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 1835 the remarkable collection of Dr. Kloss of Frankfort was sold by
Sotheby & Son. It contained many original and unpublished manuscripts
and printed books, with MS. annotations attributed to Philip Melancthon.
There were 4682 lots, which took twenty days to sell, and realised
£2261. The catalogue was the work of Samuel Leigh Sotheby, and he
expended much labour upon it.
Evans sold in 1835 the fine library of the Comte de Noailles, who is
described in the catalogue as “a distinguished collector.” There were
952 lots, sold in five days for £3188.
The Hon. Baron (Sir William) Bolland’s library was sold by Evans in
1840. The sale consisted of 2940 lots, and occupied thirteen days,
realising £3019. In the next year was sold, also by Evans, the library
of Thomas Hill (supposed to be the original of Paul Pry), during seven
days. There were 1684 lots, which brought £1424.
The library of George Chalmers, F.R.S., was sold by Evans in 1841 and
1842, and the catalogue was divided into three parts. Part 1, September
and October 1841, nine days, 2292 lots, £2190. Part 2, March 1842, six
days, 1514 lots, £1918. Part 3, November 1842, eight days, 1966 lots,
£2081.
Horace Walpole’s collections were sold at Strawberry Hill by George
Robins in April and May 1842, during twenty-four days. The first six
days were devoted to the sale of the library, which consisted of 1555
lots, and realised £3900. It was very badly catalogued, and the books
and books of prints, collection of portraits, &c., forming the seventh
and eighth days’ sale, were withdrawn, re-catalogued, and extended to a
ten days’ sale.
The library of Lord Berwick was sold at Sotheby’s in April and May 1843
for £6726.
The great sale of the years 1844 and 1845, at Evans’s, was that of the
extensive library of the Duke of Sussex, which occupied sixty-one days
in selling, and consisted of 14,107 lots. The total amount realised was
£19,148. The sale was divided into six parts, as follows:--Part 1, July
1844, theology, twenty-four days, 5551 lots, £8438. Part 2, July and
August 1844, manuscripts, four days, 510 lots, £3126. Part 3, August
1844, history, topography, voyages and travels, six days, 1523 lots,
£2096. Part 4, January and February 1845, Greek classics, foreign
history, &c., eleven days, 2641 lots, £2121. Part 5, April and May 1845,
poetry, drama, polygraphy, Latin classics, belles-lettres, &c., twelve
days, 2956 lots, £2649. Part 6, August 1845, four days, 926 lots, £718.
The library of Mr. B. H. Bright was sold at Sotheby’s in three divisions
in 1845, and the total amount realised was £8997.
In 1849 Messrs. Southgate & Barrett tried the experiment of selling the
library of the Rev. H. F. Lyte and J. W. M. Lyte in the evening, but the
new departure (or rather, revival of an old practice) did not meet with
approval, and the practice was not followed. There were 4368 lots, and
the sale occupied seventeen evenings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account