Prices of Books: An Inquiry into the Changes in the Price of Books which have occurred in England at different PeriodsWheatley, Henry B. (Henry Benjamin)
History
Prices of Books: An Inquiry into the Changes in the Price of Books which have occurred in England at different Periods
Wheatley, Henry B. (Henry Benjamin)
Books -- Prices -- History
In 1832 Evans sold the library of Philip Hurd for £5545. There were
1464 lots, which occupied eight days in selling.
In this same year the choicer portion of John Broadley’s library was
sold, also by Evans. There were 589 lots in three days’ sale, which
realised £2052. The second portion was sold during six days in 1833,
1225 lots, which realised £3707.
Joseph Haslewood’s library was sold by Evans in 1833. This was an eight
days’ sale, consisting of 1855 lots; which realised £2471. The amount
was probably more than the late proprietor expected, as he said he would
refuse a thousand pound cheque in exchange for his books. Dibdin remarks
in his “Reminiscences” on the fact that Haslewood always intended that
his books should be sold by Sotheby. He was in the habit of saying,
“What will Sam Sotheby make of this or that after I am gone?”
In 1833 and 1834 the library of P. A. Hanrott was sold by Evans in five
parts, and during forty-seven days, for £22,409. There were 10,826 lots.
These totals are obtained as follows:--Part 1 (1833), twelve days, 2504
lots, £7487. Part 2 (1833), twelve days, 2574 lots, £5161. Part 3
(1834), twelve days, 2753 lots, £5727. Part 4 (1834), six days, 1489
lots, £2845. Part 5 (1834), five days, 1506 lots, £1189.
The great sale of the library of Richard Heber took place during the
years 1834, 1835, and 1836. Mr. H. Foss has written the following totals
for the twelve parts in a copy of the catalogue in the British Museum.
Two hundred and two days of sale, 52,676 lots, 119,613 volumes, which
sold for £56,774. The proportionate total cost to Mr. Heber of the
library is put at £77,750. The following are the particulars of the
various parts:--Part 1, April and May 1834, sold by Sotheby & Son,
twenty-six days, 7486 lots, £5615. Part 2, June and July (Sotheby),
twenty-five days, 6590 lots, £5958. Part 3, November (Sotheby),
seventeen days, 5055 lots, £2116. Part 4, December, sold by R. H. Evans,
fifteen days, 3067 lots, £7248. Part 5, January and February 1835, sold
by B. Wheatley, twenty days, 5693 lots, £2623. Part 6, March and April
(Evans), twenty days, 4666 lots, £6771. Part 7, May and June (Evans),
twenty-one days, 6797 lots, £4035. Part 8, February and March 1836
(Evans), twelve days, 3170 lots, £3955. Part 9, April (Sotheby),
fourteen days, 3218 lots, £6463. Part 10, May and June (Sotheby),
fourteen days, 3490 lots, £2117. Part 11, manuscripts (Evans), ten days,
1717 lots, £8964. Part 12, July (Wheatley), eight days, 1727 lots, £894.
Part 13 (and last) was sold in February 1837 by Wheatley, six days, 1558
lots, £780. This amount must be added to the totals of the twelve parts
given above.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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