Telegrams: "VESPUCCI, LONDON." Telephone: Regent 3810. Chas. J. Sawyer, Ltd. Grafton House 12 & 13, Grafton Street, New Bond Street London, W. 1 Dealers in Rare Incunabula Early English Literature First Editions of Thackeray, Dickens, Kipling, LIBRARIES PURCHASED. Illustrated Catalogues issued at frequent intervals. Correspondence invited. Commissions executed at the principal Auction Sales. Intelligent Appraisals for Fire Insurance, A RECORD OF THE PRICES AT WHICH BOOKS HAVE BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION, FROM OCTOBER, 1924, TO AUGUST, 1925, INDEX TO Book - Prices Current Volumes XXI. to XXX. For the Years 1907-1916, FORMING A KEY ΤΟ BOOK - PRICES CURRENT, AND, INCIDENTALLY, ΤΟ ANONYMOUS, PSEUDONYMOUS, AND SUPPRESSED LITERATURE, WITH A SUPPLEMENT OF BIBLIOPHILES AND BIBLIOPOLES. Uniform with "Book-Prices Current." Demy 8vo. The Clique says :—' "In the course of testing a great number of references, to see whether we could discover any errors, we are glad to say that we can find none. This is high praise when the author says in his preface, 'This Index contains above one hundred thousand entries, while the numerals employed, which closely approach a million, almost defy counting.' Among the great advantages of the Index may be mentioned the promptitude with which the reader may now find and compare the relative value of any book during the decade covered (bringing to a point the various copies sold), enabling him to ascertain whether its value has increased or dimished during the period. . . . The Index Volumes add much to the permanent value of 'B.P.C.' as a bibliographer's guide. This index is one of the largest ever compiled, and it represents three years' work." These volumes are The Library Association Record says:indispensable to every reference library, and add considerably to the reputation of English Bibliography." LONDON: ELLIOT STOCK, 7, Paternoster Row, E.C. MADE IN ENGLAND. Dunia Grant 1-27-39 37229 INTRODUCTION. THIS, the thirty-ninth volume of the series, contains the records of a very interesting season's sales. In extent this volume exceeds its predecessor by more than seventy pages. This increase in size is due, in some measure, to the importance of the lots offered and the extra entries which had to be taken in, and still further to the space required for the notes and explanatory matter, all of which will, I hope, be appreciated by those who use this volume. The buying by Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach is still a feature of the London sales, and some of the most attractive lots offered were secured by him in American interests. Included in the many valuable properties sold at auction were two further selections from the famous Britwell Court Library, which together realised £67,606 5s. od. The dispersal of this library has already spread over ten years, and the end is not yet. Other notable sales were the Aeronautical collection of the late Air-Commodore E. M. Maitland; the library of the late Joseph Conrad, containing a large number of inscribed first editions; the library of the late E. Gordon Duff, in two portions, the first of which contained his fine collection of stamped bindings; the late Edward Hartley's collection; the selection of books from the Royal Society's library, which realised £14,749 5s. od.; the Wollaton Hall library; the library of the late John Lane; and the library of the late John S. Sargent, R.A. The miscellaneous collection of MS. historical documents sold by Messrs. Sotheby & Co. on April 6th in cluded the much talked about "Cardigan Chaucer," which failed to reach its reserve price and remained unsold. The following are some of the more important purchases made by Dr. Rosenbach during the season:-Oenone and Paris, an apparent plagiarism of Shakespear's Venus and Adonis, £3,800; Capt. John Smith's "An Accidence on the Pathway to Experience," £1,550; a copy of the Kilmarnock Burns, uncut, in original wrappers, £1,750; and the fine copy of Baxter's "Call to the Unconverted," translated into the Indian language by J. Eliot, £6,800 (this is apparently the only copy known, and was discovered in the selection of books from the Royal Society's library, sold by Messrs. Sotheby & Co. on May 4th); an Album of Indian Drawings was purchased by Mr. Quaritch for £3.950; and a nice copy of the first folio Shakespeare went to Mr. Sabin for £2,350. The properties brought under the hammer in the U.S.A. are also well represented in this volume. The sales in that country increase year by year in importance, and it has been found necessary to add still further to the space already given to their sales records. May, 1926. F. P. |