24 FORTY YEARS AMONG

did not amass a fortune; in fact, the pure and un-
adulterated old bookseller seldom does more than live
comfortably, collect stock, and feast among his books,
and love to talk to his literary customers of the great
geniuses in the Elizabethan age, and descant on the
talents and greatness of the age of Queen Anne.

JOHN PENNINGTON.

The Pennington family was of old Quaker stock, and
John Pennington added honor and probity to the old
family connections. He was a well educated man, and
courtly both in personality and conduct; in fact, he
was a gentleman of the old school. I have been in-
formed he was a clerk in the Custom House. While
there he began to purchase books to suit his own
tastes, which were those of a belle lettres class. Some
reason occasioned him to leave his position, and he
took the books he had collected and opened an old
book store on South Fourth street, below Market,
west side. He was a good French scholar, and part
of his stock was French books. He commenced the
importation of old books, both French and English,
and this scholarly man soon attracted around him a.
coterie of literary men learned in book lore and ac-
complished in manners.

Before the abolition of slavery in the South, when
their paternal governmentswere in full sway, when

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 25

fortunes were made out of the poor slaves, then
flourished the literary Augustan age of the South.
Let it be said to the credit of these men that they
cultivated the hereditary literary instincts of their
Anglo-Saxon forefathers. The money made from the
work of these slaves was haughtily and grandly spent
in educating their children in the best schools of
Europe. The sons were trained for the various pro-
fessions, and the most accomplished teachers that
Europe could furnish were employed for their higher
education. The results- were that in proportion to
their population, the Southerners produced a class of
men, both in numbers and general culture, that far
exceeded those in the Middle and Eastern States. The
history of the country shows that, up to 1860, When
the Rebellionbroke out in its greatest ferocity, the
South, in both the Congress and the Senate, shows a
greater galaxy of brilliant men than all the rest of the
States combined. However censurable and question-
able this mode of government may be considered by
many, it cannot be denied that it produced a class of
men always to be admired by the literary student,
that we in the North have as yet failed to produce.

' It was this class of men who were the chief patrons
of John Pennington. Most of these men were excel-
lent French scholars, and they required French books.
John‘Pennington had cemmenced the importation-Of

26 FORTY YEARS AMONG

these books, and for many years he had the chief busi-
ness in his hands. The New York booksellers, forty
years ago, had scarcely thought of this line of business.

Mr. Christern, a German, opened a book store under
the National Theatre, then leased by W. E. Burton,
and which was burned down, and in its place now
stands the Continental hotel. In one of the stores at-
tached to the theatre, on Chestnut street, Mr. Christern
sold foreign books and engravings. He did not oc-
cupy the store long, but took his business to New
York, and there finally commenced the sale of foreign
books, and I think still continues.

Mr. Pennington’s store become the centre of the '
elite littemteurs of this city, and of men like Charles
Sumner and others. When the literary men of the
Eastern, Northern and Southern States visited this
city, nearly all were attracted to his store to buy from
his fine stock, or give orders for European books.
The literary chit-chat of those men, for I have heard
them, reminded me of what can be found in Boswell’s
“Life of Johnson,” where men like the burly, stern
moralist Dr. Johnson met the inspired idiot Oliver
Goldsmith, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Garrick, and other
great men, where their wit and learning kept the table
in a roar. Those times are past, but I hope at sometime
will be resuscitated. I forget the year when John Pen-
nington removed from Fourth street to Seventh street,

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 27

near Walnut street. He was there for several years.
The war broke out in 1861, and as his principal trade
was among Southern men, his business become para-
lyzed, and his losses great. He felt his loss of the
Southern trade very much; and as New York had
begun about this time to pay special attention to the
importation of books, engravings, and the fine arts, we
lost that part of our business in this city, and it has
been for many years prosecuted with great energy and
tact, and is still pursued with vigor by them. To our
disgrace it must be said, that New York has robbed us
of that fine literary business we had here from 1800 up
to 1860. This city was the great literary emporium
of the United States from 1800 up to 1850. The
finest edition of the Bible— hot-pressed copies ——-
were issued by the Smalls, and fac simile editions of
the English Classics were issued from the press of
Wardle. Nearly all that prestige has gone; spas-
modic attempts appear now and then, it is true, but
the general effect has passed into other hands. John
Pennington died some years ago ; his business passed
into the hands of his son, E. Pennington; until physi-
cal infirmities caused him to relinquish it intothe
hands of his son; but the halo of old John Pennington '
has passed away, and his fine old store and name, ex-
cept to a few, is sunk into oblivion.

2'8 FORTY' YEARS AMONG

PETERSON AND CHILDS.

R. E. Peterson, father-in-law of George W. Childs,
commenced the old book business at the northwest
corner of Fifth and Arch streets, with Daniels & Smith,
about 1848. This partnership did not last very long ;
Daniels & Smith separated from R. E. Peterson and
opened a book store at No. 20 N. Sixth street. This
separation, from what cause I know not, produced
bad feeling and an intense opposition in the news-
papers of the time, especially in the columns of the
Ledger. By referring to them it will be seen that a
fierce opposition was carried on in the press. Mr. Pe-
terson at this time, when opposition ran high, engaged
Gr. W. Childs as a salesman. Mr. Childs at this time
was salesman for Mr. Thompson, who'kept'a book-
store at the northwest corner of Sixth and Arch
streets. In a short time the value of the services of Mr.
Childs was apparent to Mr. Peterson, and he found he
had got a man whose business talents could not be
surpassed. He had unbounded energy and a rare
discretion.

The old book business cabined and confined this
young Hercules, and he desired a larger sphere for his
talents, and suggested the publication of books. About
this time the intrepid traveler, Dr. Kane, had returned
from his Artic voyage—he was the hero of the day.

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 29

Mr. Childs saw his golden opportunity, and urged Mr.
Peterson to make arrangements with Dr. Kane for the
publication of his travels. Mr. Childs, with great en-
ergy, entered heart and soul into this great enterprise,
and, taking the tide at the flood, pushed it on with a
resistless vigor—fanned the flame of excitement from,
every point that an acute observer only can see—and
the result was a marvellous success. The book was
illustrated with sketches from Dr. Kane’s drawings,
by that erratic genius, James Hamilton. Those who
are acquainted with art, know well that the genius
of James Hamilton, in a collective sense, stands unri-
valled as an artist in Chiaroscuro, and bold effects.
The book will always find a place in Arctic discovery,
and stands second to none in artistic illustration. I
am not sure, but believe that the masterly manage-
ment of Mr. Childs‘, in this book caused Mr. Peterson
to accept him as his partner.

Many other valuable publications followed this of
Dr. Kane.

Judge Bouvier, father-in-law of Mr. Peterson, to
whom I have sold many books, was collecting material
for his celebrated Law Dictionary, which was published
by Childs & Peterson, and took its place at once as a
classic law book, and still retains its former position.
“American Institutes of Law,” by Judge Bouvier, was
the second success of author and publishers. R. E.

30 FORTY YEARS AMONG

Peterson made a success of “Familiar Science ” by his
discreet editorship, and other publications followed in
rapid succession.

Among the most noted books in general literature
is Allibone’s “ Dictionary of Authors.” I recollect
well that a specimen copy was published by the firm
and handed around to publishers and booksellers in
order to obtain their opinions on it. Mr. PeterSon
called on me and left one of these copies in order that
he should have my opinion. I perused it carefully,
and when he again called on me for the copy and my
opinion I probably criticised it too plainly. I said
then, and repeat it, after thirty years’ experience, that
it is a book of great value and a monument of industry,
but it had then (somewhat remedied since) too much
of the mutual admiration society about it, as it gave
long critical notices of living authors from such sources
as Godey’s Magazine, Graham’s Jfagazz'ne, and others
of equal literary value. This opinion did not seem
to be appreciated by Mr. Peterson, but I know a great
quantity of the matter spoken of did not appear when
the book was completed. It was announced to be in
one volume, price $5. It was afterwards sold to J .‘B.
Lippincott, and increased to three volumes, royal
octavo, and sold at $25. I do not remember whether
Childs & Peterson ever completed the one-volume
edition or not; but the work stands today without

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 31

an equal. I know the book is indebted for its exist-
ence more to the exertions of Mr. Childs, outside of its
compilation, than to any other man. I believe that
the vast number of books required by Mr. Allibone
to finish the book—that . the money required for it——
was furnished by Mr. Childs ; and had it not been for
this valuable aid, the world would probably not have
had such a valuable work as it now possesses.

One other work published by this firm I must
mention, as it is the product of a noble woman—the
wife of R. E. Peterson, the daughter of the late Judge
Bouvier, and the mother-in-law of G. W. Childs—
“Familiar Astronomy,’7 8vo., illustrated.

This firm engaged the learned and able lawyer and
Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the
Hon. Judge Sharswood, to edit Blackstone’s “ Com-
mentaries of the Laws of England.” The book to-day
stands as the ablest among our law books. It has
been a source of great profit, both to author and pub
lishers.

I am not sure of the precise time that Mr. Peterson
retired from business, and left it solely in the hands of
Mr. Childs, but it was after Mr. Childs married the
daughter of Mr. Peterson.

The store at Fifth and Arch streets was vacated after

the old book business was closed out, and Mr. Childs
removed to Chestnut street, below Seventh street, east

32- FORTY YEARS AMONG

side, in the second story, and there continued the
publications of the old firm.

At this time Mr. Childs published his first almanac
[1864], almost similar to the well- known American
Almanac published for many years in Boston. This
almanac was carefully compiled by Wm. V. McKean,
the now accomplished editor of the Public Ledger. Mr.
Childs showed his usual sagacity in selecting Mr.
McKean to superintend his literary bureau, and his
good judgment was further confirmed in selecting him
as the editor of the Public Ledger at the time it was
purchased from Mr. Swain by Childs and Drexel.
I am not sure how long Mr. Childs carried on his
business in Chestnut street; but about 1861, when the
war of the Rebellion was opened, he entered into
partnership with J. B. Lippincott & C0,, the exten-
sive publishers of this city. This partnership did not
continue very long, and I presume the cause of it was
the purchase of the Public Ledger from Mr. Swain by
him and Anthony Drexel. The Public Ledger was
at that time published at the southwest corner of
Third and Chestnut streets, and afterwards removed
to its present location, southwest corner of Sixth and
Chestnut streets. At the time of the purchase of the
Public Ledger it was issued for one cent a copy. The
progress of the late war was hastening on, and in its
tracks every commodity was raised in price, especially.

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. ‘ 83

all matters connected with the cotton crop in the
South, which was totally out off from the northern
States. Paper of every description was scarce, its rise
in price was phenomenal, and as a consequence all
newspapers had to increase the price of the daily
issue. The Public Ledger was raised from one cent to
its present price, two cents. I will relate an instance
of the extraordinary rise in the price of old paper.
I think it was in 1862 ; I was changing a great part of
my old book business into a circulating library, and
in order to do this I had a stock of books that must
be sold to make room for my library. Old paper was
then bringing a high price, eight cents per pound with
the covers on. The book trade was in a state of
paralysis, all dull except war articles. I had a very
fine collection of old folios and quartos, and many
good books, and did not feel like sending them to the
paper mill even at that price, eight cents a pound. I
ordered a furniture car, and in it I sent two tons of
books to be sold at auction by Thomas & Son. When
I had got the wagon emptied of the books, I went to
the office to get an advance of money on them. They
very reluctantly said they would like to oblige me,
but books were bringing no prices, and they would
decline making any advances; but if so much money
would answer (I forget the amount), they would ad-
vance it. The sum of money was so small that I

34 FORTY YEARS AMONG

ordered the books to be taken away and sent to an
old paper store. There I scld them at eight cents per
pound, $75 more than Thomas St Son would advance
on them. The same kind of books in the same con-
dition to-day, only bring one-half a cent per pound.
At the time the Public Ledger was bought by
Ghilds and Drexel it was in an effete condition; the
late owner had so neglected its interests that it was in
a state of coma from paralysis, and it required the
energy and push of a Childs to resuscitate it. By the
energy and good management of Childs it gradually
rose phoeniX~like from the ashes of decay, and soon
took its position as one of the first daily family news-
papers in the world. The Public Ledger is a family
necessity in this city; its high moralptone, its nega-
tion .of condimented sensationalism, renders it an
authority on all the current topics of the day.

W. A. LEARY.

This old bookseller was among the earliest of this
century in this city, and is well remembered by the
older citizens as being located at Second and New
streets. Forty years ago Second street was what
Eighth street is now, the chief business street in the
city. From South to Poplar street stores of every
kind sold their wares—«full of energy and life ; it was
thechief resort for farmers from every part of our

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 35

suburbs and New Jersey. When the Warnocks first
commenced an active business in N. Eighth street,
about 1848, a new impetus was given to it, and the
gradual decay of Second street may be fairly dated
from that period.

Mr. Leary was a short, stout man, persevering and
industrious in his habits, though by no means an edu-
cated man. He dealt in books as a grocer deals in
sugar and candles, more by weight than from any in-
trinsic value; in fact, he did not know anything about
the bibliographical qualities of books, he never pre-
tended to know, and for this admission we must ac-
cord him due credit.

After he had been fairly successful in selling old
books he went into partnership with a Mr. Getz, and
begun the publication of books suitable for pedlars——
the trade called his books “Leary’s Bricks,” because
they were printed on thick paper and dumpy in ap-
pearance. For some years this firm continued selling
to pedlars and others, but from some cause it suc-
cumbed to a pressure, and the firm went out of
existence, leaving no profitable results. Mr. Leary
was fortunate in saving some of the wreckage suffi-
cient to live on in a respectable manner. He was a
very genial man, and spent the latter years of his life
in a very modest manner. He died at a ripe old age
a few years ago.

36 FORTY YEARS AMONG

PAINE.

Mr. Paine kept a book store with a book stand on
South Second street near Noble street. His stock was
not large. He dealt in school books, and sold any \old
miscellaneous books he could purchase. He was a
very kind man, but did not know much about the
value of old books.

JOHN CAMPBELL.

He was probably better known among old book
buyers than any book-seller of his day. He first com-
menced a book store at the southeast corner of Sixth
and Chestnut streets (State House), about 1849.
Previous to this he was a weaver, but always a reader.
John was far better educated than any old book-seller
of his day. His nature was brusque and fearless, and
had the characteristics of his Irish countrymen—acted
first and thought afterwards.

His public life first commenced in England. He
was an extreme Chartist and fiery Revolutionist; so
active was be among the English Chartists in Man-
chester, that he was made treasurer of the Chartist
Society for all England. Any one by looking over
the newspapers of that day 'will find his name along
with Feargus O’Conner, Bronterre O’Brien, and other

leaders.

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 83‘

I never heard the precise reason why he suddenly
left England for this country: it may have been
political. England was in a very feverish state at that
time, and many of the Chartists were imprisoned for
using seditious language.

When he ariived here he at once pushed with re-
sistless energy into political and religious disputes, and
sOon became a marked man among the most violent
of extremists. Often have I been with him in So-
cieties where extreme views were debated. The
slavery question years before the late war was an ex-
citing one, a prolonged and fierce debate was held in
the Franklin Hall in South Sixth street near Arch
early in the fifties; I took an active interest in it, but
John. Campbell was the fiery antagonist of the poor
African. His views he afterwards elaborated in
1“Negromam'a,” a violent and one-sided diatribe.
The book did not meet with public favor, and was
the cause of financial embarrassment. He also pub-
lished a small book on Liberty, the exact title I for-
get. Its advocacy is strongly in favor of Robespierre
and all the French Revolutionists of 17 93. His views
on religious matters, both written and oral, were very
extreme; though brought up a Catholic, he advocated
atheism and infidelity in their wildest forms, but after
years of more matured experience, he changed his
views and died in the faith of the Catholic Church.

:38 FORTY YEARS AMONG

.His old book business consisted chiefly in law books,
and in course of time he acquired a good knowledge
of the bibliography of law books. He published a
number of new law books, and judging from results,
added little either financially or otherwise. Political
influence caused him to be removed from Chestnut
street, and in connection with Powers he moved to
Fifth street above Chestnut street. There he did not
continue long, but by political influence he again
moved, and was granted the right to locate a book
stand in front of the present Custom House, and next
to the Western bank. His next move, after a few
years—whether from political causes or not—~was from
there into the basement of what then was the bank of
Pennsylvania, and} nearly opposite the Custom House.
In this basement, about the year 1861, when the late
war had fairly commenced, his store became the
centre for hot-headed Democrats, who opposed the
government in its action in arresting malcontents and
opposers'of government action. Many arrests were
made, and a number of them were imprisoned who
became violent in their opposition to the government.
Then came the issue of habeas corpus. Pamphlets
were issued by the dozen in favor of habeas corpus.
John Campbell’s store was the hotbed of this clique of
men. Pamphlets were issued from this centre, and it
became widely known through the country, and

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 8.9

gained the sympathy and encouragement of the
Copperheads generally. Campbell had the courage of
his opinions, and violently advocated his right and
the benefit of his acts. It may be said that this
action was in entire harmony with his political career
in England. In a short time this habecos corpus ceased,
and business again ran in the ordinary channels; money
became abundant, business became brisk, and the de-
sire for purchasing books increased. Campbell was a
pushing man; he soon took the lines of his surround-
ings, and was one of the heaviest buyers of books at
auction. John’s burly figure was always expected
there, and soon his sonorous voice was heard above
all others. If any one chanced to bid against him,
woe to the bidder; John would again raise his sonor-
ous voice to a higher pitch, and advance the price in
such a vigorous tone that a laugh or a titter would
ring through the room. I was once there when a
copy—a very fine one—of Dibdin’s Bibliomaniac was
offered. A fine, scholarly-looking gentleman was
there—evidently came to buy this fine copy. He was
seated close by John. He had the temerity to bid
against him. John turned his lion-like face towards,
and scowled at him. John at once bid $5 over the
last bid the gentleman made. But he was not to be
browbeaten out of his book; another $35 was bid.
John bid $5, and it was knocked down to him. I for.

l0 FORTY YEARS AMONG

get the exact price, but it was more than double what
it could have been imported from England for. This
conduct was his usual one at auction.

It cannot be said ”that he was, in the fullest sense of
the word, a man well posted in book lore, outside of
law books. His life was not that of a student, yet
possessing a more general knowledge of literature ; but
was more of the boisterous politician. His sales of
books to his customers were as indiscreet in many
cases as the purchase of them at auction. I have seen
him, when anxious to make a sale, show his purchase
bills to his customer, in order to make the sale.

He removed from the basement of the bank in
Chestnut street to Sansom street near Eighth street,
where one of his sons still continues the business.
. Some twenty-five years ago, there was a rage among
old book buyers for Reprints of old scarce books.
John got the fever, and he published; some of them;
but ere long the fever died out, and John had many
that were left unsold~whether they are all sold now
or not I don’t know.

There seems to be a time when crotchets appear in
almost everything. Crazes or hobbies arise from
remote causes. Change in costume is almost uni-
versal. South Sea schemes, the rage some years
ago for Dutch tulips—all evince some latent in-
stinct in human nature. The book craze for a few

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 41

years past has been, and still is, fashionable both here
and in Europe—the desire for first editions. Every
cultivated reader knows too well that, in a literary
sense, the first editions are the most imperfect of any
author’s work. The reason is plain and obvious:
human nature is always imperfect——authors follow
the rule, and it is rare when a second edition is
issued that the imperfections of the author in the first
‘ edition are not pointed out and altered, and some
additions made.

It is to the interest of old booksellers that such
senseless crazes exist; but as a true cultivated scholar,
his sense of right condemns and censures such useless
fancies. It is right that National Libraries should
collect and store away those precious thoughts, both
as to specimens of the immaturity of the author’s
thoughts and as specimens of workmanship, which
varies in every age.

This craze for first editions of living authors has
arisen since John Campbell died ; had it been in exist-
ence during his lifetime, he would have been as deep
in it as the most ardent. The craze seems to be pass-
ing away for first editions of living authors, at least of
mediocre bo'oks; but those of men like the divine
Shakespeare will ever live and be in demand.

4‘2 FORTY YEARS AMONG

JOHN WOOD.

This old bookseller merits but a short notice. He
had his store on South Eighth street, near Jayne street.
He had a fair collection of old books for sale, but he
knew as much about the character of the books as the
books knew about him. He was there for a few years,
and succumbed to the pressure of the times. He was
an Irishman. ’

PATRICK LYNCH.

He had a small old book store. He did but little
business. He was the agent for the Boston Pilot, the
chief organ of the Roman Catholics at that time. He
was a good fellow, and much respected among his

Irish countrymen and others of his faith. Patrick is
dead.

HUGH HAMEL.

This old bookseller kept his store on South Tenth
street, next to the Mercantile Library. He was there
for many years, and had. a large and good stock of old
books for sale. He had risen from a mere peddler of
books, and by dint of perseverance, collected them as
a junk dealer collects his rubbish. He Was probably
the most ignorant of all the old booksellers in this
city. At one time he could not write his own name.
Whether he acquired this accomplishment afterwards

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 43

I know not. He was in appearance a thick-set, low~
looking, vulgar Irishman; and it is to be regretted
that the latter years of his life were as much devoted
to stimulants as to his business. When he died, his
business died also.

PETER DOYLE.

_ He was a man of much culture, with a refined taste;
his personal appearance was somewhat peculiar. He
was, in physique, rather small; delicate frame, with a
large head and a peculiar cast in his eye. His face
bore a studious aspect—pale and full of thought. A
cast of melancholy, somewhat Hamlet~like, struck you
on first impression. He was the most silent bookseller
I ever met; only his most intimate friends could in
fluence him in any prolonged conversation. He had
his books carefully arranged, and when rare or valua-
ble he wrote the most beautiful chirography and suit-
able descriptions I ever read. He was well posted in
general literature, and had a fair knowledge of the
bibliographical character of his books. So silent and
so very soft in his conversation, that the book had
. really to sell itself. If you asked for a book and he
had it, he would silently give it to you and point to
the price, which as a rule was higher in price than
any other bookseller in the city. No other efi'ort . to
sell was made. He was always coldly courteous to you,

44 FORTY YEARS AMONG

and the reticent gentlemen was always to be seen in
him. His window was always filled with choice and
rare editions, and often some choice work of art.

The general appearance of his stock of books bore
the impress of the connoisseur and refined scholar, and
a genuine literary flavor pervaded his whole store.
For several years he lived a bachelor’s life and kept
his store in North Tenth street near the Mercantile
Library. It was the resort of the black-letter scholars
of his day. I have been informed his name was
originally D’Oyley, a French name, and that his
family was originally French. This may be so, but
it sounds very Irish.

Dr. Evans, dentist, formerly of this city but who for
many years has lived in Paris, and became promi-
nently known as dentist to Napoleon the III., and
Whose conduct and gallantry to the Empress Eugenie
when she was fleeing from Paris when the Commun-
ists had full sway, and whose life they were seeking
like that of her unfortunate predecessor, Queen
Antionette, wife of Louis the XVI.——he, Dr. Evans,
was by marriage a relative of Peter Doyle, and it is
said in the later years of his life that he saw to his
comforts. Some few years ago Peter Doyle offered
his fine stock of books for sale. Arrangements to this
effect were made, and the stock of books were trans-
ferred, part in cash and part in notes, to a late book-

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 4:5

seller. The notes were partly paid, and Peter Doyle
took a part of his stock, a mere remnant, and again
opened a store for the sale of old books.

The sale of his fine stock of books was a very un-
fortunate affair to Peter Doyle, and there can be but
little doubt that it hastened the close of his eccentric
but high moral life. He was a man easily duped, and
many cases are known where designing knaves took
advantage of his generosity. One morning he was
found dead in his store, unattended and uncared for.
Peace to his ashes.

BROWN BROTHERS

Kept for several years an old book store, I think at
the northwest corner of Fourth and Arch streets.
One of the brothers was employed in the book de-
partment of Thomas & Sons, auctioneers, and had the
best chances of purchasing old books of any booksel-
lers in the city. This advantage was well used, and
enabled the brothers to have a fine collection of books
in their store. The brother with Thomas & Sons ac-
quired bad habits—too fond of stimulants—and he
died in a few years after the store was opened. The
other brother, who was a kind and genial man, after
the death of his brother, removed the stock some-
where out in Iowa, and whether he is dead or not I
‘ have not heard.

46 FORTY YEARS AMONG

JAMES BARR.

He was a kindly, good man. He kept an old book
store with varieties for sale on Market street, near
Eleventh street, south side. Here he did a good busi-
ness; but improvements in building a new store
pressed him, and he was compelled to remove. His
next store was in Market street, near Tenth street,
and here sold old books and new ones. He was
a sincere Methodist, and sold Methodist books, and
also stationery. The latter years of his life were

very chequered ones, and he died poor, but highly
respected.

JOSEPH SABIN.

When I first knew Joseph Sabin it was in 1848;
he was then a salesman for Appleton & 00., in their
store on Chesnut street below Seventh street, south
side. The first book imported from England was
through him. The Appletons, about 1850, removed
their stock to New York, and I suppose Sabin went
with them. How long he continued with them I
know not; he was for several years in New York, and
about 1860, or previous to that year, he came to my
store, then 218 S. Eighth street, and, in his usual satur-
nine manner, asked me if _I thought another old book
store in this city would succeed. I said that depended

 

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 47

on so many conditions that I could not answer that
question. He then said he had a store in New York
city, and purposed to move the Stock here. He did so,
and opened a store in what was called then Hart’s
building, in Sixth street above Chestnut street. I
went to see his stock of old books, but they were not
remarkable either in quantity or in quality.

He entered into his new store with vigor and
energy, and soon became the chief buyer at Thomas
and Son’s auction store. For a few years he and John
Campbell were the principal buyers, and few buyers
could purchase books except Sabin and Campbell.
Jennings the auctioneer seemed to favor them when
opportunity ofi'ered. The consequence was that as
creditwas freely given, Sabin soon had a fine stock
of books, the finest in the city at that time. Sabin
was the connoisseur among old book buyers, and a fine
business was the result. Had his rectitude been
equal to his ability, none could have surpassed him in
his business. .One fine morning his store was closed
and his whereabouts was not known. Jennings, of
Thomas & Son’s, who had credited him with several

thousand dollars, wasvsoon on the alert, and found all
the books had been shipped to New York. He at

once went there, replevined them, and had them sent
to their auction store and sold on their account. . This
ended Sabin’s career in this city. He remained in

48 FORTY YEARS AMONG

New York, commenced the auction business, and
failed in that. His next move was, he bought an old
book store out in Nassau street, and for many years
did well. He was the chief authority among old
buyers, and well he deserved the opinion of all in that
line. His business was so large that he could not fail
to have made a fortune even with the commonest
prudence. He became the authority on all important
book sales. He sold the celebrated library of W. E.
Burton and other well-knownlibraries. In fact, if
an important sale of books in New York took place,
Sabin was the man that was engaged to compile the
catalogue and manage the sale. He was thoroughly
competent to do this, and the amount of money he
made in ten years must have been sufficient to keep
his family in fair condition, but alas! it did not.
Where it went none knows.

Some years ago he commenced to collect matter
for an American Bibliography. Rich’s “American
Bibliograph? ,” and Stevens’ “Nuggets,” are excellent
books, indispensable for the American student; but
like all other books of this class, very deficient. This
idea of Sabin’s is a good one. He started his “Ameri-
can Bibliography” and published it in volumes. It is
not yet finished. He obtained subscriptions for it
and got many. Trubner of London had a lawsuit
with him about this book. He seemed to have the

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 49

faculty of creating wrangles with every one he bad
business with, and I presume this was the cause of him
losing the vast amount of money he had made in his
legitimate business.

His Dictionary of America is valuable in collecting
from all sources whatever that has appeared published
on America; but the useless remarks, unscholarly
criticism, and a malevolent and saturnine spirit per-
meate the whole of the volumes, destroy the valuable
portion, and produce a certain nausea among those
that are likely to use it. If Sabin had taken for his
models such men as Brunet or Lowndes, his book
_ would have been admired by bibliographers rather
than censured.

The issue of this book caused several lawsuits.
Trubner and Quaritch of London were involved, and
large sums of money were lost in the contest. Failure
after failure were the consequences of his conduct, and
it is to be regretted that some of his sons, who are
now selling books in London, have suffered from such
erratic management.

Joseph Sabin was an Englishman, and from his
youth brought up as a bookseller. I have stated that
when a young man he was a salesman in this city for
the Appletons. He had rare business tact, a love for
old books, more in a mercantile sense than for possess-

ing any general knowledge of their contents. He was
4

5O FORTY YEARS AMONG

not a cultured man, and therefore not a reading man.
He could not shine in literary conversation, but you
would admire him for his vast fund of catalogue

knowledge, a skeletonized idea of what books con-
tained.

SCANLAN.

He was a clear-headed and conscientious man, an
Irishman by birth, and had a fair knowledge of English
literature. He was an earnest man, with very strong
Roman Catholic views on religion. Though seem-
ingly tolerant to others who differed with him, yet
below the surface you could see mirrored the Catholic
of the middle ages. He had a select stock of good
books chiefly reflecting the opinions of the Roman
church. He had a specialty in Spanish books, and
his store on Fifth street below Chestnut was well
known to the book hunter. He retired from business
and died a few years ago.

MOSES POLOCK.

He was brought up in the business of book-selling
in the now extinct firm of McCarthy & Davis, at their
store in Market street near Fourth street, north side.
McCarthy retired from the firm some years before
Davis brothers died, whom I knew well as fine speci-
mens of business men of former years. This firm

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 51

published many fine books, British Drama, Shake-
speare, and many law books. Their chief business
was wholesale, and was successful in making money.
Moses Polock became their chief business man, and
when the Davis’s died, he was made their executor, a
great compliment for a young man not more than 30
years of age. He was instructed to close the business,
and I recollect well that the stock of books, which
were very large, were sold at auction by Thomas &
Sons, when they occupied the now rear end of Wana-
maker’s store, southeast corner of Sixth and Market
streets. The stock was very large, but it was all sold
except what Moses Polock bought in, and with this
stock of books be commenced the old book business
in Commerce street below Fifth street (second story),
where he still can be found. His store is well
filled with many rare books, which he has unpreten-
tiously and quietly added the last forty years. Some
years ago he published Brockden Brown’s works in
seven volumes,‘thefifrst American novelist; but I am
inclined to think as a business speculation it was a
failure. The library of Professor Reed, who was lost
in the steamer Arctic over thirty years ago, he bought
of the family, and in it were many fine books. The
Roxborough Club books, a rare collection of early
English reprints, were in this library. I presume
Moses Polock was and is in a fair comfortable condi-

52 FORTY YEARS AMONG-

tion, because he made little exertion as a business
man to sell his books, and because his prices are and
were always fanciful. -At any time after 10 o’clock
in the morning you can ascend to his store; there you
will find him bachelor-like all alone in his glory,
breathing the atmosphere of his old books. He will
meet you in the most genial manner, and will talk to
you about his gems in the most intelligent spirit.
There is but one exception I know of to this. He
once sold for $16 “The Laws of New York,”
printed by W. Bradford, a good price at that time;
but the same copy was sold in the Brindley’s Collec-
tion of Americana at auction for $1600. The men-
tion of this fact operates on Polock’s mind as if he
had taken bitter gall for his breakfast. He has a rare
early knowledge of men in the book business for the
last forty years; but being a very reticent and diffi-
dent man, I am afraid those of the city will lose a
charming lot of history about book-sellers, publishers "
and books. He is still in his old place, ever ready to
do business with you, but is seldom visited except
some old book-worm wants some very scarce book or
pamphlet.

JOHN HUNT.

Some twenty-five years ago, this brusque’ English-
man kept a book stand at the southeast corner of

.THE OLD'BOOKSELLERS. 53

Sixth and Arch streets, and was .very energetic and
pushing in business. He also peddled books through
the country in a wagon. He seemed to do a thriving
business for several years; but all is not gold that
glitters. His stock was seized and sold for the bene-
fit of his creditors. He still lives in Camden, N. J.

J ARRETT.

This energetic Englishman had a book stand at the
northeast corner of Sixth and Market streets for a few
years. His stock of books were few in number, and
many of them were sold on commission. He did not
keep the store very long, but afterwards went to the
present Leary’s book store in Ninth street near Market
street ; and there for several years he could be found
at the outside stand selling books. In appearance he
was of small stature, nervous in his actions, but ac-
commodating in his manners. He was a man of more
than average intellect, always fond of bOOks, and his
long experience in selling them gave him a large
amount of book knowledge which was always pre-
sented free gratis to every book buyer. He died a
few years ago.

EMANUEL PRICE (PETER PEPPERCORN).

To omit to portray this singular character among
' the galaxy of old-book sellers, would be as absurd as

54 FORTY YEARS AMONG

acting the play of Hamlet without the personnel of
Hamlet. It is over forty years ago when 1 first knew
him ; he was then porter in a wholesale drug store on
Market street above Sixth street, north side. He then
had just arrived from England, and he has told me
since that when he came here he had a very limited
educationmhe could read, but not write. He saw the
importance and value of writing, even in his humble
position of porter, and he resolved to learn to write;
and the use of his caustic pen is well known in our
newspaper literature. During the late civil war his
doggerel rhymes were well known for their bitterness
and causticity. He wrote a parody on Sheridan’s ride
which he acknowledged literally killed him. He was
a modern Hudibras, and cut and slashed everything
and every one that he deemed worthy of notice. His
various lucubrations have been collected and printed
and published in one volume by Rees, Welsh & 00.,
the law booksellers on South Ninth street, above
Chestnut street. The chief value of the book consists
in its being a sardonic satire of the times. Wit and
humor flashes out of it here and there, that some fu.
ture local historian may quote a century hence.

I do not remember the year, nor the store where he
first began selling books, but it may be not less than
fifteen years ago. Then he was with Rees Welsh &
00., who at that time sold miscellaneous and law

THE OLD BOOK sE'LLEns. 55

books. This firm soon found that he was to them a
very valuable man, and he was given the chief posi-
tion in the store. He was their chief buyer for many
years, and discharged his duties well and faithfully.
He soon acquired by experience and his quickness of
‘ intellect a rare knowledge of books, second to none in
any book store in this city. I do not know of one
old-book seller in this city that is his equal in the
general knowledge of books. He possesses a varied
fitness for such a position; he is pleasant in his ad-
. dress; sometimes too querulous in his conversation,
but always very entertaining when talking about
books.

When I’first knew him his p'enchant was botany.
In his spare hours from his work he would go into the
fields, then in the suburbs of the city, away down into
the Neck, as it is called ; there he would feast on the
various plants, and collect them for his herbarium.
Few men know the botany of this city equal to Price,
but his botanical peregrinations, especially on a Sun-
day, would carry him into New Jersey and for many
miles around the environs of this city. The local b0-
tanical literature of this city is at his finger ends, far
surpassing any one I know. ‘

While pursuing botany with such ardor———nay, pas-
sion—he was struck with the varieties 'of the insect
world; he saW that nature in her productions was as

56 FORTY YEARS AMONG

manifold in her varieties and as munificent in her
grandeurs here, as she is with the flowers in nature’s
garden, and in her ever-varied products in the field.
He studied insect life, and is quite an adept in this
special branch of study.

I have only given a cursory notice of the abilities
of this self-educated man, but sufficient, I trust, to
show that any man pursuing the self-denial and pos-
sessing the will to do, as he has shown in his life-work,
can be a more useful man than men generally are. I
regret to say that he is very poor and in indigent cir-
cumstances, arising from peculiar idiosyncrasies that
have made his usefulness almost nil. Good chances he
has had to be in his old age very comfortable, but his
peculiar passions—~impractical-in business—have made
his services not desirable. He is still about the city,
picking up old books and selling them Where he can.
He preserves still a certain degree of independence
and self-respect which are more characteristic of the
Englishman than any other nationality.

REES WELSH & CO.

This firm first commenced the old-book business in '
Walnut street below Fifth street, and there dealt
chiefly in old law books. In a short time they’added
miscellaneous books, and both being young men, they
were energetic in their actions. They did not stay

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. ' 57

long on Walnut street, but removed to South Ninth
street, above Chestnut street, into the store now
occupied as an old book store by McKay. Price
was engaged by them as their chief buyer, and was
with them for several years, and they did an active
business. In the course of events the partnership was
dissolved. Rees Welsh moved his stock where he
now is, a few doors above the old store. He sold off
his miscellaneous books, and devoted himself to the sale
of old law books, and is also the [publisher of many
law books. He is still in the same store, and carries
on the selling of old law books and law book publisher.

H. MCKEAN.

This old book-seller, who had a book stand against
the burial ground was in Fifth street, near Spruce;
and also a book store at the northwest corner of Fifth
and Adelphi streets———added but little to the credit of .
the profession of old booksellers. He was literally of
the character of an old junk dealer; and as a man his
conduct was anything but exemplary—nay, censurable
in every sense. I regret to write thus, but truth is
the best, after all cavil may say. He was an Irishman
by birth, but is now dead.

W. S. RENTUOL.
An odd-looking character, a Scotchman by birth,

58 ‘ FORTY YEARS AMONG

and a good type of the old curiosity monger. He is
lean and lanky in personal appearance, and always
very frowsy-looking about the head. He has a fine
collection of old Presbyterian books, and is located in
the second story on Sixth street above Market. I
understand he came here from Pittsburgh. He has
been in this city selling old Presbyterian books for
over thirty years, but is known only by that class of
book-buyers. He is of the old blue-stocking type,
which is now becoming rare. I presume that from his
long experience he knows every book of note in the
literature he sells, from John Knox to the Old Cove-
nanters of today. He is known to few collectors of
books, as he deals only in those mentioned.

BARDSLEY.

This old bookseller died a few years ago. He kept
a book stand at the southeast corner of Sixth and
Minor streets. His stock was not large, but he kept
a fair class of books. He was kind and genial in his
manners. He did not boast of having any special
knowledge of books; he was a mere vendor. A few
years ago he sold out his books and accepted the posi-
tion of selling outside, at the stand of Leary’s book
store. He was a man well respected. While engaged
at the book stand he suddenly died. He was an
Englishman by birth.

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 59

W. A. LEARY, JR.

He was the son of W. A. Leary, whom I have de-
scribed. He went to the war. When it was over, he
started in the old book business. First he peddled
books in a basket ; then he afterwards had a very small
book stand on Water street, on the wharf, I think,
near Walnut street. He was full of energy and pluck.
He persevered, and in a short time rented the store
on the southeast corner of Fifth and Walnut streets.
- His business increased, and he soon became an active

01d bookseller. He was a mere vender of books; be
neither knew their contents nor cared to know. He
did not profess to be even a catalogue old bookseller,
but bought cheap and sold at a good profit. He sue-
ceeded in a few years to amass a large collection of old
books; but success with him, like with many others,
destroyed those business habits necessary to continued
success,_ and stimulants ended his career. He died
several years ago. The business was sold out for
$5,000, and C. Mann and E. Stuart were the purchas-
ers. W. A. Leary, J r., was a man of middle stature,
nothing prepossessing in his appearance, gruff and
blunt in his address. ' His education was not above
the ordinary standard; he was a common man, but
his tact and energy were above the average.

60 FORTY YEARS AMONG

CRAWFORD.

In the basement of Edwards’ building, in Walnut
street below Sixth street, this old bookseller com-
menced business with a small stock. By economy
and perseverance he soon acquired a good stock of
books, and in a few years relinquished the old book
trade and commenced buying old stereotype plates,
and jobbed in that business. He has for a few years
past occupied a store in Ninth Street, near Arch
Street, and still continues jobbing in new books.

JORDAN BROTHERS.

These two young men commenced .to sell old books .
some twelve years ago in South Seventh street, near
Sansom street, on the west side. The store was a
small one, and their stock was small. In a few years,
by their energy, perseverance and economy, they
found more room was required. The respected John
Pennington’s store became vacated—which is nearly
opposite their first store—and they removed into it,
giving them ample room for more books. I presume
they removed, after being there a short time, on ac—
count of dullness in business ‘; at any rate their trade
fell OE, and they rented a store in ' Market street,
above Seventh street, and there got fairly into busi.
ness again. The property 'was sold, and bought by
the present Penn Township Bank, and they were noti-

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 61

fled to leave, They then removed to South Ninth
street, above Market street, and in a short time re-
moved again to their present location, South Ninth
street, above Race, east side. They have a fair stock
of old books, and are always on the alert at auction
sales and other places Where books are for sale. They
are both young men, and like young men in general,
their enthusiasm and pluck often are in excess of pru-
dence and knowledge. They are not in mental cul-
ture above the average of men, nor are they book
lore men in any sense of the word, yet they are am-
bitious, and strive hard to become well posted up in
book lore. They probably are among the best cata-
logued book sellers in the city, and so far merit en-
. couragement. Time will do more for them in smooth-
. ing down their unevenness and youthful extravagances
in their habits and methods, than any other process
could accomplish. I would encourage them onwards
——they are on the right track—but in order to be
more efficient, read the best authors; there is no royal
road to knowledge; consult Lowndes and Brunet for
a better acquaintance with the history of books.

THOMAS.

This old book-seller has been in his present location,
Ninth street above Race street, for over ten years.
He began the old book business in a very humble

62 FORTY YEARS AMONG

way, but by dint of perseverance and having a better'
knowledge of books by reason of his superior mental
culture, has surpassed both in numbers and quality
most of his rivals. I am not personally acquainted
with him, but I learn from others who are that he is
from New Jersey, and having a literary taste, he came
here and very naturally mixed himself among books.
and booksellers. I am told he occasionally writes
for the magazines and other papers, and possesses a
good general knowledge of literature. He had a
coterie of literary men meeting at his store, and there
reading essays and debating on literary subjects. ‘
This method of becoming a general adept on belles-
lettres is highly commendable, and ought to be more
generally adopted. It is to be much regretted that
this manner of conducting business is not more gener-
ally adopted by our old book-sellers; it is a method
that raises and elevates the character of the old-book
trade. I do not know of a single old-book seller in
this city who has shown the capacity and desire that
this Thomas has so far shown. I do not know of one
of them who has the ability of rendering to their pro-
fession a modicum of literary work, but are mere
venders of books. Thomas, I am informed, has not
only a fine collection of old books, but he has specu-
lated in mining, and I hope has made more money in
it than in selling old books. It is a rare thing that any

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 63

old-book seller can do more than make a comfortable
living—I mean who has exclusively devoted himself
to selling old books. There are some who started as
old-book sellers, and who are mere venders of books,
like the grocer sells a pound of candles; but when
money is made by them, it is only as 60070 jobbers or
publishers. In a mere utilitarian sense it is right,
but an old-book seller who loves his books and their
authors, and who can'descant on their lives and re-
’ hearse the subject matter of their books, and who can
render his literary society enjoyable by talking about
Shakspeare or Boswell’s Life of Johnson and the
“musical glasses” this is the true man to his profes-
_ sion, and one who enlists my sympathies and gains
my admiration.

HENRY HOLLOWAY.

I find that this person suggests to me, that when I
said “ Thomas is the only old bookseller I know who
had any literary capacity,” I made an error—this
man Holloway must be included. . He commenced
the old-book business some twenty years ago in S.
Tenth street near Market street, east side. He was
previous to this a teacher, and begun chiefly in school
books, and afterwards added general literature. For
some years he was very successful; his stock so in-
creased that he rented the next store, and had both of

64 FORTY YEARS AMONG

them well filled with books. He is a man of general
culture, and has translated books from the German.
In physique he is weak and puny; he has been
suffering for over twenty years from a spinal com-
plaint, but he still lives and sells old books; he is
kind and genial in his manners, and a very interesting
conversationalist. 1 have sold him many books in
the course of twenty years, and always found him
pleasant. After he had taken the additional store in
Tenth street, he flourished for some time; but some ‘
ill luck or misfortune overtook him, and he had to
remove to S. Ninth street, near Cherry street. There
he opened with a poor stock of books; he lingered
there for a short time, and then he removed to Eighth
and Wood streets, with very few books, and opened a
newspaper stand, where he remained a few years
doling out a mere existence. About a year ago he
removed to S. Tenth street, above Walnut, and there
he has a few books, and I hope is improving his finan-
cial condition. Old age is creeping on him, and with
it poor health: it is not to be wondered at that he
should be somewhat eccentric in his habits.

LEARY & C0, (E. S. STUART & 00.),

The present proprietors of this store bought it from
the widow of W. A. Leary, jr., when it was at the
southwest corner of Fifth and Walnut streets. E. S.

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 65

Stuart was in the employ of Leary, jr., from a boy,
and was apt, industrious and intelligent. He was the
chief person on whom Leary, jr., depended, and mainly
attended to the business during the latter years of
Leary’s life, which were chiefly spent outside of his
store. His conduct was noticed, and gained the ad-
miration of his customers, chief among whom was
Charles Mann. He admired Stuart for his personal
attention to business and the kindness and urbanity he
displayed.

At the death of Leary, jr., the business was for
sale. Stuart not having the money to buy, it was
arranged that 0. Mann and Stuart should buy it, and
a co-partnership was formed under the name of Leary
& Co. The business is continued by the above firm
with energy and good management. Stuart infused
new energy into the business, and with its former im-
petus it soon outgrew the dimensions of the store.
More room was required, and Mann bought the pres-
ent property, No. 9 South Ninth street.

Under the good and spirited management of Stuart
the business progressed very rapidly, so that now it
has one of the largest stocks of old and new books in
the country. Large additions to the store have been
made, and still the cry is “more room.”

, The business is now somewhat diverted from the
original business, carried on by. Leary, jr. Then it
5

66 FORTY YEARS AMONG

was purely. old books, now it is old and new books,
and new book jobbing forms a large portion of the
business. Old and new school books are a specialty.
A business of the kind carried on by such a store em-
braces the purchase of all kinds of books, and it is
somewhat singular that the large number of books
purchased, many of them good ones—that out of this
large business, the only specialty or chief one is the
lowest type in the old book business. Old booksellers
everywhere consider old school books as trash, and
place them away in some remote corner of the store.
I am aware that the plea is, there is money in them;
I am also aware that this firm has made some money
out of them; hence it is continued. But does not this
show that the prevailing active spirit of this firm is
not influenced by such high types as James Lacking-
ton, Henry Bohn or a Quaritch, or the first-class old
booksellers in Europe and in this country? All per-
sons who know‘this well-known store know that it
contains many first-class books; and why the lowest
class should be their specialty can only be accounted
for on the plea of making money. Primarily speak-
ing, money is the chief factor, the great lever in
business; but there were old booksellers, and there are
still a few left, who look on money produced as
secondary as a means to a brighter and nobler end.
Thatend is the intrinsic love of the subject‘matter of-

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 67

the books—the large amount of knowledge derived
from the' reading of them—the association and com-
munion with the great minds of the past and the
present—all of which tend to elevate the mind, the
development of a higher moral tone, and the pleasures
of intellectual growth. I know of old booksellers who
have on their shelves the finest and recherche editions
of the best authors. I have been in their stores when
some of those fine books have been sold, and when the
buyer had gone the expression was made, “ I am sorry
I have sold that book—such a fine edition of so great
a writer.” Such men are rare, I know, and show
that the money value of the book was merely second-
ary. This trend of thought leads to the conclusion
that the able executive ability which controls it, is
more objective in its views than suly'ective in its aspira-
tions. ’ This firm has the largest collection of old
books for sale in this city, and I hope no other outside
influences will ever deprive it of its enviable position.
Local pride is a great virtue, and narrow must be the
aspirations of any one who does not feel a proper pride
in such local institutions. These efforts reflect honor
and dignity on their owners.

HOLLOWAY.

I know but little of this old bookseller, except that
he is a brother to Henry Holloway, whom I have no-

68 FORM YEARS AMONG

ticed. He has a book stand and basement in Third
street, near Walnut, and has been there for several
years, and has a stock of old books and magazines
jumbled up in a very chaotic mass.

JOHN KING.

He is in a small store in South Tenth street, above V
Walnut, and has a small and miscellaneous lot of

books.
WALTER B. SAUNDERS

Was until recently on South Tenth street, above
Chestnut, east side; he had the two stores made into
one. I

In quality he had the finest and most valuable
stock of old books in this city, though not in quan-
tity. His books were chiefly medical and scientific.
The finest and most costly editions could be seen in
his windows—folios on natural history and other sci-
entific works, fine English and foreign editions, illus-
trated most sumptuously.

Saunders is one of the most courtly and polished of
all our old booksellers. He is well educated, and
knows the character of the books he has for sale.

A few months ago he removed his fine stock of
books into a large store in Walnut street, above
Ninth street, and I learn he is selling; off his fine

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS, 69

books and has commenced the publication of medical
books. For this I am sorry, and I fear it shows that
the patronage of our book buyers has not been liberal
enough to induce him to continue to have for sale
such a fine class of books.

SCHAFFER & KORADIE

Are German booksellers at Fourth and Wood streets.
They had some time ago a large collection of old
German books for sale, and imported books to order.

It is a most singular fact that in this city, with a
German population of over 300,000, they sustain only
one that deals in old books, and this on a small scale.
This fact reflects on the generally well educated Ger-
man but little credit. Why this should be so I do not
know. I have asked well educated Germans about
this deplorable fact, but no good solution can be
given. Some say that the educated German can—
not be found here, or at least but few of them, their
chief object in life is work, smoke and drink lager
beer, and only read their newspapers. I am sorry to
say that there is a great deal of truth in this partial
explanation. Let us hope this state of things will be
changed.

C. J. PRICE.

This bookseller has had a varied career, both in old
and new books. When I first knew him, some thirty

70 FORTY YEARS AMONG

years ago, he had a book store on Sixth street, above
Chestnut street, east side, in what was then called
Hart’s building: it was owned by Abraham Hart. I
have understood that Mr. McElroy, the publisher of
the City Directory at that time, furnished the money.
Price had a fine class of art books, and devoted him-
self to that class of literature. I recollect that he was
the agent in this country for the “Royal Gallery,” a
fine royal folio, filled with the finest engravings of
copies from Turner, Stanfield, and other first-class
living artists of England. This book had deservedly
a large sale—books of this character he imported, and
had a valuable stock. Business embarrassments caused
the stock to be sold at Thomas & Sons’ auction store.
After this I think he went as salesman to Appleton’s
book store in New York. He did not stay in New
York very long, but opened a book store in Sansom
street, near Eighth street, and I think Willis P. Haz-
ard was in partnership with him. This business was
closed for what reason I know not; he then went as
salesman to Porter & Coates’ book store; there he re-
mained for several years. He left Porter 8t Coates
and opened a room in the building .where he now is,
as agent for the purchase of foreign books; he has a
large knowledge of fine English books.

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 71

DAVID MCKAY.

This young man, whom I am not personally ac-
quainted with, I have learned is a Scotchman, and
was a salesman in Lippincott’s book store. He started
the old and new book business a few years ago, and
seems full of energy. His stock of new and old books
is large and of good quality. His experience in old
books is necessarily limited, and as several of our old
booksellers have become venders and jobbers of new
books, it can scarcely be expected that this young
man, who is a large jobber of new books, can be of
much authority among bibliomaniacs. He also pub-
lishes a few books, and judging from their character,
no great fortune can be expected from their sales.
His store is on Ninth street above Chestnut street,

rear of the Girard House.

W. H. BROTHERHEAD.

His place of business is at 288 (J‘rirard avenue. He
has been selling old books for a year, and seems as if
success was with him. He has a full stock, and I
trust all will be successful. He is one of my sons,
and I trust and believe that the old book business will
prosper.

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MEN AND BOOKS.

 
  
  
  

KNOWLEDGE of books is the great dis-
; tinctive quality between man and the brute.
Here the line of demarcation can be plainly
drawn, and the value of knowledge clearly seen.
Books are the greatest factors in modern civilization;
they are the vehicles whereby man communicates with
man, and are the creators and generators of all that
is noble and valuable. To the religious and devout
thinker they are a solace and a pleasure; to the nov-
elist who aspires to generalize human actions and
movements they are indispensable; to the deep, pro~
found metaphysician they are wells of truth inexhaust~
ible—and probed by men like Kant, Herbert Spencer
and John Stuart Mill, hidden truths still are there to
be more fully explored ; to the historical scholar they
present new unexplored mines of wealth, that have
been buried in the ruins of Nineveh and Babylon—
such as are exhibited in the British Museum, in the
Elgin Marbles, and in the books of Layard and others.
That glorious and magnificent book of Lord Kings-

bury on the Mexican Antiquities, grand as it is, has
('72)

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS, 73

only touched the surface ; when the hieroglyphical
language of the ancient Aztecs, which abound in the
architectural remains of these countries, finds a Cham-
pollion to fully translate this language as he translated
the Egyptian, then one of the darkest and most remote
of nations will be disclosed to View. ' History is even
unfolding itself in the confirmation of biblical truths
by a Smyth or a Tischendorf; the ruins of Rome and
Pompeii of late years have gratified the historical stu-
dent through the medium of books, and enhanced the
value of knowledge to mankind. The glorious crea»
tions of Shakspeare and the whole of the Elizabethan
age of literary giants would have been but little known
except through the medium of books. No pen can
adequately describe the pleasures they have given and
are giving to countless millions. The scientific man
is indebted more to the literature of books than to
personal observation; few can delve into the bowels
of the earth and luxuriate amongst its strata, and pile
up fossils of every description, and bring forth the re-
sults in their sanctums—like a Lyell, a Darwin, 2.
Huxley, or a Tyndale. The many who are called
scientific thinkers—and able ones, too—derive their
knowledge more from books than actual observation.
The litterateur and the journalist, to whom we owe so
much of our pleasure in every-day life, feed exclus-
ively on the literary pabulum in books.

74 FORTY YEARS AMONG

The novel writers, with few exceptions, are only
the reflex of our common life. Scott, Bulwer, Dickens,
George Eliot and Thackeray have more than given us
a reflex of common life; they have presented to us
life-like characters of the past and present that will
never perish. George Eliot has done more than that;
she has penetrated the depths of human reason, and
has given us such a masterly analysis of human pas-
sions that they are Shakespearian in their breadth and
depth. All these writers have produced books that
are so subjective in their character that all thinkers
are delighted with them.

Books to the politician and statesman are their
daily food for thought and reflection; paste and scis-
sors are essential, and scraps of thought are picked up
everywhere and rendered subservient to their ends.

The preacher, no matter to what church he belongs,
Whether he is a St. Augustine, a Chillingworth, or 9.
Clarke, is a great thinker and creator of religious-
thought. Without the products of such minds, that
are to be found only in books, What would the mod-
ern divine do? A few men like Spurgeon and
Beecher who create thought would live—but the
majority of our divines would lapse into nothingness.
The ideas of these men are principally derived from
greater minds, and the products of such minds can
only be found in books. Books to such minds are
what tools are to carpenters—indispensable.

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PRICES AND EDITONS OF BOOKS.

  

$3

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% will be of some value to present and future old

K (. book buyers to place on record the prices
books brought years ago from my own sales and those
sold at auction. In one of my importations of Eng-
lish old books, I had the two volumes of Josslyn’s
voyages made in 1633—4. They are small 12mo. vol-
umes, and when I sold them for $2.50 each, I thought
I‘had obtained a. good price: now these volumes
would bring $50.

Jefferson, when U. S. Minister to France, first
published his “Notes on Virginia,” 1782: be pre-
sented nearly all of his copies to friends and literary
men whom he knew. On the fly-leaf, next to the
title page, he accompanied the book with a few auto-
graphic lines suitable to the person to whom he gave
the copy. Thus the first edition is very rare, and is
enhanced in value by his autographic remarks. I
bought a copy and sold it to a collector in this city for
$5.50. I thought it then a large price, but now it

would probably bring $50.
(75 )

76 FORTY YEARS AMONG

Forty years ago, Franklin’s imprints were much
more plentiful than' now, and I have sold many of
them at $1.00 each. Once I had a very fine copy of
Logan’s translation of “ Cato Major,” printed by
Franklin, and sold it for $2.50—a fancy price I con-
sidered it then, but it has since brought $350.

When I sold autographs, in one of my Visits to
Richmond, Virginia, I bought of a lady one of the
finest autograph letters of Washington I ever saw,
and I have seen many and sold many; it was a love
letter in four pages quarto, with his name in full in
three different parts of the letter. He wrote this let-
ter to Bessie Fairfax, who was the go-between for him
and Mrs. Custis. When Washington was surveying in
different parts of the State of Virginia, he took this
method of cementing his affections, and thus securing
Mrs. Custis for his wife. I offered this letter for sale,
but the autograph mania had then cooled—none here
would pay $100 for it. I then offered it at auction;
it was well advertised; the most loving parts of the
letter were freely printed in the New York Herald;
the price was limited to $100; no better price could
be obtained than $35; it was withdrawn. In 1878 I
was compelled by sickness to travel in England; I
took the letter with me, knowing well I could sell it
there. v I went to see my friend Wm. Naylor, a gen-
tleman of means, now dead, and who dealt in auto-

THE OLD BOOKSELLEBS. .77

graphs for pastime. I showed him the letter; he was
in ecstacies with it, and asked the price; I said £20;
he said, “Leave it with me, I can sell it ;” I did so; in
a few days he wrote me and paid me the money. The
fluctuation in the price of books is as various as
in the sale of autographs. In the sale of gentle John
Allan, of New York, who was a good customer of
mine, a letter of Washington’s was sold; the compe-
tition was intense, and it sold for $3,000. It was after-
wards proven that Mr. Allan had bought this of a
man who had stolen it from the city archives of New
York. The city claimed it; a law-suit was the re-
sult, and the claimant, the city of New York, re-
covered it.

I bought from the heirs of Charles Thomson, Secre-
tary for the First Congress of the United States, a
unique copy of the Constitutions of the thirteen Colo-
nies—-—then States—and printed by order of Congress.
This copy had an extra Constitution, I think, of Maine.
The book in any condition is rare; it was bound in
boards. This copy was the one used by Charles
Thomson, and on the side was written in large text
. Charles Thomson. There being no doubt of its au-
thenticity, I sent it to Mr. Spofi'ord, Librarian of the
National Library, in Washington. I thought this
historical relic would be highly prized, and should
have-been placed among Revolutionary books. A full

78 FORTY YEARS AMONG

description was given, and Mr. Spofl'ord replied and
stated that as he was not authorized to pay such a
price—$50—it had to go before the Library Commit-
tee. It was there for some weeks, and the answer re-
turned was that $15 was offered! This copy was
returned, and was afterwards sold to James Lenox,
and it can be seen in his valuable library in New
York. This book should have been in the National
Library, and would be there had it not been left to
the decision of politicians.

In 1857 the Rev. Dr. Boardman, of this city, en-
gaged me to collect for James Lenox, of New York,
all the dz'fierent American editions of the Bible, both
Catholic and Protestant. Special instructions were
given to buy the Bible authorized by Congress, and
printed by Aitkin in 1782. This Bible is a small
12mo. It is bound in sheep, and sometimes in two
volumes, but oftener in one. I advertised in the
newspapers for it. After a few days several imperfect
copies were brought, which I did not, buy; but a very
fine copy was offered, and I paid for it $25—this was
the price I offered to pay in my advertisements. I
collected for James Lenox a large number of Bibles,
and I presume the fine collection which is now in the
Lenox Library in New York were bought by me for
him. It is not out of place here to state that
though the Aitkin’s Bible bears the date 1782—the

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 79

earliest American imprint of the Bible—it is stated
by Lowndes, the eminent English bibliographer, that
the Bible bearing the London imprint 1752, was
printed in Boston for Mark Baskett.

In these recollections and experiences of mine, I de-
sire to place on a‘ more permanent record the results of
some of the sales of many of our best libraries of emi-
nent collectors, which were realized at auction sales.

The first is the fine library of E. B. Corwin, that
was sold in November, 1856. The old bookseller
and collector will find very valuable data that will be
of invaluable use in researches for rare books and
their value. In this and other sales which I shall in-
clude, it will be seen that prices fluctuate but little,
and the general tendency is upward.

The old bookseller and collector will here find suffi-
cient evidence to lay the flattering unction to his
soul that if this hobby or true literary taste of his is
a costly affair, he can, with a fair knowledge of
literature and using good discretion, spend his thou-
sands of dollars in such a way that the capital sum of
money he has spent is in many cases realizing a good
interest. In a mere money point of view—and that
is ignoble—his investments will average a larger in-
terest than is generally acquired in mercantile purr
suits. This opinion is not intended to vitiate or in
any way to decry other pursuits in the various activ-

80 FORTY YEARS AMONG

ities of life, but to show the few who are sufficiently
cultured in general literature that the spare time they
have from their general business is a credit to them.
They elevate the literary taste of the nation, raise its
standard to the world, and show to the nations that
though we are creating a new world of industries out
of a howling wilderness, yet our inherited tastes in-
cline us and show that the subjective part of our na-
ture crops out and illustrates the fact that Americans
by their fine libraries are deserving, at least in Eng-
land, of it being said that they are the choicest of
buyers of books, and by their purchases have mate-
rially raised the prices in English markets. But how
much more consoling it is to the cultured American
book buyer, when he compares his purchases of
books, the money he has spent on them, with the
money spent by the roue, the club man, the sensual-
ist, the gambler or the sportsman?

The mere pleasure of collecting books is an ecstatic
one, even if the contents are not read; how much
more creditable it is to say that John Smith has a
fine library—it carries with it a thousand pleasant
associations—and then compare ' him with John
Jones, who is a dude in dress, a great club man, boasts
of how many bottles of champagne he drank last
night, of the young girls he has ruined; see him pa-
rading Chestnut Street in the latest style of dress, a.

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 81

cane in his hand, casting his leering wicked eyes on
the ladies that are promenading. Follow him through
a few years you will find a physical wreck, filled with
disease of almost every kind, rheumatism, gout, Bright’s
disease and others of a more poisonous nature, and at
last he prematurely dies, leaving a wretched record of
a. life thrown away. The book collector when he
dies leaves the results in his fine library, which if it
does not realize at sale the amount of its original cost
it leaves money for use to his family, whose surround-
ings are a blessing and a credit to all.

The first sale of memorable books I shall print is

that of E. B. Corwin’s, of New York.

SALE OF THE LATE E. B. CORWIN’S LIBRARY.
(From the Publisher’s Circular.)

This very fine and choice collection was sold by
Messrs. Bangs, Brother & 00 ,during the middle of
November, 1856. The prices obtained have been quite
large, and the bidding for rare books very spirited.
Among others which we have marked are “The
Boston Chronicle” for 1768, with many supplements
and extraordinary papers, 4to., $7—rather cheap;
“Monster of Monsters, by Th. Thumb, Esq.,” Bost.
17 54, a rare tract, $5 ; some New York City Direc-
tories from 1800, $2 each; a Philadelphia Directory,
1785, $3.50; (I have sold this 1785 Directory for
$12» “R. L, a Letter of Advice to a Young Gen-

6

82 FORTY YEARS AMONG

tleman leaving the University,” New York, 1696,
$12.50; the “Timepiece and Literary Companion,”
edited by Philip Freneau, from No. 1, March 13,
1797, to No. 79, September 11, $7.50; “Virginia
Gazette, with the freshest adv-ices,” $16; “Biblio-
graphy, a Poem, in six Books,” 8vo., Lond. 1812,
very rare, only fifty copies having been printed, $2.50,
less than had been expected; a copy of the “Biblio-
theca Americana,” Lond. 1789, a very scarce book,
attributed to various authors, $10.25; “Bibliothecm
Americanae Primordia; an Attempt towards laying
the Foundation of an American Library, in several
Books, Papers and “Writings, presented to the Society
for the Propagation of the Gospel,” by White Kennet,
4to, London, 1713, highly thought of by collectors,
brought only $16; a large paper copy, uncut, of Dib-
din’s “Bibliomania,” of which only fifty-five copies
were printed, $17; a number of Dibdin’s boooks were
sold for rather moderate prices; Ludewig’s “Litera-
ture of American Local History; a Bibliographical
History,” N. Y., 1816, $6; a large paper copy, uncut,
of the “Bibliotheca Sussexiana.” was sold for $6;
“Bibliotheca Americana Nova,” with memoranda by
Mr. Corwin, $11.50; a “ Catalogue of the Library of
Miss Curren, at Eshton Hall,” with three autograph .
letters, only ‘10 copies printed, $5.25; a fine copy of
“ Pantographia” $5.50; “A Dissertation upon English
Typographical Founders and Foundries,” with an
Appendix, very curious and scarce, $6.50; a copy of
Bartlett’s “Dictionary of Americanisms,” $6.50;
Home Tooke’s “Diversions of Purley,” 2 vols. 4to.,
half calf, $5.25; a large paper uncut copy of the

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 83

‘-‘ Opera Omnia” of Isocrates, 3 vols. 4130., Paris, Didot,
1782, only $12; Barlow’s “Columbiad,” 4to., best
edition, with Smirke’s Illustrations, $15; “Legendae
Catholicae; a Lytle Boke of Seyntlie Gestes,” of which
only 40 copies were printed, $3.75; a copy of the first
edition of Rogers’ “Italy,” 2 vols. 8vo., Turkey mo-
rocco, $9 ; “ Witt’s Recreations, Augmented with.
Ingenious Conceites for the Wittie, and Merrie Medi-
cines for the Melancholie, with a Thousand Outlandish
Proverbs,” 2 vols. 12mo., published at £8-3s., $3.25.
The collection was particularly rich in old almanacs.
A volume containing 20 “Poor Richard’s Almanacks,”
purchased by Mr. Corwin at the sale of the late E. D.
Ingraham’s library at Philadelphia, each leaf being
mounted on laid paper, and the whole elegantly bound,
was taken by Mr. Norton, for $62.50. At a sale some
years since, which included eighteen copies of “Poor
Richard,” Mr; Corwin gave $12 each, $216, though,
we believe, they were nOt intended for his own collec-
tion. The catalogue contained an unusually large list
of works on Calligraphy and Stenography. A volume
on Book-keeping entered in this division, entitled
“The Maner and Fourme how to keep a perfecte
reconyng, after the order of the moste worthie and"
.notable accompte of Debitour and Creditour, etc.,
etc.,” folio, black letter, Lond. 1553, sold for $3.25.
“Finden’s Royal Gallery of British Art,” 48 line en-
gravings, proofs before letter, published at £80, fetched
$50. A Bible. supposed by Dibdin and others to be
the second edition of the Latin Bible, printed at Stras-
' burg ,by'Eggesteyn, $20; a copy of Eliot’s Indian
Bible, 2 vols. 4to, was purchased by Norton for $200.

I

84 FORTY YEARS AMONG

This Bible is printed in the Natick or Nipmuck lan-
guage, remarkable for its long words. We believe
this same copy was sold some years since by Bartlett
& W'elford for $40. A copy of the first edition of the
Rhemish Testament, $20. The gem of the collection
was Tyndal’s “Translation of the Pentateuch, Em-
printed at Marlborow in the land of Hesse, by me,
Hans Luft, in the yere of our Lord, 1530, the XVII.
days of Januarii,” 18mo., black letter, with numerous
curious wood cuts, a suberb copy in antique morocco, by
Hayday, with fac similes by Harris. This volume cost
over $100 to bind and complete, and is considered the
second best copy known. On account of some delay in
binding, this bibliographical treasure was not received
in time for the sale ; we understand that Mr. Norton
offered $300 for it, but it was not accepted. An Illum-
inated Missal of the thirteenth century brought $12;
“Commentary on the Penitential Psalms,” black let-
ter, Wynkyn de Worde, 1507, $30 ; “Institvtion ofa
Christen Man ; conteynge the Exposytion or Inter-
pretation of the commune Creed, of the seuen Sacra.
mentes, of the X Commandmentes, and of the Pater
N oster, and the Ave Maria, J ustyfication and Purga-
tory,” 4to., black letter, Lond. 1537; $16; “Summa
de Articulus Fidei et Ecclesiae Sacramentes,” Thomas.
de Aquinas, printed with the types of the Catholicon
of 1-160, and exceedingly rare; is one of the purest
specimens of early typography by Guttenburg, and
esteemed the earliest specimen‘of printing held in this
country, was sold for $20, very low.

In the department of Theology, Mr. Corwin’s Li-r
brary possessed many curious and rare Tracts, with

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 85

quaint titles, such as “Echoes from the Sixth Trumpet
reverberated by a review of neglected remembrances.
Imprinted in the year Chronogramically expressed in
this seasonable prayer;—LorD liaVe MerCle Vpon
Vs, ” by George Wither, 1661 $5, “The Belgick Pis
mire stinging the Slothful Sleeper and awakening
the diligent to watch, fast and p1ay,” &c., 1622, $2. 25.
“The Boke of the Olde God and ti 1e Newe, of the Old
Fayth and the Newe, of the Old Doctryhe and the
Newe; or the Orygynale Begynnynge of Idolatrye,”

black letter, very rare, $3. “Fov1 Godl ye Sermons
agaynst the Polvtion of Idolatxye,” by John Calvin,
1561, $3. 25. Davenports “Discourse about Civil
Government,” $2.50. “The Rebuke Rebuked, in a
brief answer to Caleb Pusey, his Scurrilous Pamphlet,
entitled a Rebuke to Daniel Leeds, &c. Wherein
William Penn his Sandy Foundation is fairly quoted,
showing that he calls Christ the Finite Imjootent Crea-
ture,” N. Y., W. Bradford, 1703, $8; “Issachar’s
Asse Braying Vnder a double Burden; or, the Vnit-
ing of Churches, 1622, $4.50. “Christian Sodality,
or the Catholic Hive of Bees,” 1652, 50 cents. “The
Connecticut DiSsenter’s Strong Box,” 1802, $1. “The
Dippers Dipped, or the Anabaptists ducked and
plunged over head and cars at a disputation at South-
wark,” etc. By D. Featly, 1657, $7. Among the law
books was a “Complete collection of the Laws of
Maryland,” Annapolis, 1727, the first book printed in
Maryland, and very rare, which sold for $27.50. Of
works on America, the catalogue had a very good
collection; a copy of Mather’s “ Magnalia. Christi ”

brought $50. “A Relation of the Troubles which

86 FORTY YEARS AMONG

have hapnd in New England, by reason of the In-
dians there,” by Increase Mather, Boston, 1677, $19.
A further account of the “Tryals of the New England
Witches,” by the same, Lond. 1698, $6.50. “Historia
der Newcn Welt, &c.” Marburg and Frankfort, 1557,
$12. There were many volumes of rare pamphlets;
one set, 39 in number, chiefly political, relating to
Colonial difficulties, brought $195. Among Auto-
graphs, a book of about 800, none very rare, sold for
$37. An original letter of Fulton, referring to the
establishment of steamers on James River, $10; one
of Cotton Mather, dated Boston, 1712, sold for $21.
A number of orders for the above sale were received
from London Booksellers, and purchases to a consid-
erable extent were made for the British Museum.

MR. BRINLEY’S TREASURES SCATTERED. "
(Zlfarck, 1879.) l

A TOTAL OF $48,830.75 FOR ABOUT 2,700 LOTS—INCL
DENTS AND PRICES OF YESTERDAY’S SALE—1
THE PRINCIPAL PURCHASERS—PROFITS
or BOOK-COLLECTING.

The auctioneer’s hammer fell upon the last volume
of the first part of Mr. Brinley’s American library at
9:15 last evening, completing the dispersion of the
greatest collection of Americana ever sold in this
country, and which, in some departments, stood unL
rivaled in the world. There was no fag end to the
sale, the last day being quite as interesting as any that
preceded it, though the average of prices was natur.

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 87

ally lower, as many of the lots were unbound tracts
and pamphlets of no special rarity. But the mo-
notony of half-dollar bids was often relieved by an ani-
mated contest for a precious “nugget.” Such, for
instance, was the extremely rare copy of the Saybrook
“Confession and Platform” of the Connecticut
Churches, New-London, 1710, the first book printed
. in the State. This copy is nearly uncut, abounding
in proof leaves, and Mr. Leiter, of Chicago, bid it off
at $100. Another copy, slightly smaller, went to
Yale for $75, and the Lenox Library secured the
third copy at the same price. Another exceedingly
rare book, Bernard Romans’ “Annals of the Troubles
in the Netherlands,” two volumes in one, Hartford,
1778—82, fetched $41. An uncut copy of Ezra Stiles’s
“Three Judges of King Charles 1.,” Hartford, 1794,
accompanied by another copy containing the plates,
sold for $30. The scarce tracts relating to the Susque-
hanna Company’s land sold for good prices, $61 being
paid for “Gale’s Letter to J. W.,” 1769, and $82 for
“The State of the Lands,” etc., New York. 1770.
The first volume of verse ever printed in Connecticut,
Roger Walcott’s “Poetical Meditations,” New Lon-
don, 1725, fetched $40, for the Lenox Library.
Major John Talcott’s manuscript account-book,
1674—88, including his accounts as Treasurer during
the Indian wars, 1675—«6, fetched $105, and was
bought by Mr. Hoadley for the Connecticut State
Library. Among its other curious entries is an item
acknowledging the receipt of a seven-year old Indian
girl to balance accounts, and a payment of 10 shil-
lings to William Edwards, “for taking Henry Green ‘

88 FORTY YEARS AMONG

out of the Dungeon, being dead, cutting ofi‘ his legs to
save his irons, and seeing to his burial.” A volume
of Silas Deane’s Manuscript Memorials to Congress,
1798—9, fetched $15. There was a waking up over
lot No. 2171, “New Haven’s Settling in New Eng-
land, and Some Laws for Government,” printed in
London in 1656. The bidding was determined, and
when it stopped the book was knocked down to J.
Hammond Trumbull for $380. This excessively rare
volume was a few years ago in the possession of John
Russell Smith, the London bookseller, who priced it
in one of his catalogues at £18. As soon as Mr.
Brinley received a catalogue, he at once ordered the
book by cable, and got it. About that time Mr.
Henry Stevens, of Vermont, and" elsewhere, landed on
the shores of his adopted Albion, after a short visit to
this country. He made all haste to Smith’s book-
store, intent on the purchase of this very copy. He
was informed that it was sold. With a look of inex-
pressible sadness, not unmixed with hope, he offered
to give £50 for the book if Mr. Smith would cancel
the first bargain. The incorruptible Mr. Smith re-
fused, and “New-Haven’s Settling ” came to Hart-
ford. Previous to its arrival the copy in the Anti-
quarian Society Library at Worcester was regarded
as unique. But Mr. Brinley had no regard for that
word. He straightway procured another copy. Mr.
W. F. Poole, of Chicago. chanced to find one in Cin-
cinnati, with which its owner, whose mind was doubt-
less intent on pigs, consented to part for $5, and it
was made over to Mr. Brinley for that sum. This
copy sold last night for $310, for the Connecticut

THE OLD BOOKSELLEns. 89

‘ State Library. Its title and portions of the first leaf
have been restored in fac-simile by Burt. A probably
unique pamphlet of 15 pages by Roger Sherman, with
his autograph, entitled “A Caveat against Injustice,
or an inquiry into the Evil Consequences of a Fluctu-
ating Medium of Exchange,” New York, 1752,
fetched $100. Two volumes of the Connecticut Ga-
zette, from April 12, 1755, to March 5, 1757, went to
the Yale Library at $160. Mr. Brayton Ives secured
the first book printed in New Haven, a book of Yale
College laws, printed in 1755, for $26; the first book
printed in Hartford, Thomas’s “Explanation” of the
Saybrook platform, 1765, cost him only $5. A series
of 11 very rare almanacs, various years from 1753 to
1770, fetched $99. The Lenox Library bought a
copy of the Acts and Laws of Rhode Island, Newport,
by James Franklin, 1730, for $180, and a series of
acts and laws from 1745 to 1752, for $60. The same
buyer secured for $50 Rev. James Macsparran’s
“America Dissected,” 1733. The first book printed
in Rhode Island, “The Rhode Island Almanac for the
Year 1728,” printed in that year by J. Franklin, was
bought for the Library of Congress for $85. Thomas
supposed the first production of the Rhode Island
press to have been issued in 1732. A rare broadside
poem relating to Dartmouth College, “The Wilder-
ness shall Blossom as the Rose,” probably written by
John Wheelock, son of Dr. Eleazar Wheelock, and
printed about 1774, fetched $5 for the Library of
Congress.

An extraordinary degree of interest was amused
over the lots relating to the New Hampshire grants

90 FORTY YEARS AMONG

and the disputes between New York, the Vermont-
ers, and New Hampshire. Mr. Brinley had had
these very rare pamphlets bound uniformly in full
dark~green crushed levant morocco, plain, and all were
beautiful specimens of Bedford’s best work. There
was a contest over each lot, but a single buyer,
through an unlimited bid left with a local bookseller,
bore down all opposition, and secured them all at the
following prices: “Some Reflections on the Disputes,”
probably written by Col. John H. Lydius, and printed
in 17 64, $28 ; “The Petition of the Grantees of New
Hampshire,” with autograph signatures of 57 Grant-
ees, $26; “The Memorial of Peter Livius,” 1773, $26;
Ethan Allen’s “Brief Narrative,” 1774, $45; the
same author’s “Animadversory Address,” 1778, $26;
“A Public Defense of the Right of the New Hamp¥
shire Grants,” 1779, $100; Ethan Allen’s “Vindica-
tion of the Vermonters,” 1779, $105 ; Allen and Fay’s
“Concise Refutation,” 1780, $50; Bradley’s “ Ver-
mont’s Appeal,” $40; Allen’s “ Present State of the
Controversy,” 1782, $19; a copy of “A Remonstrance
of the Court of the State of Vermont,” 1783, $40.
Mr. L. E. Chittenden, coming in late, bought an un-
cut copy of “A Narrative of Ethan Allen’s Captivity,” .
by himself, 1779, for $22.50. After local history had
been pursued through the wilds of. Vermont and New
Hampshire, and lost in the woods of Maine, there was
a brief return, in the addenda, to the time of the
Mathers. Robert Calaf’s “More VVOnders of the In-
visible World,” a cropped, yet perfect copy, was sold
for $55 ; a Copy disposed of earlier in the sale fetched
$190. The last lot sold contained Ethan Allen’s

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 91

“Narrative,” and other Vermont matter, and fetched

 

$10.75.

The results of each day's sale are as follows:
Monday} ..... $9,895 03 Thursday . . . . . $5,348 13
Tuesday. . '. . . . 12,715 65 Friday ...... 4,680 97
Wednesday . . . . 10,991 18 Saturday ..... 5,199 79

Total ..................... $48,830 '75

This is a good round sum for one-third of a private
collection. Mr. Menzies’s entire library fetched
$50,000. The average per lot is $18.78 and a fraction.
' It is the general judgment of the best informed col-
lectors who attended the sale, that the prices realized
were high. There is no doubt that the estate of Mr.
Brinley will receive, in the total sum, a handsome
advance on the amount he expended on these books.
‘It is getting to be understood that books are a safer
investment than real estate. The results of the sale
are important to bibliography, for the prices obtained
will be' quoted in hundreds of future catalogues, and
- they form, in bulk, a valuable report of the Ameri-
cana market for the Year 1879.7 Priced catalogues of
the sale will soon command a good sum. Many pri-
vate Collections and public libraries have been greatly
improved by purchase at this sale.- The American
Antiquarian Society’s Library has filled many of the
gaps that marred its collection of seventeenth century
American books. The Lenox Library of this city
has largely increased its stores of this class of books
"—the Writings of the Mathers,‘ witchcraft literature,
etc. It is now measurably strong in these directions,
inwhich, however, its owner has never aimed at com-

92 FORTY YEARS AMONG

pleteness. The J. Carter Brown Library at Provi-
dence has been vastly strengthened in Mather books
through the liberal and judicious purchases of Mr. J.
R. Bartlett. The Library of Congress has expended
about $3,000 at the sale, and has secured a very desir-
able mass of literature from all departments of the
catalogue. Mr. Hoadley, of the Connecticut State
Library, came down here with $5,000 to spend, of
which he has probably used not more than one-half,
reserving the other half for future opportunities. The
Yale representatives had a similar amount to use at
this sale, but it was not all spent. Dr. J. Hammond
Trumbull has bought about $5,000 worth of very de-
sirable lots for the Watkinson Library, of Hartford,
making usually very good bargains, for which he
seems to have a peculiar faculty, that is of great ser-
vice in the auction-room. He has also invested about
$1,500 for his own collection. Mr. Leiter, of Chicago,
has enriched his collection by innumerable purchases,
and the Chicago Public Library has greatly extended
its Americana. Mr. Murphy made several important
purchases for the Brooklyn Historical Society’s
Library. 7

The scattering of such a collection of rare books
and the manner of their dispersion raise again the old
question, How long will these be any such books to
scatter? Two~thirds or more of the volumes that
Mr. Brinley has been thirty years in getting together
have gone into libraries whence they will never come
forth for sale. They are beyond the book-hunter’s
reach. This phenomenon is ever repeating itself.
How long a time must elapse before the public libra-

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 93

‘ ries will have absorbed all the books that are properly
called excessively rare? The process is slow, but it
is exceeding sure, and the ultimate consequence seems
to be as certainly demonstrable as a proposition in
geometry.

The Washington sale, December 12,1890, at Thomas
Birch & Son’s auction rooms, 1110 Chestnut street, was
continued yesterday. The sale was devoted principally
to books, many of which had autographs of either the
Washington or Lewis families. As was the rule at
the first night’s session, high prices were given for
nearly everything bought, because, possibly, the arti-
cles were in such good company. The ladies who
were buying for the Ladies’ Mt. Vernon Association
of the Union made many purchases, and bid so spirit-
edly that they became the observed of all. There
were many articles knocked down to a party giving
the name of Wilson, who happened to be Mr. Benja-
min T. Cable, of New York.

Henry Horne’s “Loose Hints,” printed in Edin-
burgh, 1787, and bearing Washington’s autograph on
the title page, was the first article on the catalogue.
It was knocked down to the Mount Vernon Associa-
tion at $85. The same Society gave $77 for Her-
vey’s “ Meditations,”'Lond0n, 1750, which bears four
autographs of Mary Washington, the mother of the
first President, and made an interesting fight for a
volume of the “Female Spectator,” of which there
were three. However, they were purchased by Mr.
Murphy, agent for W. R. Hearst, the California mil-
lionaire, for $160 a volume. '

Martha VVashington’s Bible, which has had 300

 

94 FORTY YEARS AMONG

copper plates engraved by John Sturt inserted, was
won, after a lively fight, by Mitchell, the New York
bookseller, for $760, and A. J. Bowden, the member
of the firm who made the purchase, remarked after
the sale that it was very cheap at that figure. The
book, which was printed at Oxford, 1789, and which
contains two signatures of Martha Washington, in
addition to the family record of the Lewises, was
started at $500. It ran up rapidly to $750, and then,
just as the auctioneer was about to drop the gavel,
$760 was bid, the highest amount given yesterday.

After the Bible was sold, Martha Washington’s fan,
described in the catalogue as “a beautiful composition
of ivory, steel and lace,” which is extremely small,
was the cause of much spirited bidding. From a
start at $50 it ran rapidly, by $5 and $10, up to
$230—when it was awarded to “ Wilson.”

Gray’s Poems, London, 1768, on the title page of
whichy is written “John Randolph, Virginia, 1787,”
was given to Hearst for $130, while a school book,
Rigg’s “New American Latin Grammar,” published
in New York, 1788, which had been used by— Wash-
ington’s adopted son, and which had been enriched
with solibblings in a youthful hand of the original
owner, brought $12.

The “Grammatical Exercise Book,” a copy book
in the handwriting of Eleanor Parke Custis, Wash-
ington’s adopted daughter, was sold to W. R. Benja
min, of New York, gfor $20. A volume of piano
music once owned by that lady, which included,
among other rare pieces, the overture to “The De-
serter,” “The Federal March ” as performed in the

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 95

procession July 4, 1788, and the chorus sung before
Washington as he passed under the triumphal arch
raised on the Trenton bridge, April 21st, 1789, was
knocked down to “Wilson” for $90. The same per-
son got another music book, which contained the first
edition of “Hail Columbia,” for 3570. Judge Mitch-
ell was given another volume of music, which was
considered valuable on account of a bust portrait of
Washington engraved on the title page of the “Battle
of Trenton,” a sonata, for $115. The portrait is be-
lieved to be one of the rarest of Washington’s, and
Mr. Baker, the well-known collector, is said to have
remarked that it was unknown to him.

Dr. Robert H. Lamborn, of New York, gave $20
for a common-looking oblong quarto, in boards,
“Episcopalian Harmony,” which bears the autograph
of Eleanor Parke Lewis on the cover. The Doctor
also became possessor of an invitation card of Wash-
ington, which “requested the pleasure of Miss Peggy
Chew’s company” at an entertainment, for $18. He
also got a receipt signed by the General, for $15.

A portrait .of Washington, which is supposed to
have been painted by Gilbert Stuart, and which was
bought at the sale of the effects of President Madison,
went for $170. A letter signed by Washington at
Valley Forge was sold for $150, although the letter
was in another hand.

A small portrait, said to have been painted in Wil-
liamsburg, Va., in 1755, and supposed to represent
George Washington at that time, was sold for $220,
notwithstanding the fact that the auctioneer would
not vouch for the truth of the statement, although he
said he had every reason to believe it.

96 FOR’I‘Y YEARS AMONG

A finely painted portrait of Washington, supposed
to have been the work of William Birch, went to
Judge Mitchell for $90. The smallest price paid for
anything at the afternoon session was 15 cents, given
by the Mt. Vernon Association for three odd volumes
of the “Penny Magazine.’

The evening session concluded the sale, which settles
the Washington estate although other Washingtoni-
ana are to be sold to- day. The Ladies’ Mount Ver-
non Association of the Union made large purchases
of books, which generally brought small prices as
compared with the early part of the sale. Marshall’s
Lite of Washington, 6 volumes, Philadelphia, 1804,
went for $1 ‘25 a volume. The second Boston Edition
of the Official Letters of Washington, Boston, 1796,
with the rare portrait by S. Hill, was knocked down
to Judge Mitchell for $12.50. Two ledgers, contain-
ing accounts of various individuals with the executors
of the Washington estate, were bought for $50 apiece.
A large number of autograph letters from various
eminent persons, in relation to the same estate, were
sold at prices ranging from five cents to $5. 50, the
latter amount having cbeen given for one by Henry
Clay.

The most interesting incident in the evening’s sale,
and one which astonished the auctioneer himself, was
the sale of the last lot. This was an innocent- looking
lot of apparent rubbish, and was catalogued as “ Docu-
ments and receipts received by the executors in set-
tling the estate of George Washington.” There were.
enough of them to fill a oushel basket, and some one
started the lot with a bid of $7. He soon fell out of

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 97

the race, however, and only two were left in it.
These were W. R. Benjamin and A. J. Bowden, of
Mitchell’s, New York. They fought for it by $10 at
a time, and it wasfinally knocked down to Mr. Benja-
min. The lot was said to contain many interesting
and important documents, among them being a bill
for mourning worn at Washington’s funeral.

The receipts for the day amounted to $4928, which
with those of the previous day, which were $9885 in-

stead of the amount published, makes a total of
$14,813.

Desiring to place as much bibliographical matter as
I have collected in this brochure for the edification of
old booksellers and collectors of old books, I extract .
from an old copy of the Public Ledger of this city,
written—I forget when—at least a few years ago.
The data are interesting and the gossip good: ‘

SOMETHING ABOUT OLD BOOKS AND THEIR
BUYERS.

“ Saur Bible, $275.” This was the inscription
written on a piece of paper attached to an old leather-
covered book in. the window of a Sansom street store
yesterday, and to a Ledger reporter, who entered the
store, Mr. Campbell, the proprietor, courteously
showed the curious volume. “It is a nice copy, isn’t
it? ” be queried, as he looked with an affectionate
sort of expression upon the work. It was “nice” in
a sense, and in that sense, doubtless, the very tattered

’7

98 FORTY YEARS AMONG

condition of the back and the general ancientry of the
book’s appearance had a great deal to do with its
niceness.

“Isn’t that a nice price, too? ” he was asked.
“The last one sold,” was the reply, “ was disposed of
at the Brinley sale for $300. This one is, perhaps,
the only original Saur Bible now offered for sale in this
country, the others being in the hands of private col-
lectors, who do not care to dispose of them. This,
you will understand, is one of the original editions.
The next edition is that worth only $15 a copy.
This one was next to the Elliott Judson Bible, which
was the first printed in America. The oldest Bible I
have -handled was the Coburger, published about
1488. I sold it to Dr. C. R. Early, a collector up in
the State, for $30.”

There were law books of all kinds and of nearly all
sizes stacked about, and inquiries were made concern-
ing them and their prices. “Old law books,” said
Mr. Campbell, “are extremely valuable when they
are of the right sort. Some time ago I picked up a
copy of the laws of New Jersey for $5. I knew the
book, but nobody else at the sale seemed to have sim-
ilar knowledge of it, as it Was not specially designated.
That book is worth $500. The first law book in the
English language was the ‘Doctor and the Student,’
a conversational treatise on English laws, published
about 1531. I sold a copy of it some time ago/to a
lawyer from Wyoming county for $30. Here is a
specimen of what is known as the ‘Second Bradford,’
a copy of the laws of Pennsylvania, published in
1728. It is worth about $40. The next compilation

rnn onn BOOKSELLERS. 99

after that is Benjamin Franklin’s, about 1742; it is
worth, say $15. The first Bradford edition, published
in 1714, is worth $300 a copy. There does not exist
in print a complete set of the Laws of Pennsylvania;
there are only two complete sets that I know of at all.
One set is owned by John Cadwalader, son of Judge
Cadwalader, and the other is in the possession of F. C.
Brightly. These sets are partially made up of certi-
fied copies.” '

To Mr. Stuart, who was found amid books that
make a literary wilderness of his well-known store,
the reporter observed: “You probably have some
very rare old books here.” “Well, yes,” was the re-
sponse, spoken with a hesitancy born of perplexing
anticipations of having to name over some hundreds
of works. “Do you find the demand of your custo-
mers running towards specialties?” was the next
question. On this point it might be stated just here
what Mr. Campbell said of specialists among old book
hunters. “A gentleman was here on Saturday who
wanted anything I could find in print on eating and
drinking; another wants whatever I can get on fish-
ing; a third has a weakness for books bearing on the
French rebellion, and so on; there is scarcely a subject
that doesn’t have its patrons. “I have one customer,”
he said, “that wants whatever I can give him on the
subject of Indians ; another wants everything pertain-
ing to the late war of the Rebellion.” “The latter
searcher is evidently a large buyer, then,” remarked
the reporter.

“The literature of the Rebellion is enormous,” re-
plied Mr. Stuart. “Here is Bartlett’s Catalogue, pre-

1 00 FORTY YEARS AMONG

pared in 1864—5, and it gives 6073 distinct titles of
works and papers on that subject. Since that time
there have been fully 20,000 more published. So you
can judge from that what a task it is to try and get a
library complete on that subject. The gentleman I
refer to takes matter from public documents and even
from magazine articles, and binds them separately, as
a contribution to his stock.

“Here is a somewhat rare old book [pointing to a
large bound volume laying on a desk] that I got hold
of a few days ago. This is the Ephrata Martyr
Book, published by the Dunkards at Ephrata, in this
State, in 1748. It is one of the handsomest speci-
mens of colonial typography that I have ever seen,
and one of the largest ever published. I traced it
after no little trouble to the possession of a'farmer
in Lancaster county, possibly a descendant of some
Dunkard family, and finally succeeded in getting it. It
is worth $100. The farmer brought it here himself.
When the Pennsylvania Historical Society bought
from Abraham H. Castle his collection of German
Colonial imprints, probably the largest in the State, he
put the whole lot of them in a big wagon, drove down
here with them from his home in Bucks county, and
delivered them to the Historical Society.”

I have noted at various times the prices brought by
rare books at auctions and at private sales. “The
Mazarin Bible” is so called because it first was owned
by the celebrated Cardinal Mazarin, or at least it
was first noticed by bibliographers in the Cardinal’s

- THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 101

library. There are but few copies extant, and when
offered at sale they bring a large price. It bears no date,
but the best authorities class it as printed about 1454
and 1456. There is no question but it is one of the
earliest books printed. The largest price quoted at
auction is $11,000. Elliot’s Indian Bible is well
known ; the price has fluctuated very much,from $80
, to $700. In Cor'win’s sale of books I find Field’s
. Battle of Long Island brought $75. Harvand’s Book,
2 vols, $106. Phillips’ Historical Collection of Money,
$28. This book was printed by Joel Munsell, of Al-
bany, N. Y., in 2 vols., at $5. Life of Joseph Reed,
by W, B. Reed, in 2 vols, cloth, $18. This book was
published in this city by the old firm of Lindsay and
Blakiston, and was very common thirty-five years
ago. I have sold it for $150——it was published at
$5. Stevens’ Historical Nuggets, 2 vols., $25. A
copy of my “ Centennial Book of the Signers” brought
at Murphy’s sale, in New York in 1884, $445. It
was the Large Folio Edition, and sold by me, for $25.
This copy was largely illustrated with original auto-
graphs—how many I don’t know. In Cook’s sale a
similar copy, not illustrated, without additions, brought
$25. .
I published in the Historical flfagazine, May 1859,
a Memoir and Bibliography of William Bradford’s
works. He was among the earliest printers of books

102 FORTY YEARS AMONG

in this country, and being the earliest American im-
prints, his works are eagerly sought after by old
book collectors. I mention elsewhere where one of
his works, “The Laws of New York,” brought at
Brindley’s sale $1600, though he had bought it in
this city for $16.. I deem this account will be of
value to the old booksellers and old book collectors.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM
BRADFORD’S BOOKS.

  
 

ATALOGUE of works printed by William
Bradford, A. D. 1686. In the Quaker Library
in London is a small 4to. tract of four to six
leaves, printed by Bradford, at Philadelphia, in 1686.
I have not been. able to procure the title. (This on
the authority of H. Stevens, Esq., who informs me he
has the full title.)

V I am unacquainted with the subject matter of the
above, and can give no information respecting them.
You will notice that they are only tracts, not books,
in the correct acceptation of the word.

A. D. 1687. An almanac for the year of the Chris-
tian account, 1687’, particularly respecting the meri-
dian and latitude of Burlington, but may indifl'erently
serve all places adjacent, by Daniel Leeds, Student in

I Agriculture. Printed and sold by William Bradford,

near Philadelphia, Pa., pro anno 1687.

This is a sheet almanack, with a compartment for
each of the months, the year commencing with March

(,103)

9

104 FORTY YEARS AMONG

and ending with February; at the bottom is an ex-
planation, list of the eclipses for the year, courts and
fairs at Burlington and Philadelphia, with some short
rules in husbandry.

Some, if not all copies, have a notice that “There
is now in the Press The excellent Privilege of Liberty
and‘ Prosperity, to which is added a Guide for the
Grand and Petit Jury. ”

This has always been considered to be the first 1ssue
from Bradford’s press, until the discovery of the tract
in the Quakers’ Library at London.

A. D. 1688. The Temple of Wisdom for the Lit~
tle World in Two Parts. The First Philosophically
Divine, treating of the Being of all Beings, and whence
everything hath its original, as Heaven, Hell, Angels,
Men and Devils, Earth, Stars, and Elements, and par-
ticularly of all mysteries concerning the Soul; and of
Adam before and after the Fall. Also the Treatise of
the four Complexions, with the Causes of Spiritual
Sadness, etc. To which is added a postscript to all
Students in Arts and Sciences, etc. The Second Part,
Morally Divine, Contains:

First. Abuses, Stript and Whipt, by Geo. Wither,
with a description of Fair Virtue.

Secondly. A Collection of Divine Poems from Fr-
. Quarles. ‘

Lastly. Essays and Religious Meditation of Sir
Francis Bacon, Knight,

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 105

Collected, Published and intended for general Good,
by D. L. Printed and sold by Wm. Bradford, in
Phila. Anno 1688. ' .

Collation. Title, one leaf; Preface, two and a half
pages. Jacob Baume, to the Doctors, etc., three
pages, pp. 1 to 126. Title \to second part with Brad-
ford’s imprint, 1688. Notice to the Reader, pp. 3 to
87, and one page of errata. Quarto.

Bacon’s Works. Montague’s Edition, vol. 16, note
31. (Life, page 87.) At the close of the note, Mr.
Montague states that this was the first book printed
in Philadelphia, and I have no doubt of it; my copy
is in the finest state of preservation, and clean as when
issued; ’Tis the rarest of rarevAmerican books.’

A. D. 1689. Gershom Bulkeley. A tract by him,
printed by Bradford at Philadelphia, in 1687; eight
leaves 4t0.; a copy of which is in the New York His-
torical Library, and another in the British Museum
(same authority as above).

A. D. 1689. Keith’s Presbyterian and Independent
Visible Churches in New England. Printed by Brad-
ford at Philadelphia, 1689. This work was reprinted
at London in 1689—1691 A. D.

The People’s Rights to Election, or Alteration of
Government in Connecticut, argued in a letter by
Gershom Bulkeley, Esq., one of their Majesties’ J us-
tices of the Peace in the County of Hartford, &0.
4t0., Philadelphia, 1689. '

106 FORTY YEARS AMONG

A. D. 1692. Blood will Out .; or an Example of
Truth by Plain Evidence of the Holy Sriptures; viz.,
Pardon Tillinghast, B. Keech and Cotton Mather, and
a few words of a letter to Cotton Mather. By George
Keith, Philadelphia. Printed and sold by Wm. Brad.
ford, 1690, 4to., pp. 74.

A. D. 1690. A Refutation of Three Opposers of
Justice in the Tryal, Condemnation, Confession, and
Execution of Thomas Sutherland, who barbarously
murdered John Clark of Philadelphia, and was exe-

cuted at Salem, in West Jersey, 23 February, 1692.
A. D. 1692. Keith’s Serious Appeal, etc. Brad-

ford, Philadelphia, 1692.

A. D. 1692. An Appeal from the Twenty-eight
Judges to the Spirit of Truth and True Judgment in
all Faithful Friends, called Quakers, that meet at this
yearly meeting at Burlington, the 7th month, 1692.
4to., no date or place.

This book was printed at Philadelphia in 1692, by
William Bradford, for which he was imprisoned upon
the charge of “ uttering and spreading a malicous and
seditiOus paper.” His tools and type were taken
away from him, and this was the beginning of the
persecution which afterward drove him with his
printing from Philadelphia to New York in 1693.
This excessively scarce little quarto consists of eight
pages only.

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 107

A. D. 1692. A Serious Appeal to all the more

Sober, Impartial, and J udicious people of New Eng-
land, into whose hands this may come. Printed and
sold by Wm. Bradford, at Philadelphia, in Pennsyl-
vania, 1692. 4to., pp. 72.
. A. D. 1692. A True Copy of Three Judgments
given forth by a party of men called Quakers, at
Phila., against George Keith and his friends; with
two Answers to the said Judgments. 4to., sheets,
good condition. Printed by Wm. Bradford, in Phila-
delphia, 1692. ,

’ On the verso of the last leaf of this very rare and
curious book is a list of the Books to be sold by Wm.
Bradford, in Philadelphia, 1692, with the prices; and
at the bottom of the page is the following note:
“And whereas it is reported that the printer, being a
favourer of G. K., be will not print for another, which
is the reason that the other party appear not in print
as well as G. K., These are to signify that the printer
hath not yet refused to print anything for either
party; and also signifies that he doth not refuse, and
is willing and ready to print anything for either
party; and also signifies that he doth not refuse, and
is willing and ready to print anything for the future
that G. K.’s opposers shall bring to him.” 15 pages,
4to-

A. D. 1692. A Counter Testimonial, Signed by

108 FORTY YEARS AMONG

seventy-eight persons, disavowing all those concerned
in the denial of Geo. Keith. Written by Geo. Keith,
1692. An Expostulation with Samuel Jennings,
Thos. Lloyd, and the rest of the seventy-eight unjust
judges and signers of the condemnation against Geo.
Keith and his friends.

A. D. 1692. The plea of Innocent, etc.

A. D. 1693. Keith’s Heresie, and Hatred, etc.
Bradford, Philadelphia, 1698.

A. D. 1693. New England’s spirit of persecution,
and transmitted to Pennsylvania, and the pretended
Quaker found persecuting the true Christian Quaker,
in the trial of Peter Boss, Geo. Keith, Thos. Budd,
and Wm. Bradford, at the session held at Philadel-
phia, December, 1692, etc. 4to., printed 1693, where
not mentioned, pp. 15. _

This is Bradford’s own account of his trial; it has
been questioned whether this volume was really
printed in Philadelphia, because Bradford having
suffered imprisonment for printing and publishing
“ The Appeal,” would not likely have ventured to is-
sue a work of this character there, and thereby subject
himself to a probable recurrence of difficulty. It has
been surmised that the volume might have been
printed in New York; but if that were the case, he
could have had no possible motive for Withholding
his name from the title page.

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 109

. The work was reprinted in London in the same
year, and I find the title of the English ending as fol-
lows: Printed in Pennsylvania, “Reprinted in Lon-
don, for R. Baldwin, 1693,” which, in my opiniou,
effectually dispels all doubts about the matter. In
addition to which, Bradford having been discharged
from prison and had his press restored to him by
Governor Fletcher, on the sole ground of his having
been imprisoned for a religious difference, could not
have had any misgivings whatever respecting the pub-
lication of above recital of the circumstances attending
his trial.

New York, A. D. 1692. A Proclamation, being a
warning to the people to erect a beacon to be fired as
a signal on the approach of the French fleet, then ex-
pecting as an invading force, and for all to hold them-
selves in readiness. Printed by W. Bradford, at New
York, Printer to their Majesties, 1692. Supposed to
be the first production of Bradford’s press in New
York. Nothing else is known to exist bear this date.

New York, A. D. 1693. A volume of the Laws of
the Colony, &c. Printed and sold by Wm. Bradford,
Printer to their Majesties, at the sign of the Bible, in
New York, 1693.

New York, A. D. 1694. The Laws and Acts of
General Assembly for their Majesties’ Province of
New York, as they were enacted in divers Sessions,

'110 FOR'I‘Y YEARS AMONG

the first of which began April 24, A. D. 1691.
Printed at New York by Wm. Bradford, Printer to
their Majesties, King William and Mary; folio, no
cover, 1694.

This volume embraces all the laws up‘to date of
publication. The Acts of each" session seem to have
been published separately.

New York, A. D. 1696. A Letter of Advice to a
Young Gentleman leaving the University, concerning
his Behavior and Conversation in the World. By R.
L., 24mo., pp. 45. Printed and sold by Wm. Brad-
ford, printer to his Majesty, King William, at the
Bible, in New York, 1696. '

This rare little book is the earliest book known to
have been printed in the city of New York, with the
exception of the Laws of the Colony, whichappeared
in 1694:. Both were printed by the celebrated Wm.
Bradford. This volume may be considered unique;
it is the only one that I have seen or heard of. It
was sold at the sale of the late Mr. E. B. Corwin’s
library, for $12.50. The author was doubtless Rich-
ard Lyon, for an account of whom see Allen’s Bio-
graphical Dictionary.

New York, A. D. 1696. A Reprint of a London
Gazette, containing an account of an engagement with I
the French. The first newspaper printed in Amer-
ica.

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 111

New York, A. D. 1698. The Proceedings of His

Excellency, Earl Bellemont, Governor of New York,
and his Council, on the 8th of May, 1692. Printed
and sold by Wm. Bradford, Printer to the King, New
York, 1698, one sheet folio.
' New York, A. D. 1699. A Trumpet sounded out
of the Wilderness of America, which may prove as a
warning to the'Government and People of New Eng-
land, to beware of Quakerism, wherein is shown how,
in Pennsylvania and thereway, where they have the
government in their own hands, they hire and en;
courage men to fight, and how they prosecute, fine,
and imprison, and take away goods for conscience
sake; by Daniel Leeds. Printed by Wm. Bradford,
Printer to the King, New York, 1699.

New York, A. D. 1702. A refutation of a dangerous
and hateful opinion maintained by Mr. S. Willard, an
independent Minister of Boston, and President at the
Commencement at Cambridge, in New England, July
1st, 1702, 41to. No title, pp. 7.

New York, A. D. 1702. An account of the illegal
trial of Nicholas Bayard. Printed by William Brad-
ford, at the sign of the Bible in New York, 1702.

New York, A. D. 1703. A Reply to Mr. Increase
Mather’s Printed Remarks on a Sermon Preached by
Cr. K., at her Majesty’s Chapel in Boston, the 14th of
June, 1702. In vindication of the six Good Rules in

112 FORTY YEARS AMONG

Divinity there delivered. Which he hath attempted
(though very Feebly and Unsuccessfully) to refute,
by Geo. Keith, M. A. Printed and sold by William
Bradford, at the Bible in New York. 1703, 4t0., pp. 35.

New York, A. D. 1703. The Rebuker Rebuked,
in a Brief Answer to Caleb Pusey his Scurrilous
Pamphlet, Entitled, A Rebuke to Daniel Leeds, etc.
Wherein Wm. Penn, his Sandy Foundation is fairly
quoted, showing that he calls Christ The Finite Im-
potent Creature, by Daniel Leeds. Printed and sold
by Wm. Bradford at the Bible in New York, 1703.
4to. Title, To the Reader, one leaf, pp. 5 to 11.

New York, A. D. 1703. The spirit of Railing
Shimel, and of Baal’s four hundred Lying Prophets
entered into Caleb Pusey, and his Quaker Brethren in
Pennsylvania, who approve him. 4to., printed and
sold by Wm. Bradford, at the sign of the Bible in
New York.

New York, A. D. 1703. A Sermon Preached at
Kingstown, in Jamaica, upon the 7th of June. Being
the Anniversary Fast of that Dreadful Earthquake
which happened there in the year 1692, by William
Corbin, T. B. Printed and sold by Wm. Bradford,
at the Bible in New York, 1703. 4to., Epistle, 1 leaf
and 16 pp.

New York, A. D. 17 04. Some brief remarks upon
a late book, entitled “George Keith once more

THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. . 113

brought to the Test,” etc., having the name of Caleb
Pusey at the end of the preface, and C. P. at the end
of the book (W. Bradford, New York, 1704). 4130.,
pp. 20.

This volume has no title page, and was doubtless
published without one. It was written by George
Keith, and is dated March 2d, 1704, over his signa-
ture. A. great portion of the matter relates to Brad-
ford’s trial and his final discharge, with the restoration
of his printing implements by Governor Fletcher.

New York, A. D. 1704. An answer to Mr. Samuel
Willard (One of the Ministers at Boston in New Eng-
land).‘ His reply to My Printed Sheet, called A
Dangerous and Hateful Opinion maintained by him,
Viz: That the Fall of Adam and all the sins of men,
necessarily came to pass by Virtue of God’s Decree,
and his determining both of the will of Adam and
all other men to sin, by George Keith, M. A. Printed
and sold by Wm. Bradford, at the sign of the Bible
in New York, 1704. Dedicated to his Excellency
Edward Viscount Cornbury, Captain General, and
Governor-in-Chief, etc., etc. 4to., pp. 41.

New York, A. D. 1704. The notes of the True
Church. with the Application of them to the Church
of England, and the Great Sin of Separation frOm Her.
Delivered in a Sermon, preached at Trinity Church,

New York, before the Administration of the Holy
5

114 FORTY YEARS AMONG

Sacrament, at the Lord’s Supper, 7th of November,
1703, by Geo. Keith, M. A. Printed and sold by
Wm. Bradford, at the sign of the Bible in New York,
1701. 4to., Title, Epistle, 3 leaves, pp. 20.

New York, A. D. 17 05. The Great Mystery of
Foncroft Discovered, and the Quaker plainness and
Sincerity Demonstrated. First to their Great Apostle,
Geo. Fox. Secondly, In their late Subscribing the
Oath or Act of Abjuration. Introduced with two
letters written by George Fox to Coll. Lewis Morris,
deceased, exactly spelled and Printed as in the Orig-
inals, which are now to be seen in the Library at Bur-
lington, in New Jersey, and will be proved (by the like-
ness of the Hand, &c.) to be the Handwriting of the
Quakers’ learned Fox, if desired. To which is added,
A Postscript into some remarks on the Quaker’s Al-
manack for this year 1705. :Lto., pp. 16.

New York, A. D. 1706. John Sharpe. A Ser-
mon—preached at Trinity Church in New York,
Aug. 13, 1706, at the funeral of Katherine Lady
Cornbury, heiress to the Duke of Richmond and
Lenox, and wife of Lord Cornbury, Governor of New
York, New Jersey. 4to. Printed and sold by Wm.
Bradford at the Bible in New York.

New York, A. D. 1709. An Alarm Sounded to
Prepare the Inhabitants of the World to Meet the
Lord in the Way of his Judgment, by Bath Bowers.

‘ THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 115

Dated at the end Philadelphia, July 1709, but evi-
dently printed by Bradford at New York. 4to., pp. 23.
New York, A. D. 1710. Lex Parliamentaria, etc.
New York, A. D. 1710. Acts of the General As-
sembly of New York, now in force. Bradford’s usual
imprint.
. New York, A. D. 1717. The Laws and Acts of the
General Assembly of his Majesty’s Province of Nova
Caesarea or New Jersey, as they were enacted by the
Governor, Council, and General Assembly, for the
time being, in divers sessions. The first of which be-
gan in November, 1703. Printed and sold by John
Bradford, Printer to the King’s most excellent Majesty
for the province of New Jersey, 1717.

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OLD BOOK COLLECTORS.

 

close by sketching the very few we have today.
The true bibliomaniac, I am sorry again to have

to repeat, is a rarissimo—nearly as scarce as the dodo.
We have a few that collect books and have fine li-
braries; but the true Dibdin man—the man that can-
not pass an old book store, or even an old junk shop;
that will travel miles to enrich his collection; that
has not time even to dress decently; that lives in his
a library, sleeps in it, surrounded by folios, quartos, in
fact, every size; that eats his meals there; that smokes
his pipe; whose atmosphere smells musty, and cleanli-

ness is almost a Vice—this class of men are rare.

do not say all these peculiarities are even necessary or
desirable, but such men do live, have lived, and no

doubt will always live.

maniac.

' I know one man in this city, the honorable Judge
Pennypacker, who possesses the true spirit of a biblio-
His specialty is early American imprints

(116)

HAVE given in the earlier portion of these
memoirs some statements about the earliest
“ old book collectors I have met: here I shall

AMONG THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 117

and nearly all Pennsylvania early imprints. It is a
pleasure to meet him. He is suave, affable and kind
to all, and extremely liberal in his dealings. His
library consists of over 8000 early imprints: the Eph-
rata imprints number 100; Franklin’s imprints, 150;
Sauer’s imprints, 160; he has the first printed Broad-
side of Sauer; Pennsylvania Almanacks of the last
century, 200; Poor Richard’s Almanac, 30 ; early
maps of Pennsylvania; he has the earliest of German~
«town {1686) Pastorius Gradation, printed about 1676.
His collection of books of David Rittenhouse is the
most perfect known:

The most perfect and numerous collection of Chris-
,tOpher Sowers is in the possession of William Sowers,
late publisher. I have sold to him over forty years
ago, when such books were not in demand, a large
number. I have sold Sower’s Bibles, and fine copies
tOO, from $2 to $4; now they bring, as in Brindley’s ‘
sale, over $300—this was an exceptionally fine copy.
A poor copy was sold at auction in this city a few
. weeks ago and only brought $4, but a good copy will
bring $25..

Howard Edwards, to whom I sold books forty
years ago, has made a specialty of collecting old Bibles,
and early printed Episcopal Prayer Books. He is
one of those collectors of books that if he had the
wealth of a Gould would be princely in his purchases.

118 FORTY YEARS

His scanty purse has enabled him, with exemplary
economy, to have the largest collection of old Bibles
and Episcopal Prayer Books in this city.

Charles Mann has been collecting dramatic works
for over thirty years, and has the largest dramatic
library in this city.

Mr. Noble has a noble heart. He is a poor artisan,
works for his daily bread, but would rather buy a rare,
good book than a suit of clothes. His specialty is books
on Free Thought, and he probably has the best col-
lection of this class in this city. He also collects
books on America and the late war, and he buys
with judgment and extensive knowledge of books.

The McAlisters, W. A. and John, still love books,
a taste they inherited from their much respected
father, who was a genuine collector.

C. P. Bement, a rich man, I am glad to hear has
become a good purchaser of books and also patronizes
the fine arts.

W. S. Baker, the Washington authority, has
linked his name among the Washingtonian authorities
of the day and in such a manner as to reflect credit on
himself and has obtained a niche in history. His
literary works were not written for money, but for
the love of his Fatherland. He is a kind and afl'able
man, and generous in his purchases.

F. J. Dreer’s specialty is autographs, and the very

AMONG THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. 119

fine collection of autographs which he has been col-
lecting for over forty years; he has generously given
them to the Historical Society of this city. ' He has a
fair library of books, and in his lifetime has bought
generously.

I C. R. Hildebran, librarian to the Athenaeum
Library, has devoted himself to the study of old
books, and has published a work on Pennsylvania
literature—a transcript of all the early titles of the
books published in this State, which an untiring in-
dustry could collect from all the old newspapers
printed in this State. Great credit is due to him for
indefatigable industry.

Simon Gratz has a fine library, and still collects
old books; but his specialty is collecting autographs,
and it is said that he has the largest collection in
America. I have sold him many, but have not seen
his collection as a whole.

R. C. Davis, who died two years ago, was a gener-
ous and noble man. He had a fine collection of books
and coins, but his autographs were his pride. His
collections of coins and autographs were among the
finest in the country. After his death they were sold
intact.

W. H. Kemble is a book collector, and it said he
has quite a library on the “Letters of J unius.”

E. Leslie Gilliams is a young journalist, and I am

120 FORTY YEARS AMONG THE OLD BOOKSELLERS. _

glad to see he is moping about old-book stores, and is
devoted to the collection of local history, and soon
will have. a fine collection. I trust he will ardently
continue his pursuit, and time will reward his labors
with joy. '

Clarence Clark, a wealthy gentleman of this city, I
learn, some years ago collected a very fine library,
and is still collecting books—published a very fine
catalogue of his library. I have not seen it, but this
is very encouraging, and shows that the old biblio-

graphic spirit still lives, and the fashionable clubs do
not grasp all. ‘

 

INDEX.

‘ ‘ - PAGE
Apley . . . . .................... . 21
Duross...... ................ 23
James Dalling ....... , .............. 23
John Pennington .................... 24
Peterson and Childs .................. 28
W. A. Leary ..................... . 34
Paine....' ................... .. 36
John Campbell . . . . . ..... .. . . ......... 36
John Wood ...................... 42
Patrick Lynch .................. . . . 42
Hugh Hamel ................ _ ...... 42
Peter Doyle ...................... 43
Brown Brothers .................... 45
JamesBarr..'....................46
Joseph Sabin ................ ' ...... 46
Scanlin ................... ’ ..... 50
Moses Polock ..................... 50
John Hunt . ._ . . . . . . . . . ............ 52
Jarrett ......................... 53
E. Price ........................ 53
Rees Welsh & Co .................... 56
H. McKean ...................... 57
W. S. Rentoul . . .\ .................. 57
Bardsley ........................ 58
W. A. Leary, Jr ..................... 59
Thomas ............. . ........ . . 61

. 122 ' INDEX.

 

PAGE
Henry Holloway ........ . ...... . . . . . 63
Leary & Co. (E. 6. Stuart & 00.). . ........... 64
Holloway ......... . ............. 67
John King ...................... . 68
Walter B. Saunders ................. . . 68
Schafi‘er and Koradi . .................. 69
C. J. Price ............ . ........ . . . 69
David McKay .......... . ..... , ..... 71
W.H.Brotherhead.........;.........71
Men and Books ................ . . . . . 72
Prices and Editions of Books ......... . . . . . 74
Old Books ....................... 9'?
Bibliography of William Bradford’s Books ........ 103
Old Book Collectors . ..... . ...... . . . . . 116

8 5 0 9 will. L5“

 

 

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