Prices of Books Part 12

In 1792 a great sale occurred at Dublin; it was of the library of the Right Hon. Denis Daly, and was dispersed under the hammer of James Vallance. There is a good description of the library in the _Gentleman?s Magazine_ (1792, Part I., pp. 326-28), but although Dibdin gives in his _Bibliomania_ a notice of some of the books, he does not record the prices of several of the most interesting items mentioned in the _Gentleman?s Magazine_. The number of lots was 1441, which realised ?3700. The library was purchased entire from the executors of Mr. Daly by John Archer and William Jones, two Dublin booksellers, and the former told Dibdin that Lord Clare offered ?4000 for it before the auction sale, but this offer was refused.

The Earl of Bute?s botanical library was sold by Leigh & Sotheby in 1794 for ?3470. It was a ten days? sale.

The first part of Thomas Allen?s library was dispersed in June 1795, and the second part in 1799, both parts coming under the hammer of Leigh and Sotheby. There were in all 3460 lots sold during nineteen days, which realised ?5737.

The sale of the library of George Mason commenced in January 1798, and continued till 1807, when the fifth part was sold. The first part contained 497 lots (three days), which realised ?620; the second part 480 lots (three days), ?784; the third part 547 lots (three days), ?670; the fourth part, sold in 1799, 338 lots (two days), ?586. All were sold by Leigh & Sotheby. The four parts contained 1862 lots, and the total amount of the sale was ?2663. The fifth part, sold in 1807, contained few lots of any importance.

The library of Richard Farmer, D.D., sold by Mr. King in May 1798, was a peculiarly interesting one, as containing a rich collection of early English poetry, of which he was one of the earliest purchasers. Although he employed agents to purchase for him, he was not very liberal, and is said to have made a rule not to exceed three shillings for any book. The number of lots in the sale was 8199, and thirty-six days were occupied in selling them. The total amount of the sale was ?2210, and the library is supposed to have cost Dr. Farmer in collecting about ?500.

Dr. Farmer (1735-1797), author of the famous ?Essay on the Learning of Shakspeare,? and for two-and-twenty years Master of Emanuel College, Cambridge, was a curious character, who was said to have loved three things--old port, old clothes, and old books. It was further said that there were three things which n.o.body could persuade him to do, viz., to rise in the morning, to go to bed at night, and to settle an account. He is said to have imbibed his pa.s.sion for collecting books from Dr.

Askew. Dr. Parr, who composed his Latin epitaph, wrote of him--

?How shall I talk of thee, and of thy wonderful collection, O rare Richard Farmer?--of thy scholarship, acuteness, pleasantry, singularities, varied learning, and colloquial powers! Thy name will live long among scholars in general, and in the bosoms of virtuous and learned bibliomaniacs thy memory shall ever be enshrined! The walls of Emanuel College now cease to convey the sounds of thy festive wit; thy volumes are no longer seen, like Richard Smith?s ?bundles of st.i.tcht books,? strewn upon the floor; and thou has ceased in the cause of thy beloved Shakespeare to delve into the fruitful ore of black letter literature. Peace to thy honest spirit; for thou wert wise without vanity, learned without pedantry, and joyous without vulgarity.?

Dr. Farmer at one time proposed to have had a catalogue taken of his library, to which he intended to have prefixed the following advertis.e.m.e.nt--

?This Collection of Books is by no means to be considered as an essay towards a perfect Library; the circ.u.mstances and the situation of the Collector made such an attempt both unnecessary and impracticable. Here are few publications of great price which were already to be found in the excellent Library of Emanuel College; but it is believed that not many private collections contain a greater number of really curious and scarce books; and perhaps no one is so rich in the antient philological English literature.--R. FARMER.?

FOOTNOTES:

[46] ?Memoir of William Oldys,? 1862, p. 101.

[47] _Reliqui? Hearnian?_, 1869, vol. iii. p. 159.

[48] _Ibid._, p. 160.

[49] Nichols?s ?Literary Anecdotes,? vol. v. p. 490.

[50] Wanley?s ?Diary,? Lansdowne MS., 808, _quoted_ Nichols?s ?Literary Anecdotes,? vol. i. pp. 91-92.

[51] Ibid., vol. ii. p. 106.

[52] Dibdin?s ?Reminiscences,? vol. i. p. 327 (note).

CHAPTER VII

AUCTION SALES IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY

The sales of the nineteenth century are so numerous, that they must be treated in a more summary manner than those of the two previous centuries. The Roxburghe sale in 1812 marks an era in bibliography, and after it a series of valuable sales occurred until about the middle of the century, when there was a certain period of dulness, although great sales like those of the libraries of the Duke of Suss.e.x and the Duke of Buckingham (Stowe) took place. In 1864 the fine library of George Daniel was dispersed, when many editions of Shakespeare?s plays, and much valuable dramatic literature, were sold at high prices. In 1873 was the great sale of Henry Perkins?s library, in 1881-83 the Sunderland sale, and in 1882-84 the Beckford and Hamilton sales. These three sales deserve an historian, such as the Roxburghe sale had in Dibdin; but although they created a great sensation, they have not been written about as the Roxburghe sale was. The effect of the high prices realised at these sales has been to cause a great number of fine libraries to be brought to the hammer. The century opened with the sale by Mr. King of the valuable library of George Steevens, the Shakespearian commentator, which commenced on 13th May 1800, and continued during the ten following days. There were 1943 lots, which realised ?2740. Useful lists of some of the most interesting books in the sale are given in Dibdin?s _Bibliomania_ and Clarke?s _Repertorium Bibliographic.u.m_. The whole of the library was sold, with the exception of an ill.u.s.trated copy of Shakespeare, bequeathed to Earl Spencer, the corrected copy of Steevens?s edition of Shakespeare to Mr. Reed, and a fine set of Hogarth?s prints, in three volumes, to the Right Hon. William Windham.

The sale of the library of Greffier f.a.gel of the Hague was announced for sale in 1802, but instead of coming to auction it was sold entire to Trinity College, Dublin, for ?7000. A catalogue, digested by Samuel Paterson, in two parts, was printed in 1806.

The very valuable library of Robert Heathcote was sold by Leigh, Sotheby & Son in 1802 and 1808. The first sale, on 8th April 1802 and five following days, was described as ?an elegant collection of books, comprising a very extraordinary a.s.semblage of the Greek and Roman cla.s.sics, and other books in the English, French, and Italian languages; the greater part upon large paper, and the whole in fine condition, in morocco and other splendid bindings.? The number of lots was 958, which realised ?3361.

The second part was described as ?a portion of the singularly elegant library, late the property of a very distinguished amateur [R. H.], likewise a few duplicates belonging to the present possessor [John Dent].... The books are almost universally bound in different coloured morocco, by Roger Payne and other eminent binders.? This sale took place on 4th April 1808 and five following days, and consisted of 858 lots, which fetched ?2469.

The third sale took place on 2nd May 1808 and following day, when 222 lots were sold for ?1246. The books are described as bound by ?the most eminent English and French binders.? The totals of the three sales were 2038 lots, which realised ?7076.

The sale of the library of John Woodhouse, which was carried out by Leigh, Sotheby & Son, on 12th December 1803 and four following days, was one of great interest. The books were in fine condition, and besides works on English history, topography, &c., there was a good collection of old English poetry and romances. There were 862 lots, and the amount realised was ?3135.

James Edwards, who commenced bookselling in Pall Mall about the year 1784, was in 1788 the joint purchaser with James Robson, bookseller, of New Bond Street, of the Pinelli library. He retired to the Manor House, Harrow, some years before his death, and gathered around him a very choice collection of books. He is mentioned in the index to Nichols?s ?Literary Anecdotes? (1813) as the possessor, ?with numberless other literary treasures,? of the famous Bedford Missal. On 25th April 1804 and three following days Mr. Christie sold a selection from his library, which was described as ?a most splendid and valuable collection of books, superb missals, original drawings, &c., the genuine property of a gentleman of distinguished taste, retiring into the country.? There were only 339 lots, which fetched ?4640, or nearly ?14 per lot, a very considerable average, but then the books were highly distinguished.

Dibdin gives, in part 5 of his _Bibliomania_, a list of some of the more important items, and in part 6 a notice of the large number of books printed on vellum, in the collection. Dibdin does not, however, mention that it belonged to James Edwards.

On 5th April 1815 and five following days Mr. Evans sold ?the valuable library of James Edwards, Esq., containing a splendid a.s.semblage of early printed books, chiefly on vellum, highly curious and important ma.n.u.scripts, magnificent books of prints,? &c. In this sale was the Bedford Missal, which was bought by the Marquis of Blandford for ?687.

There were 830 lots, which sold for ?8421, or rather more than ?10 per lot. Edwards died on 2nd January 1816, aged fifty-nine years.

The library of the first Marquis of Lansdowne (previously Earl of Shelburne) was sold by Leigh & Sotheby in January and February 1806. The sale occupied thirty-one days, and contained 6530 lots, which realised ?6701. Amongst the books was a very rare collection of tracts, doc.u.ments, and pamphlets relating to the French Revolution, in more than 280 volumes, which sold for ?168. In 1807 the Marquis?s collection of ma.n.u.scripts were catalogued for sale, but they never came to auction, as they were purchased by Parliament for the British Museum for ?6000.

The Rev. Jonathan Boucher (1738-1804) possessed a large library, which was sold by Leigh & Sotheby in three parts for a total of ?4510. Part 1, 24th February 1806 and twenty-six following days, 6646 lots sold for ?2990. Part 2, 14th April 1806 and eight following days, 1940 lots sold for ?815. Part 3, 29th May 1809 and three following days, 857 lots sold for ?704. The library was full of valuable and useful books in divinity, history, voyages and travels, poetry, cla.s.sics, &c., but there were few books of extreme rarity. Dibdin says in his _Bibliomania_--

?I attended many days during this sale, but such was the warm fire, directed especially towards divinity, kept up during nearly the whole of it, that it required a heavier weight of metal than I was able to bring into the field of battle to ensure any success in the contest.?

The extensive library of the Rev. John Brand was sold by Mr. Stewart in two parts. Part 1, in May and June 1807, 8611 lots and MSS. 294 lots, in thirty-seven days, sold for ?4300. Part 2, February 1808, 4064 lots sold for ?1851. The last lot in the first part of the sale was Brand?s own work on ?Popular Antiquities,? with additions prepared for republication, which, with copyright, sold for ?630. The books were in poor condition, and had been mostly bought for small sums; in addition, no money was expended by the proprietor on the binding of his books.

On the twenty-fourth day?s sale Dr. Gosset found in one of the volumes of Menage?s French Dictionary sixty-five pounds in bank-notes, and a rare portrait of Margaret Smith, engraved by W. Marshall, which was subsequently sold for twenty-seven guineas. Previous to the removal of the library from Somerset House, where Brand lived as secretary of the Society of Antiquaries, Stewart, the auctioneer, found by accident in an old waste-paper volume seventy guineas wrapped up in paper and placed in various parts of the book. The money was handed to Mr. Brand?s executor.

Isaac Reed?s interesting library of old English literature was sold by King & Loch?e in November and December 1807. The sale occupied thirty-nine days, and consisted of 8957 lots, which realised ?4386.

A five days? sale of Lord Penrhyn?s library at Leigh & Sotheby?s in March 1809 brought ?2000.

In June 1809 Leigh & Sotheby sold the library of Richard Porson, which consisted of 1931 lots, and realised ?1254. A list of the prices given for the princ.i.p.al cla.s.sics in this sale is printed in the _Cla.s.sical Journal_ (i. 385-90).

The eminent antiquary Richard Gough bequeathed his collection of British topography to the Bodleian Library, but the rest of his library was sold by Leigh & Sotheby in April 1810 during twenty days. There were 4373 lots, which sold for ?3552.

The Rev. Benjamin Heath, D.D., sold his very fine library during his lifetime to Joseph Johnson, bookseller, of St. Paul?s Churchyard, who consigned it to Mr. Jeffery in 1810 to be sold by auction. The sale consisted of 4786 lots, and realised ?8899. Dibdin describes this sale in enthusiastic terms in his _Bibliomania_. He writes--

?Never did the bibliomaniac?s eye alight upon ?sweeter copies,? as the phrase is, and never did the bibliomaniacal barometer rise higher than at this sale! The most marked phrensy characterised it.

A copy of the _editio princeps_ of Homer (by no means a first-rate one) brought ?92, and all the Aldine cla.s.sics produced such an electricity of sensation, that buyers stuck at nothing to embrace them! Do not let it hence be said that black letter lore is the only fashionable pursuit of the present age of book collectors. This sale may be hailed as the omen of better and brighter prospects in literature in general; and many a useful philological work, although printed in the Latin or Italian language--and which had been sleeping unmolested upon a bookseller?s shelf these dozen years--will now start up from its slumber, and walk abroad in a new atmosphere, and be noticed and ?made much of.??

We now arrive at the year 1812, which will ever be memorable in bibliographical annals on account of the sale of the grand library of the Duke of Roxburghe during forty-six days. The catalogue was arranged by Messrs. G. & W. Nicol, and in the preface we read--

?When literature was deprived of one of its warmest admirers by the death of the Duke of Roxburghe, his grace was in full pursuit of collecting our dramatic authors. But when his collection of English plays is examined, and the reader is informed that he had only turned his mind to this cla.s.s of literature for a few years, his indefatigable industry will be readily admitted.?

Mr. Robert H. Evans, the bookseller of Pall Mall, was induced to commence the business of auctioneer with his sale, and he continued to sell by auction for over thirty years.

The Roxburghe library consisted of 10,120 lots, which sold for ?23,397.

Although one of the finest libraries ever brought to the hammer, the glory of the majority of the books was eclipsed by the Valdarfer _Boccaccio_, 1471, which fetched ?2260, the largest sum ever paid for a book up to that time. It has been said that the amount of the _Boccaccio_ day?s sale equalled what had been given by the Duke for the entire collection.[53]

Leigh & Sotheby sold in May 1812 the library of the Marquis Townshend, during sixteen days, for ?5745.

The splendid library of Colonel Stanley was sold by Evans in April and May 1813, during eight days. There were 1136 lots (or above 3000 volumes), which sold for ?8236. A unique copy of De Bry?s Voyages, with duplicates of parts x. and xi. and a large number of duplicate plates, bound in blue morocco, sold for ?546. Brunet wrote that at this sale the thermometer of the bibliomania reached its highest point.

The library of Stanesby Alchorne, of the Mint, was bought entire by Earl Spencer, who sold at Evans?s, in 1813, the portion which he did not require, and added to the sale some of his own duplicates. There were only 187 lots in this sale, and they sold for ?1769.