AMERICAN BIBLIOPOLIST. A Literary Register and Monthly Catalogue of Old and New Books, and Repository of Notes and Queries. Fol. 2. NEW YORK, FEBRUARY, 1870. No. 2. ADVERTISING: $13 per page; $7 half page; and $4 quarter. SUBSCRIPTION $1 per year, Postage free. N.B. The usual Catalogue and List of New Publications are reserved for next month's issue. To ADVERTISERS.-The Bibliopolist circulates amongst intelligent and reading men, with whom bookbuying is a necessity. It has lived (not only lived but flourished) for one year, and it now enters upon its second year with still better prospects. The GREAT ADVANTAGES we offer to advertisers in the Bibliopolist cannot, we think, be conceded to any other similar publication. First, our terms are low; second, we are willing to take, at the publishers' net prices, Books in exchange for ADVERTISEMENTS. The rates for advertising, mentioned above, are cash rates. Rates, in books at net prices, are as follows: One page, $16.00; half page, $9.00; quarter page, $5.00. The same arrangements will be made with dealers in second hand books, giving us the privilege of selection. With such an arrangement as this, bublishers and booksellers can pay. at a minimum cost, what would otherwise be required in cash. For a succession of insertions, the rates will be reduced. This arrangement will also apply with English, French and German Publishers and Booksellers. Auction Sales. "BIBLIOTHECA AMERICANA."-The auction sale of a collection of books entitled "Bibliotheca Americana," but which also included some books of a miscellaneous character, was held by Messrs. Leavitt, Strebeigh & Co. on Monday, January 17th, and three following days. The appearance of some books in this sale, which come but rarely into an auction, give the collection an unusual importance-a sufficient importance, we deem, to warrant us in pointing out some of the inaccuracies in the catalogue descriptions, for the guidance of future collectors and those at present who cannot correct the catalogue for themselves. First, for the catalogue itself. It is unshapely differing in form from all its predecessors, and no improvement. The pages are numbered at the foot-and the paper is of two different tints. So much for its physical deformities. But these are not a circumstance to the literary errors which of orthographyswarm in its pageserrors of punctuation-errors of style;errors of description--and, must we say it? errors of ignorance. errors Blunders begin with the title, from which it appears that "local" histories are extraneous to "American" history. The title reads, "a large assortment of valuable books relating to America, also, local histories..." The introductory notice is rather botchythe books are said to have been "collected by the owner at a great sacrifice of....expense."(!) Supposing this to mean "a great sacrifice of money," would any of the many collectors, who spend annually as much money as this whole collection realized, call that a "sacrifice" which procures them the greatest means of enjoyment? We must protest against such a mis-application of the term. In the list "raisonné," Simcoe's Queen's Rangers is said to be upon "Large paper"-the book does not exist in this shape. The Richmond edition of Jefferson's Notes on Virginia is described as scarce(!) A rapid survey of the catalogue shows no less than 40 lots misplaced, 50 lots repeated and 30 lots inaccurately described. In the appended list of prices of the rarer books, some of these errors-the most glaring-are pointed out. Trifling mistakes. are purposely omitted. Seven trifling errors. 161. Burk's History of Virginia, 18046, [and Girardin's] Continuation, 1816. 4 vols, sheep. $38.00. 190. Campbell's History of Virginia, 1813. Bds. $3.00. Called the "1st edition"--Who ever heard of a second? 227. Cicero's Cato Major, or his Discourse of Old Age, 1744. Printed by Franklin. 4to, levant mor. $50.00. Translated by James and not Jno. Logan, as stated. 246. Notes on Columbus, 1866. copies privately printed. $52.50. 99 Accredited erroneously to S. L. M. Barlow. It is written by Mr. Harrisse, and printed at Mr. Barlow's expense for presentation only. This was a presentation copy to Dr. C. G. Barney. 361. Foxe's North West Fox, 1635. Wanting the map, and the last leaves mouldy. 4to. $12.00. The catalogue title to this book is a curious speciA collation with men of typographical blunders. the book shows about forty-the last making it appear to be a reprint (!) 429. Hakluyt Society's Publications. 25 vols. to 1860 Half mor. $127.50. 442. Hamor's True Discourse of the Present Estate of Virginia, 1615. mor. Bought in for $150.00. This and the two succeeding lots (a reprint of the same, for Charles G. Barney, 1860,) are called a "Trive Discourse." This reprint sold for $5.50 and $6.50. 536-539. Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts, 1764-7-1828-1769. 4 vols, calf. $40.00. 581. Johnson's "Entire Works." Oxford Classic edition, 1825. 9 vols., calf. $27.00. This is, as the note says, "the most complete collection of Dr. Johnson's work's," but not in "nine" vols. There should be eleven. 514 Johnson's Traditions and Reminiscences of the Revolution in the South, 1851. Half mor. $11.00. 609. Kercheval's History of the Valley of Virginia. 1833. $10.00. 636. Lawson's Carolina, 1709. rare and scarce (!!) 4to, calf. Lacked map. "Very $31.00. 657. Ligon's True and Exact History of the Island of Barbadoes, 1673. Fol., calf. $7.00. Knocked down at one bid to "J. C " (?) 677. Mather's Magnalia, 1702. Folio, calf. $147.50. Described as a large paper" copy, "only one other copy known of in this country." Shortly after the sale a correspondent wrote us to the effect that "besides his own copy he knew of two others." 777. Neal's History of New England, 2 vols. $15.00. 1747. 793. Confederate Newspapers, Richmond. (Over 1,000.) $32.50. " 802. Syllacias De Insulis Miridiani Maris Nuper Inventis." With translation. New York, 1859. Privately printed for (by, in catalogue) Mr. James Lenox, for presentation. "Full bound in crimson." (!) $45.00. Catalogued under the head of "Nicolaus," the author's Christian name. 803. Nichols' Literary Anecdotes. 10 vols. $40.00. 804. Nichols' Literary History. 8 vols. $32.00. 859. Purchas, His Pilgrimage, 1617. Folio (not "8vo "). $1250. 891 & 892. Relations des Jesuits. vols. $76.00. 2 Privately printed for (not "by") James Lenox, and presented to the late owner. 896. Rich's Bibliotheca Americana, 3 vols., mor. $58.50. 934 Sirgent's Loyalist Po'try $45.00. 946. Seward's Poems. "Louisa,' "Elegy on Capt. Cooke," "Monody on Major André," and André's Letters to the author." Lichfield, 1784. 4to. $9.00. 950. Shea's French Onandaga Dictionary, 1860. $30.00. An unusually high price. 981. Smith's Nova Casarea, 1765. $13.00. 999. S. C. Hist. Coll. 1857. 3 vols., 8vo. $15.00. 1003. Southern Lit. Messenger, 18612-3-4,"containing history of the War, by R. H. Howison." 4 vols., Richmond. $25.00. 1039. Stith's History of the First Set tlement of Virginia, 1747. $26.00. in the Merryman Case, upon the Writ of 1059. Decision of Chief Justice Taney Habeas Corpus. Pnilada. John Campbell, 1862. 4to. Large Paper. $5.00. Others of this series sold for from 10 to 25 cents. 1104. A Brief and Accurate Treatise, concerning, The Taking of the fume of Tobacco, etc., 1621. $5.50. Twenty mistakes in this title. 1127. Virginia's Discovery of Silke Worms, 1650. 4to, uncut. $40.00. 1129. The Reformed Common-wealth of Bees.... with The Reformed Virginian Silk-Worm, 1655. $22.50. 1150. Walton & Cotton's Complete Angler. Pickering, 1836. 2 vols, mor. $84.00. 1168. Ward's Simple Cobbler of Aggavvam in America, 1647. $21.00. 1253. Wither's Chronicles of Border Warfare, 1831. $10.00. 1254. Wood's Athena Oxoniensis, 1813. 4 vols, 4to, mor., uncut. $40.00. 1179 Reads as The Journal of Major Dinwiddie. It is intended for Major Washington's Journal. 1221 The " Writings of Sparks," in 12 vols., being hitherto unknown, commanded no offer, and was withdrawn. MESSRS. LEONARD & Co., Boston, announce for sale early in April, the extensive collection of Americana, formed by Mr. Henry Stevens (author of Nuggets, etc.), including, we believe, the library of his father, lately deceased. This collection, 960. Simcoe's Military Journal. Vir numbering about 5000 volumes, contains 973. Smith's General Historie of Virginia, 1627, and True Travels, 1630. vols. in one. $247.50. 974. Smith's New England, 1616. 4to, mor. $162.50. 2 many works of high importance to the historian, and of rare interest to the collector. To one "the rarest of the rare "--we must call particular attention-HARIOT'S VIRGINIA. We do not know of another copy ever having been offered for sale at auction in America. Mr. Stevens' notes are interesting and valuable. See Harrisse, Hariot, etc. Collectors should not fail to get this catalogue. 975. Smith's Map of Virginia, 1612. 4to, levant mor. Knocked down to "J. C.," but really bought in at $222.00. In the catalogue we read "Bound in the same volume, the proceedings of the English Colonies in Virginia, etc." These "Proceedings" are a part of the work, without which it is not perfect, MESSRS. BANGS, MERWIN & Co. announce for March 21st and five following days the sale of the library of JOHN A. RICE, Esq. See advertisement of this sale in the present number of the BIBLIOPOLIST. MESSRS. LEAVITT, STREBEIGH & Co. The sale of a collection of Americana previously announced in the BIBLIOPOLIST is, in this number, noticed at greater length. See the list of some of the rare books in this collection. The leaf of book-title inserted in this number is an engraved facsimile of one of the "Big Indians" of this collection. MESSRS. LEAVITT, STREBEIGH & Co. announce, also, for April, their semi-annual TRADE SALE. Notice.-MESSRS. LEAVITT, STREBEIGH & Co., and BANGS, MERWIN & Co., of New York, MESSRS. LEONARD & Co. of Boston, and MESSRS. M. THOMAS & SONS of Philadelphia, are constantly issuing catalogues of books for sale by auction, which will be regularly mailed to any collector on application to these gentlemen, THE LENOX LIBRARY. A NOBLE GIFT TO NEW YORK.-The public will learn with the liveliest interest and gratification that a new public library is to be founded in New York, upon a scale commensurate with the magnitude of the intellectual wants of the largest city of the United States. A bill was introduced in the Senate at Albany yesterday, incorporating the Lenox Library, which is to be a free gift to the city by Mr. James Lenox, of the Fifth ave nue. The munificent founder of this institution proposes, it is said, to convey to trustees a block of land somewhere between Seventy-second and Seventy-sixth streets, opposite the Park, as a site for the building, and to give three hundred thousand dollars, or any larger sum that may be needed, to erect it. In addition to this, he will, it is said, hand over to the trustees his entire collection of statuary, paintings and books, as a beginning for the library, and he declares that no further sums of money shall be withheld that may be demanded to make it the finest library in the country. Mr. Lenox has been known for many years as a zealous, liberal, and most intelli gent collector of priceless volumes and rare works of art, and his private library is probably the most valuable in America. The sight of it has long been regarded by educated men visiting New York as a great privilege. These treasures, gathered from the richest storehouses of Europe, and all his rarities of American bibliography, for so many years guarded with a jealous eye, and arranged upon his shelves with a loving hand, are now, it seems, to be transferred to a library which shall belong to the people. It would be difficult to over-estimate the importance of such a gift as this which it is said Mr. Lenox intends. Splendid in itself, it is perhaps of even greater value as an example to other men of affluence, and as likely to lead to future endowments for its own extension. It would not be extravagant to predict for the Lenox Library a greatness rivalling that of the British Museum itself. A literary institution which has the seal of permanence, and which preserves its collections in commodious, sightly, and indestructible buildings, will surely attract to itself, as years wear on, private libraries and galleries that would else be dispersed, on the death of their owners, under the hammer of the auctioneers. The book lover or virtuoso, who in his lifetime has taken a pride in accumulating around him rich volumes and beautiful paintings, entertains with sadness the thought that some day they must be scattered to the winds, and for their preservation in bulk, will often be disposed. to leave them to a great repository of letters and art. Such a repository, annually growing richer and greater, will be the Lenox Library. The Presbyterian Hospital, now in course of construction on Seventh street, at a cost of one million of dollars, another benefaction of Mr. Lenox, furnishes at once a proof of the comprehensive philanthropy of the man, and the thoroughness at which he aims in his charitable enterprises.-Evening Post. For many years past, scholars have known of the existence in this city of a private library and gallery of marvelous value, comprising collections of unequaled importance in several departments of literature, and containing treasures of art whose worth could not be computed by dollars, or compared with any that existed elsewhere in the country. It has been known that an It American gentleman who was born to for- It is because of the inaccessibility of this library and gallery that so little has been known of them. During the long period of their collection, the owner has guarded them with a jealousy and rigor which have effectually discouraged all attempts of outsiders to enter the sacred precincts. In former years, we believe, he was accustomed to invite, from time to time, small and select bodies of scholars to view his new acquisitions; but we understand that this has been an extremely rare occurrence in recent times. He had reasons for this course that could only be appreciated by a scholar; but it was always known, to those who knew anything of the man himself, that they were based on neither selfishness nor egotism. Persons who were discomfited in their attempts to penetrate the arcanum often indulged themselves in vigorous denunciation of its watchful guardian. We have heard artists and authors deny the right of any man to keep such treasures from the public gaze; and we remember that, some years ago, a well-known popular preacher dashed the vials of his wrath against the determined millionaire who had positively refused him admittance to the treasure-house. But these things never affected the owner, who had his own idea and feeling about the matter, and his own purpose in regard to it. The act incorporating the Trustees of the Lenox Library passed both branches of the State Legislature last week. . . . We understand that the work of erecting the building will be begun within a reasonable time, and we may expect, before three years have passed away, to have the longhidden treasures of the Lenox collection publicly opened to the view and for the service of American scholars and students. In the same issue of The Tribune appeared among the "Country Items," the following: HEMPSTEAD. Mr. James Lennox of New York City has promised to convey to the Trustees of this village a block of land, end to erect thereon a building, at a cost of not less than $500,000. Mr. L. proposes to give to the town his own private library, and promises that more funds will be forthcoming, if necessary. The people of the town propose that, if Mr. Lennox fulfils his promise, they will give $100,000 of the money derived from the sale of the Plain land, to purchase library works. |