Book Sales of 1897. By Temple Scott. (G. Bell and
Sons. 150.) —Mr. Temple Scott summarises in an interesting introduction the chief events of the year in the market for old books, and draws certain conclusions. The public demand has changed in some respects, mostly, one is glad to see, in the direction of better taste and sense. Huge prices are still paid, in exceptional cases, for items that have no value but rarity ; but, on the whole, what brings money is a good specimen of a good book. "Gray's Elegy," for instance, is high up in the list of English classics, and no one will think .274 too high a price for a copy of the first edition. As long as the demand bears some proportion to the interest of the thing sought, one ought to be content. The national passion for sport, for instance, is such that the high prices fetched by large-paper " Badmintons " are quite natural. First editions of the Greek and Latin classics still fetch a fair price; other editions are scarcely worth mention. Mr. Scott's volume will be found interesting by other readers than book- buyers.
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