Prices of Books

Gomme’s Gentleman’s Magazine Library, “Literary Curiosities,” 1888, p. 79.

33

This was quite true when written a few months ago, but on the 10th February 1898 a copy with the original wrappers was sold at Sotheby’s salerooms for £21. It was bought by Mr. Quaritch, the original publisher.

34

Reliquiæ Hearnianæ, vol. ii. (1869), p. 243.

35

“Sir Kenelm Digby et les anciens rapports des Bibliothèques françaises avec la Bretagne.” Quoted by Mr. Pollard, Bibliographica, vol. i. p. 383.

36

Bibliomania (The Drawing Room).

37

Reliquiæ Hearnianæ, 1869, vol. i. p. 310.

38

Peter Langtoft’s “Chronicle,” vol. i. p. 13.

39

Bibliographica, vol. ii. p. 126.

40

Millington’s preface to catalogue of libraries of Lawson, Fawkes, Stockden, and Brooks, 30th May 1681.

41

Bibliographica, vol. ii. p. 115.

42

“Memoir of William Oldys,” 1862, p. 101.

43

Reliquiæ Hearnianæ, 1869, vol. iii. p. 159.

44

Ibid., p. 160.

45

Nichols’s “Literary Anecdotes,” vol. v. p. 490.

46

Wanley’s “Diary,” Lansdowne MS., 808, quoted Nichols’s “Literary Anecdotes,” vol. i. pp. 91-92.

47

Ibid., vol. ii. p. 106.

48

Dibdin’s “Reminiscences,” vol. i. p. 327 (note).

49

Dibdin’s “Reminiscences,” vol. i. p. 369 (note).

50

F. Norgate, in The Library, vol. iii. p. 329.

51

Dibdin’s “Reminiscences,” vol. i. p. 206 (note).

52

Gomecius (Gomez) de rebus gestis a Francisco Ximinis Cisnerio, 1569, quoted in Dibdin’s “Reminiscences,” vol. i. p. 211.

53

Mr. Blades has given full particulars of all the sales in his “Life and Typography of William Caxton” (1863); but there have been many sales since the publication of his great work, and particulars of these are given chiefly from two valuable articles, entitled Caxtoniana, by Mr. Frederic Norgate, which were published in The Library, Nos. 8 and 9 (August and September 1889). That accurate bibliographer has kindly allowed the author to see and use his manuscript corrections and additions to these articles.

54

Steevens’s remarks, given in another page of Dibdin’s “Library Companion,” are worth quoting here, more particularly as that Shakesperian commentator gives his opinion of what was a high price for the first folio: “I have repeatedly met with thin flakes of pie-crust between the leaves of our author. These unctuous fragments, remaining long in close confinement, communicated their grease to several pages deep on each side of them.... Most of the first folios now extant are known to have belonged to ancient families resident in the country. Since our breakfasts have become less gross, our favourite authors have escaped with fewer injuries.... I claim the merit of being the first commentator on Shakespeare who strove with becoming seriousness to account for the present stains that disgrace the earliest folio edition of his plays, which is now become the most expensive single book in our language; for what other English volume without plates, and printed since the year 1600, is known to have sold, more than once, for £35, 14s.?”

55

“Talk about Autographs,” by George Birkbeck Hill, London, 1896, p. 69.

56

“Memoir of William Oldys,” 1862, p. 104.

57