20 DECEMBER 1919, Page 3

Fifteen thousand one hundred pounds were paid at Sotheby's auction-rooms

on Tuesday for a little volume containing early editions of Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis and The Passionate Pilgrim. The Venus and Adonis was the only known copy of the fourth edition of 1599, and The Passionate Pilgrim, of the same date, was one of three existing copies. This book came from Mr. Christie-Miller's famous library at Britwell Court, and was bought for America. It is pleasant to know that by far the highest price ever bid at auction for a book was paid for a Shakespeare.