Book Auctions in England. By John Lawler. (Elliot Stock. 4s.
6d.) a—Here we have, as far as circumstances permit a " Book Prices
Current" of the last five-and-twenty years of the seventeenth century. Evidently there was less money in those days, and there were fewer cranks. The craze for first editions had yet to arise, and books were bought because they were good to read and good to look at; for collectors were not even then wholly moved by pure reason. In some things, it must be allowed, our ances-
tors were a little blind. They did not see the value of Caxtons.
Three-and-twenty of these treasures were sold at Dr. Bernard's sale in 1GS6 for between four and five pounds ; they might well fetch now between four and five thousand. This is the most conspicuous example of change in value, but the volume is full of Such curiosities. Two other observations of more general interest occur to one. London had not swallowed up everything. Impor- tant sales were not unfrequently held in country towns. And the libraries of clergymen are much more numerous and valuable in proportion to the whole than they would be now.
Previous page
