There is told the story of a certain Bavarian collector who began to doubt the authenticity of a little statuette in his possession. Finally he sent for a noted authority on the subject, who tried to reassure him. As the collector did not seem convinced, the expert, as a last resort, made mention of a certain test that might, though with danger to the object, be applied. The collector insisted on the attempt, in the course of which the statuette was hopelessly defaced, though the accident confirmed the expert’s opinion. “Ah,” moaned the owner, “why did I let you touch it!” “Ingrate!” replied the other with grim humor. “Have you not now the satisfaction of knowing your fears to be groundless, and my own knowledge to be trustworthy? Look at the pieces--without doubt the statuette was genuine!” BIBLIOGRAPHY I. THE PLEASURES OF COLLECTING _The Connoisseur._ By Frederick S. Robinson. New York. 1897. _The A B C About Collecting._ By Sir James Yoxall, M. P. Philadelphia. n. d. _First Steps in Collecting._ By Grace M. Vallois. London. n. d. _Antiques and Curios in the Home._ By Grace M. Vallois. New York. n. d. _By-Paths in Collecting._ By Virginia H. Robie. New York. 1912. _The Lure of the Antique._ By Walter A. Dyer. New York. 1916. II. COLLECTORS OF YESTERDAY _The Lives of The Twelve Caesars._ By C. Suetonius Tranquillus. Bohn Edition. London. 1909. _Horace Walpole._ By Austin Dobson. New York. 1893. _The Lives of the Painters, Sculptors and Architects._ By Giorgio Vasari. Translated by A. M. Hinds. London. n. d. _The Connoisseur._ By Frederick S. Robinson. New York. 1897. _Anecdotes of Painting in England._ By Horace Walpole. London. 1849. III. AMERICAN TABLES _Early American Craftsmen._ By Walter A. Dyer. New York. 1915. _Old Furniture Book._ By N. Hudson Moore. New York. 1903. _The Practical Book of Period Furniture._ By Harold Donaldson Eberlein and Abbot McClure. Philadelphia. IV. TEA AND ANTIQUITY _The Book of Tea._ By Okakura-Kakuzo. New York. 1919. _The Gentleman and Cabinet-Makers’ Director._ By Thomas Chippendale. London. 1762. _Tea Leaves._ By Francis S. Drake. Boston. 1884. V. CUP-PLATES _Old China Book._ By N. Hudson Moore. New York. 1903. _Chats on Old Earthenware._ By Arthur Hayden. New York. 1909. _The Earthenware Collector._ By G. Woolliscroft Rhead. New York. 1920. _Staffordshire Pots and Potters._ By G. Woolliscroft Rhead and Frederick Alfred. London. 1906. _The Art of the Old English Potter._ By L. M. Solon. London. 1883. VI. CHINTZ _Chats on Cottage and Farmhouse Furniture._ By Arthur Hayden. New York. n. d. VII. PEWTER _Pewter and the Amateur Collector._ By Edwards J. Gale. New York. 1909. _Chats on Pewter._ By H. J. L. J. Massé, M. A. VIII. SAMPLERS