Chapter I: Front Matter

The
COLLECTOR’S GUIDE

A Monthly Periodical Devoted to First Editions, Americana,
Autographs, Old Newspapers and Magazines, Sheet Music, Playbills, Dime
Novels, Current Auction Prices, etc. $2 per year. Single copies 25c.
Published by James Madison, P. O. Box 124, Grand Central Annex, New York.
Advertising rates on page 8.

No. 17 January 1940

Largest Buyers and Sellers
of
FRONTIER AMERICANA
IN THE COUNTRY

* * * *

_Edward Eberstadt & Sons_
55 West 42nd Street NEW YORK

RETZ & STORM, Inc.
598 Madison Avenue, New York

_Rare Books and First Editions
Autograph Letters and Manuscripts
Catalogues Sent on Request_

AUTOGRAPHS, DOCUMENTS, MANUSCRIPTS OF AMERICANS OF ALL TIMES or RELATING TO AMERICA. HISTORICAL AND LITERARY, purchased for immediate cash. Fine Single pieces as well as Collections. Also accumulations of such material in large quantities.

Want List on Request

The American Autograph Shop
MERION STATION, PA. U. S. A.

BEN BLOOMFIELD
65 University Place, N. Y. C.

Buys and sells autographs. HIGH PRICES PAID for collections and choice single items.

_Please quote_

Bibliography (Amer.)
Books about Books
Literary Biography
Fine Printing and Limited
Unusual Books

HART BOOK CO.,
1775 Broadway, New York (Room 702)

Always Selling Old Stuff

including rare American periodicals, curious broadsides and song sheets, and many other printed oddities you always wanted but never knew where to get. Prices surprisingly reasonable. List free on request.

PITZER
41 Woodlawn Ave. Jersey City, N. J.

BLAND GALLERY, Inc.
Harry MacNeill Bland
45 East 57th Street
NEW YORK CITY

Early American Prints and Paintings
Bought and Sold

CASH BY RETURN MAIL
_For Any Outstanding Items of_

Kipling—Stevenson—Twain—Hawthorne—1st Printing of Lincoln’s Gettysburg
Address
Prints or Paintings of Fire Scenes
Early American Children’s Books
Specially Wanted, Outstanding First Editions in Science and Literature

BOOKSHOP OF HARRY STONE
24 East 58th Street
New York, N. Y.

CURRENT BOOKS
OF INTEREST TO COLLECTORS AND DEALERS

_When writing publishers kindly mention_ The Collector’s Guide

SAN FRANCISCO THEATRE RESEARCH MONOGRAPHS (mimeographed), Lawrence
Estavan, Chief editor. Vol. 9, XIX: The French Theatre in San
Francisco, pages 1-107 ... The German Theatre in San Francisco,
pages 108-150 plus appendices ... Vol. 10, XXI; The Italian
Theatre in San Francisco, pages 151-202. Vol. XIII; Negro
Minstrelsy. (These Monographs are not for sale but only furnished
to libraries and educational institutions.)

THE SACRAMENTO RIVER OF GOLD. By Julian Dana. 12mo. 7th vol. in the
“Rivers of America” series. Farrar & Rinehart, New York. $2.50.

WHISKEY REBELS: The Story of a Frontier Uprising. By Leland D. Baldwin.
326 pages, with notes and bibliography. A study of the Whiskey
Insurrection of 1794. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh,
Pa. $3.

MARCY AND THE GOLD SEEKERS: The Journal of Captain R. B. Marcy, with an
account of the Gold Rush over the Southern Route. By Grant
Foreman. 433 pages, illustrations and bibliography. Presents
evidence that a more extensive use was made of the southern route
to the California gold fields than has been generally credited.
University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Okla. $3.

TRAILING THE FORTY-NINERS THROUGH DEATH VALLEY. By Carl I. Wheat.
Reprinted as a pamphlet from Sierra Club Bulletin, June, 1939.
Wheat’s address is care of California Historical Society, 456
McAllister St., San Francisco.

NEW YORK, PAST AND PRESENT: ITS HISTORY AND LANDMARKS, 1524-1939.
Contains 100 views reproduced and described from old prints and
modern photographs. By I. N. Phelps-Stokes. Published by the New
York Historical Society, New York, 1939. Price to non-members, 75c
plus 7c mailing fee.

THE BIOGRAPHY OF A RIVER TOWN (Memphis). Compiled by Gerald M. Capers,
Jr., from its evolution as an Indian trading post. 292 pages, with
illustrations, maps, charts, and an index. University of North
Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, N. C. $3.50.

BOOK TRADE BIBLIOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
By Adolph Growoll. Reissue in facsimile of original limited
edition of 1898. Contains biographical sketches of Orville A.
Roorbach, Henry Stevens, Joseph Sabin, Frederick Leypoldt, etc.
Brick Row Book Shop, New York. $7.50.

TWENTY-THREE BOOKS AND THE STORIES BEHIND THEM. By John T. Winterich. 15
illustrations that were not present in the original limited
edition; also contains new index. J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia,
Pa. $2.50.

PORTRAIT OF A COLONIAL CITY: PHILADELPHIA. 1682-1838. By Harold
Donaldson Eberlein and Cortlandt Van Dyke Hubbard. Panoramic
account of Philadelphia during this period. J. B. Lippincott &
Co., Philadelphia. $15.

STOCKBRIDGE, 1739-1939: A Chronicle. By Sarah Cabot Sedgwick and
Christina Sedgwick Narquand. Illustrated. 306 pages. Bicentennial
Book Committee, Stockbridge, Mass. $2.75.

FARE TO MIDLANDS: Forgotten Towns of Central New Jersey. By Henry
Charlton Beck. Illustrated. 456 pages. E. P. Dutton & Co., New
York. $5.

ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK STAGE. By C. D. Odell. 11th volume, covering
period from 1879 to 1882. Columbia University Press, New York.
$8.75.

A CENSUS OF SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS IN QUARTO, 1594-1709. By Henrietta C.
Bartlett. Revised edition. Yale University Press, New Haven, Conn.
$10.

FORGING AHEAD. By Wilfrid Partington. 8vo. A life of Thomas James Wise,
collector and “manufacturer”, showing how he pulled not only the
wool over astute collectors’ eyes, but also the silk, cotton and
rayon. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York. $3.50.

DAVY CROCKETT: AMERICAN COMIC LEGEND. Edited by Richard M. Dorson. 8vo.
Tales from the Crockett Almanacs, 1836-56 with contemporary
illustrations. Rockland Editions, 350 W. 31st St., New York. $5.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AT VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE. By William Couper. 4
vols., approximately each 400 pages. Illustrated with maps,
drawings and photographs. Vols. 1 and 2 now ready. Vols. 3 and 4,
ready in March, 1940. Garrett & Massie, Richmond, Va. $12 for
4-vol. set. Remit $6 for the two vols. now ready.

ONCE OVER LIGHTLY. By Charles de Zemler. 8vo. A history of barbering
from the earliest times to the present. Published by the author,
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York. $3.75.

MUSIC AND EDGAR ALLAN POE. By May Garrettson Evans. 8vo. A
bibliographical study. John Hopkins Press, Baltimore, Md. $1.75.

THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR. By Festus P. Summers. Portrays
dramatic role of great railroad in a crucial period. G. P.
Putnam’s Sons, New York. $3.

DRURY LANE CALENDAR, 1747-1776. Compiled from the playbills and edited
with an introduction by Dougald MacMaillan. An account of the life
and work of the 18th century actor and playwright. 398 pages.
Oxford University Press, New York, in co-operation with the
Huntington Library, San Marino, Calif. $7.

GHOSTS OF LONDON. By H. V. Morton. Odd nooks and corners of the London
of yesterday and today. Dodd, Mead & Co., New York. $3.

PIONEER DAYS. By Charles L. Hyde. Early days in South Dakota. G. P.
Putnam’s Sons, New York. $4.

BANK OF CALIFORNIA, San Francisco. A series of historical advertisements
commemorating its founding in 1864, with woodcut reproductions of
historical scenes. 24 pages.

SACRAMENTO GUIDE. 220 pages, with folding map, and illustrated with
reproductions of early woodcuts, lithographs, and photographs.
Sacramento BEE, 1939. Paper covers, 50c. Cloth, $1.

(_Continued on page 12_)
(_Continued from page 2_)

THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, A MEDICO-GEOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT. By Dr. J.
Praslow, who practised medicine in San Francisco from 1849 to
1856. (A translation from the German edition issued in Gottingen
in 1857). Published by J. J. Newbegin, San Francisco, 1939. $3.

MR. CIBBER OF DRURY LANE. By Richard Hindry Barker. 8vo. Colley Cibber’s
life. Columbia University Press, New York. $3.

RECOLLECTIONS OF A TULE SAILOR. By John Leale. 300 pages with 19 pages
of illustrations. Authentic details of San Francisco’s river and
ferryboat traffic, told by a veteran master and pilot of San
Francisco Bay since the early 60’s. George Fields, San Francisco,
Calif. $3.

THE THEATRE HANDBOOK AND DIGEST OF PLAYS. By Bernard Sobol. A reference
work about the theatre and its people, including concise synopses
of nearly 1000 plays, etc. Crown Publishers, New York. $3.

(_If otherwise difficult to procure, Current Books can be ordered from
THE COLLECTOR’S GUIDE, at publishers’ prices. Free delivery. If
unobtainable, money will be promptly refunded._)

Amateur Journalists Who Became Famous

In “The Career and Reminiscences of an Amateur Journalist,” Thos. G. Harrison states that Nathaniel Hawthorne was really a pioneer member of the clan, having gotten out six weekly issues of a periodical of this description, called THE SPECTATOR, the first number appearing Aug. 21, 1820. Thus it predates by three years what many have heretofore accepted as his first literary effort, in the SALEM GAZETTE, in 1823.

Prior to its appearance, Hawthorne, at that time a youth of 16, got out a preliminary prospectus, stating that THE SPECTATOR would be issued on Wednesdays, at 12c per annum, payment to be made at the end of the year. In an early issue, Hawthorne advertised that he proposed to publish by subscription, a new edition of “The Miseries of Authors,” to which he promised to add a sequel containing facts and remarks drawn from his own experience.

Truman J. Spencer, for many years a historian on amateur journalism, questions whether a copy of either THE SPECTATOR or Hawthorne’s prospectus, is in existence today. Here, then, is an opportunity for ambitious bibliophiles and rare book speculators to ransack the garrets of their ancestors, and “see what they can see.” Harrison states that THE SPECTATOR was neatly written by the hand of Hawthorne. It was probably manifolded by some crude reproducing process of that period.

THE JUVENILE PORT-FOLIO,
AND
LITERARY MISCELLANY,

DEVOTED TO THE INSTRUCTION AND AMUSEMENT OF YOUTH.

A lasting wreath of various hue.—deck’d with each fragrant flower.

Vol. I.] [No. 1.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1812.

CONDITIONS.

A No. will be published every Saturday.

The price is _only Twelve and a half Cents_ per month, payable in advance.

No subscription will be received for less than three months. At the close of each year, a title page and index, for the volume; also, a list of the names of the subscribers will be given.

TO THE JUVENILE PUBLIC.

The title to address the public, when a periodical work is first offered for patronage, is established by custom, and a deviation from the general usage, would be a breach of decorum, since the public now demands, as a right, what formerly it granted as a courtesy; and, of late years, more labour is bestowed in writing these “_Repositories of promises_,” than in vamping up the original work. As it seems required, therefore of every candidate, that he should publicly declare his pretensions to favour, the Editor, in compliance with the general custom, deems it necessary, briefly to state the intention of the present work; and, in this, as well as in his Editorial capacity, in general, he respectfully solicits from his patrons, that indulgence, which the inexperience of youth so amply requires. In order, therefore, to make up for his own deficiency, he respectfully solicits the favour and assistance of such of the “_Literary Youth_,” as may have time and inclination, to favour him with their communications. He has, also, the promise of a few gentlemen of polite taste, to condescend their aid, “to diffuse elegant and instructive literature, to soothe trembling merit, and to ROUSE AND FOSTER INFANT GENIUS.”

The columns of the Juvenile Port-Folio, will consist of all the _variety of subject_, and Miscellaneous literature, which Magazines, and other periodical literary works, usually contain: Selected with particular attention to those subjects, that are adapted to the improvement, edification, and rational amusement of youth. In our searches after variety, a preference will always be given to those pieces, which are characterised by elegance of expression, chastity of thought, and value of information. “Though we shall touch, like the Bee, upon every plant in the garden of literature, we shall only extract from those which produce sweets, and diffuse fragrance.”

Besides the more general subjects of literature, its pages will always be open to such extracts of popular interest, as may be judicious and entertaining; also a general selection of rare anecdotes, points of wit, brilliant repartee, &c. Our purpose will be to render this department, lively without licentiousness, brilliant without tinsel, and elegant without elaboration.

In the region of the Muses, we particularly solicit aid, but we fear “not from the voice of inspiration.” We may venture, however, to hope, that the perusal of our selected poetry will excite emulation, as no piece will be admitted, which cannot lay some claim to true genius and poetical merit.

The Ladies will receive the Juvenile Port-Folio as an entertaining companion, studious of their favour, by courtly manners and valuable information; and the Gentlemen will find in it, a manly and correct conduct, which we hope will not be unworthy of their regard; as, we shall ever be anxious to please the Polite, the Learned, the Witty and the Fair, with those views, we are emboldened to ask the patronage of the public.

“And, confident of praise, IF PRAISE BE DUE,
Trust without fear, to merit and to You.”

But Hawthorne was not the first to publish a “boys’ paper.” From a pamphlet on “Amateur Journalism,” issued by Will G. Snow of Meriden, Conn., to commemorate “An Association of Amateur Journalists of the Past,” called “The Fossils,” we learn that the earliest known American example is THE JUVENILE PORTFOLIO AND LITERARY MISCELLANY, an eight-page weekly, published from Oct. 17, 1812 to Dec. 7, 1816 by Thomas G. Condie, Jr., at 22 Carter’s Alley, opposite Stephen Girard’s Bank, Philadelphia, as per illustration herewith.

After the demise of Hawthorne’s periodical, amateur journalism seemingly went into a slumber twice as long as the famed sleep of Rip Van Winkle. However, in 1858, came the COOS HERALD of Lancaster, N. H., and by 1872, approximately 200 amateur gazettes were being turned out. At this period the juvenile journal considered as having the largest circulation, was OUR BOYS, started in Chicago in 1871 as a “four-pager,” and which by 1873 had evolved into a 16-page periodical almost as large as HARPER’S WEEKLY. In its prime it is said to have enjoyed a circulation of 10,000 copies per issue. Most of these sheets varied in size from 4 pages of 3 by 4 inch dimensions to 32 pages, measuring 10 by 12, the latter about the width of four ordinary newspaper columns. The average life of an amateur paper was estimated at 8 months, which period was ample to disgust most youthful journalists with the hardships of an editorial career.

In 1869, it was deemed advisable to organize an association for mutual acquaintance, social intercourse and to assist the cause of amateur journalism throughout the United States. A meeting was held in New York at the residence of Charles Scribner, from which evolved the National Amateur Press Association. Nellie Williams, a 13-year miss, is credited as being the first “female of the species.” She issued the PENFIELD EXTRA soon after the commencement of the Civil War. It had been planned to issue an amateur journal at the Centennial Exposition of 1876, and it was said that $5000 could have been raised without difficulty for that purpose, but Director General Goshorn would not allot space, claiming that the word “amateur” savored of infancy of mind.

When approximately half a century ago, George Harrison announced himself as a candidate for the presidency of the Western Amateur Press Association, his ambition did not meet with unanimous endorsement, if we consider the following outburst from a rival sheet:

“We smelt the smell of a dead rat when we received a copy of the
WELCOME VISITOR, stating that Harrison is a candidate for the position
of President of the Western Amateur Press Association, against Wyn
Morris. We can inform the gentleman from Indiana that he is on the
hull of a sinking ship, and when he grasps for the exalted position he
has in view, it will melt before his eyes, and he will gradually sink
into the waters of oblivion. George, dear George, you are left
sure.”—AMATEUR IOWAN.

To this not over-delicate prognostication, the Harrison clan replied in kind as set forth below:

“THE IOWAN no doubt smelt its own smell, eh. As for Harrison being
left in the race, we beg to inform our IOWA contemporary, in all
probability it is entirely mistaken. No other candidate now in the
field has a better chance than he.”—The WELCOME VISITOR.

Let us quote one more expression of opinion, as one contempt-orary to another:

“In our estimation nothing is so contemptible as to publish an article
against an individual and then refuse to send him a copy of the paper
containing the attack. The low-lived editors of the YOUNG DEMOCRAT
should paste this in their hats.”—THE ACORN, St. Louis.

At the time Mr. Snow wrote his “Amateur Journalism” pamphlet, in 1922, the Fossil Library, consisting of 50,000 old amateur papers, was located at 150 Nassau St., New York. It has since been moved to the Franklin Memorial Institute, Philadelphia, where it will be permanently preserved under the care of the Curtis Family of SATURDAY EVENING POST fame. The second largest collection is owned by Truman J. Spencer, of Hamden, Conn., while Vincent B. Haggery of Jersey City, N. J., has one of the very few known files of the official organ of the National Amateur Press Association, embracing 63 years. Any one interested can obtain information as to other fine collections by writing to Edwin H. Smith, Librarian of the N.A.P.A., 524 N. Kenmore St., Philadelphia.

As to amateur journalists who subsequently reached exalted ranks as authors or publishers, Mr. Spencer has kindly furnished me with the following list:

FRANK B. NOYES, publisher Washington STAR, at age of 12 ran the TIMES.

THEODORE BODENWEIN (recently deceased), publisher of the New London DAY, at 17 ran the THAMES BUDGET.

E. H. STAIR, owner Detroit FREE PRESS, ran OUR BOYS AND GIRLS, in 1873.

JOSEPHUS DANIELS, publisher of the Raleigh NEWS AND OBSERVER, and ex-Secretary of the Navy, at age of 12 ran the CORNUCOPIA.

RICHARD W. GILDER, for many years editor of the CENTURY MAGAZINE, ran the REGISTER at 16.

CYRUS H. K. CURTIS, S. E. POST AND LADIES’ HOME JOURNAL publisher, conducted YOUNG AMERICA at the age of 14.

JOHN THAYER, well-remembered as publisher of EVERYBODY’S MAGAZINE and the SMART SET, when only 13, ran the PRINTER.

GEORGE B. M. HARVEY, one of the final publishers of HARPER’S WEEKLY, issued the DEMOCRAT when only 14.

There were many other eminent publishers that lack of space compels us to omit. And as for authors who became famous, Robert Louis Stevenson issued the SUNBEAM MAGAZINE when 16; Frank Baum who wrote “The Wizard of Oz” published the HOME JOURNAL in 1868; and Walter Pritchard, New York theatre critic, and author of numerous books on the drama, joined the amateur ranks at 12.

According to Mr. Spencer, amateur journalism still exists and continues to hold a fascination for many youths of today. From the speculative standpoint, however, there is at present no active demand for an oldtime collection thereof, although probably some individual with an ample purse and a nostalgia for youth, would be happy to possess one, and pay well for it. But who and where he is, it will take a wiser person than the editor of this publication, to identify.

Collectors of this interesting phase of Americana, will look forward with pleasurable anticipation to the publication of a book entitled “History of Amateur Journalism,” on which Truman J. Spencer has been working for years. The outline of contents will comprise, DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION ... THE PIONEERS ... EXCHANGING AND ORGANIZING ... THE NATIONAL AMATEUR PRESS ASSOCIATION ... RIVAL ORGANIZATIONS ... SECTIONAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ... LITERATURE AND BOOKS ... THE FOSSILS ... APPENDIX. Full information as to the date of publication, price, etc., can be obtained by writing to Truman J. Spencer, 2525 Whitney Ave., Hamden, Conn.

The famous rooming house at 61 Washington Square, N. Y., conducted for more than fifty years by Mme. Katherine Branchard, and since her decease in 1937, by her daughter-in-law, is no more. During their years of struggle it was a haven of repose for Willa Cather, Frank Norris, Gelett Burgess, Theodore Dreiser and Adelina Patti. After their departure from the Branchard House, which incidentally is over 100 years old, they wrote her letters from all parts of the world, and these should produce some good autographic material.

Mrs. Adelaide M. Faron, of the Walt Whitman Society of America, and Librarian of the Hempstead Library, Hempstead, Long Island, N. Y., recently held at the Adelphia College, Garden City, N. Y., an exhibition of rare items and newly discovered manuscripts pertaining to the “good gray poet”.

Here is a little good advice from that past master of sheet music knowledge, Wm. McDevitt, 2079 Sutter St., San Francisco. In his very entertaining monthly called BOOK-COLLECTING (50 cents a year) he says:—“In buying first editions of old songs, you will be safer in most cases if the sheet music doesn’t contain ads on the back cover; you will generally do well to distrust copies with the copyright line on front apparently worn out with repeated printings.”

The large mass of propaganda from both foreign and domestic pressure groups is being collected and classified by the Carnegie Library of Washington and the Washington and Lee University of Lexington, Va.

The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., has acquired a collection of photographs of real Wild West Indians, made by John K. Hillers, 66 years ago.

RARE OUT OF PRINT
22 WEST 48TH STREET, NEW YORK
_Telephone_ _Cable Address_
BRYANT 9-9276 BOOKWORM, NEW YORK

Good Investments In Autographs

_Written for_ The Collector’s Guide _by Mary A. Benjamin_

Frequently I am asked, “What is a safe investment in autographic material over a long period of years?” The answer may well come from my experience gained in this field during the past decade. The boom years of 1928 and 1929 sent many items of a literary, historical and musical character sky-rocketing, although subsequently they shot down just as suddenly, 1938 seeing prices at probably their lowest level in 25 years. And yet, just as in the case of rare books, some forms of autograph material suffered less than others. The knowledge thus gained, helps materially to light the pathway as to what is the best sort of autographic material to consider for future investment.

Today, the safest buy seems to be good Presidential letters written either before or during their terms of office, preferably the latter. These letters must have worthwhile contents. Uninteresting documents of our Chief Executives are all too common and sell at nominal figures. Signers of the Declaration of Independence and of the Constitution are also excellent, that is, if the contents measure up. In the literary domain, authors’ letters about their works are always sought for, although prices are more inclined to fluctuate than on historical items.

Of late, increased interest has been evinced in the “War between the States,” or, as it is called up North, the Civil War. An added lure is that prices for this sort of material, are almost at rock-bottom, as collectors are just beginning to wake up to its importance. The years will see good war letters of famous Federal and Confederate Generals go very high. The upward swing has already begun.

A new field which has sprung up recently is that of State collections. The country has heretofore been too young to care much for the historical records of individual localities. But with the development of the nation, this interest has steadily grown, and today, all letters relating to internal politics of individual states or cities are being sought, the competition having a healthy effect upon prices.

Early Mormon material, and records pertaining to Texas, Michigan, Colorado, Virginia, California, etc., are in active demand, thus enabling the average dealer to place them without difficulty almost as fast as received. Furthermore, whereas a collector may become discouraged in buying a complete set of Signers because of the super-rarity of a few names, there is little difficulty in obtaining the two or three Signers belonging to the collector’s home state, to say nothing of famous Generals, literary lights, composers, etc.

The one, almost unchanging code of the collector should be to buy hand-written letters of good date, and of unusual, historical, or otherwise excellent content. Fine items seem to hold their value pretty well, even in times of financial stress, and with the years should edge upwards in price. Less desirable items will fluctuate considerably. To sum up, good autographs provide the best expectation for at least a fair dividend on the money invested. On the other hand, common items that have little to recommend them except cheapness, are almost invariably a disappointment as far as the hope of satisfactory returns, are concerned. There are occasional exceptions but this rule holds true 98% of the time. In closing, may I also stress the importance of being sure that what you purchase is genuine. Unless you are an expert yourself, the safest way is to acquire your pen treasures only through a dealer on whose reliability and experience you can absolutely depend.

Walter Hart Blumenthal, rare book specialist at 1775 Broadway, New York, is frequently called upon to contribute articles on odd books, such as for example a Shorthand Bible, a Latin Life of Washington, “Alice in Wonderland” in Esperanto, and a book bound in human skin. Shortly THE COLOPHON will present an article by Mr. Blumenthal on books in which the text and illustrations are pierced into the vellum, letter by letter, the pages being backed by colored silk. In all the world, only seven such early volumes are known, he states.

Rare book dealers should make good chiropractors because they know so much about “spines”.... To make Book Week successful, avoid displaying Weak Books.... It requires no earthquake to produce “shaken” books.

WANTED
AUTOGRAPHED
FREE FRANKLED ENVELOPES

WARREN L. BARR
420 21st St., N. W. Canton, Ohio

THE BOOM IS ON
_THE_
COLLECTOR’S GUIDE
_formerly a Quarterly, is now_
Published Monthly
_except July and August_

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Discount
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For rates on front and back cover spaces when available, please address publisher.

_A Book Stamp Innovation_

As Flodden W. Heron aptly observed in a recent issue of the ARGONAUT, it is estimated by the Postal Department that one person out of every fifteen is interested in stamp collecting. There are over twenty-five journals issued exclusively for stamp collectors, and three hundred and two American newspapers maintain stamp departments. In addition sixty-four radio stations conduct regular stamp broadcasts. Book collectors constitute a much smaller group, and to date there has been no connection between these two enthusiastic armies of “acquisitioners.” To bring these two groups into closer cooperation, Mr. Heron recently suggested to the Pacific Philatelic Society of San Francisco the use of postage stamps of authors as association items for collected books. Investigation disclosed that postage stamps had been issued in honor of nearly one hundred authors.

He states that the idea occurred to him when coming into possession of a Stamp Case, invented by Lewis Carroll of “Alice in Wonderland” fame. It contained twelve pockets for stamps of different denominations. Progressively this gave birth to the thought of using stamps as association items in connection with first editions, artistically affixing them to fly-leaves, inside covers, or occasionally to title pages. Time will increase the scarcity or rarity of the stamps, and in some instances, as with certain bookplates, greatly enhance the value of the books to which they are affixed. Of course we must bear in mind that the number who collect stamps exceeds greatly those whose interest is in rare books. At the same time, many high school and college students and other groups, would like to collect books but cannot afford the prices of first editions. However, if postage stamps are classified as association items, thousands can buy books not first editions, but good reading copies. The inserting of proper stamps, will permit of book collecting on an inexpensive scale, because it is only necessary to watch dates, and acquire first-day “covers” for merely the regular price of the stamps. And as time goes on, these first issues will have increased value for book insertion, quite aside from their desirability to stamp collectors. For example, a copy of “Leaves of Grass,” issued by the Modern Library, with a first-day Whitman “cover” laid in, should fetch over double the cost of the book within a year after the stamp was issued. And this, in spite of the fact that a postage stamp in connection with a book can not be compared with an author’s inscription or presentation. It can be more likened to a bookplate, which has been added to the volume by some one other than the author. Two of Mr. Heron’s favorite authors are Lewis Carroll and Sir Walter Scott, and as he could find of them no existing postage stamps, he had two made, for his personal use, which serve as illustrations for this article. We feel certain that Mr. Heron will be glad to answer any question pertaining to book stamps on the part of those interested, if they will address their inquiries to him at Mills Building, San Francisco.

Temple Scott, rare book expert, died on Sept. 30th. in Edinburgh. Among his many activities, he had been adviser in the assembling of some of the notable private libraries of this country, including those of Jerome Kern, and the late William H. Woodin, former Secretary of the Treasury. The Kern collection was considered one of the most valuable ever gotten together in America, and in 1929 was sold at auction for $1,300,000. Also remembered are some of Mr. Scott’s outstanding purchases including the letters of Lord Chesterfield for which he paid $75,000, and the original text which Sir Walter Scott prepared for a definitive edition of his novels, and which set him back $150,000.

The first volume of Dr. Greg’s “Bibliography of the English Drama to 1640” is reported as ready. Information regarding it can be obtained from R. B. McKerrow, Picket Place, Wendover, Bucks, England.

Mrs. Nellie Dumont, widow of the minstrel king, Frank Dumont, died several months ago at her home, 1207 Green St., Philadelphia, Penna., where she had resided for 60 years. Mr. Dumont in his lifetime, possessed an unusually fine collection of theatrical material, and to this day, as far as we know, it has never been definitely established, just what became of it.

“COLLECTING
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
MAGAZINES”

The only book on the subject. 72 pages, 4 pp. illustrations, 10 Chapters. Lists values of all issues, special numbers, supplements. Information on reprints, binding, maps, formats, bibliography.

$1.00
EDWIN C. BUXBAUM
Box 327 Swarthmore, Penna.
Wanted to Buy: Geographics before 1907

_We are always anxious to buy_
Rare American
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
_of every description_

PEGASUS BOOK SHOP
144 East 61 St. New York, N. Y.

HISTORY OF THE BOOK
COMBINATION OFFER

SIX ORIGINAL LEAVES: (1) Manuscript leaf on vellum; (2) Chinese Block Printing, 1440; (3) Nuremburg Chronicle Leaf with woodcut 1493; (4) Leaf of Justinian printed in red and black by Bautista de Tortis, Venice, 1496; (5) Sallust leaf by J. Ibarra, Madrid 1772; (6) Kelmscott Press leaf with woodcut initial printed by William Morris, 1893.

_The group sent postpaid for $5.00_

DAWSON’S BOOK SHOP
627 So. Grand Avenue
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Catalog of early printing sent free on request.

Mail Bidders Wanted
Catalogues Free

ALBERT SAIFER
Book Auctions
Correspondence Address:
142 S. 11th St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Consignments Solicited—Rates on Request

A list of old magazines and newspapers that are worth real money, in the February issue of THE COLLECTOR’S GUIDE.

HOW TO TELL FIRST EDITIONS

When the date of the publication is not in brackets, it means that the same will be found on title page. When, however, it is in brackets, thus, (1931), it indicates that said date is printed either on the reverse side of title page, or in some other part of the book. Or, possibly, the date does not appear at all, in which case the brackets are merely authoritative information supplied by the bibliographer. Furthermore, our endeavor has been to list only authors and books for which there is a reasonably active present-day demand, and which have a speculative future.

LOUISA MAY ALCOTT (1832-1888)

LITTLE WOMEN. 2 vols. First volume has no announcement for “Little
Women, Part Two” at foot of last page of text, nor has it “Part
One” on the backstrip; Second volume has the notice regarding
“Little Women: Part One” at page IV. Usually bound in green or red
cloth, but other colors show up occasionally. Boston, 1868-1869.

THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH (1836-1907)

THE STORY OF BAD BOY. Generally regarded as the story of his own
boyhood. Has “scattered” for “scatter” on page 14, line 20, and
“abroad” for “Aboard” on page 197, line 10. Green cloth binding.
Boston, 1870.

HERVEY ALLEN (1889- )

ANTHONY ADVERSE, New York, 1933. 105 copies de luxe edition, 3 vols.
signed. Trade edition is in one volume, with publisher’s monogram
on copyright page. On page 352, line 6, Xaxier for Xavier. On page
397, line 22, the word found is repeated. On page 1086, line 18,
ship for shop.

SHERWOOD ANDERSON (1876- )

WINESBURG, OHIO. New York, 1919. First printing said to have both
unstained and orange stained tops.

T. S. ARTHUR (1809-1885)

TEN NIGHTS IN A BAR ROOM. Philadelphia, 1854. This holds priority over
an edition the same year published in Boston.

IRVING BACHELLER (1859- )

EBEN HOLDEN. There is a pine-cone design on backstrip with rounded top.
In later editions, a flat top was substituted. Boston (1900).

RAY STANNARD BAKER (1870- )

ADVENTURES IN CONTENTMENT. By David Grayson (pseudonym). New York, 1907.
Green pictorial cloth, about 1-3/16 inches thick. Illustration on
page 110, shows cows grazing. Second state is bound in dark green,
olive cloth, without illustration on page 110, of man plowing.

JOHN KENDRICK BANGS
(1862-1922)

A HOUSE-BOAT ON THE STYX. New York, 1896.

EDWARD BELLAMY
(1850-1898)

LOOKING BACKWARD, 2000-1887. Comes in gray, green, yellowish and perhaps
other colors of cloth; also in paper wrappers. Cloth-bound copies
hold priority. They are said to have been issued in the Spring,
whereas those in wrappers didn’t appear until Fall. The first
state has printer’s imprint on copyright page. Boston, 1888.

AMBROSE BIERCE (1842-1914?)

THE FIEND’S DELIGHT. By Dod Grile (pseudonym). London (1872). Vignette
on title page. Red-brown pictorial cloth. American edition, 1873,
had no publisher’s advertisements at back.

NUGGETS AND DUST. By Dod Grile (pseudonym). London (1872) First edition
of author’s first book. Original yellow pictorial wrappers. Should
have half-title, with two pages of advertisements preceding the
half-title, and ten pages of advertisements at the end.

THE DANCE OF DEATH. By William Herman (pseudonym). San Francisco (1877)
First state has on its title page, in addition to title and
author, the words “Author’s copy”. Has no press notices at back of
book. Second state has imprint of Henry Keller & Co., 543 Clay
St., 1877. THE DANCE OF LIFE by Mrs. Dr. J. Milton Bowers, and
purporting to be an answer, is sometimes considered as a companion
piece.

TALES OF SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS. Issued in green cloth and probably also
other colors. White end-papers. E. L. G. Steele, San Francisco,
1891.

BLACK BEETLES IN AMBER. Has imprint of Western Authors Publishing Co.
Cloth and wrappers. San Francisco and New York, 1892.

(_To be continued_)

General Stock of Americana, sea books, local New London, and Conn. material, first editions, prints, autographs, etc.

Write me your wants on your special subjects.

TRACY’S BOOKSTORE
60 Meridian St. New London, Conn.

CITY BOOK AUCTION. Sales of Books, Autographs, etc., held every Saturday at 1.30 P.M. Catalogues free. Consignments solicited. Rates on request.

120 Fourth Ave., New York City

Stick ’Em Up

As a preface to “Books on Western Gunmen,” by Guy J. Giffen, in the Quarterly NEWS-LETTER of the Book Club of California, an editorial note states that not the least interesting subdivision of Americana is that relating to the bandits and gunmen of the Old West. The extensive literature on the subject offers a tempting field to collectors with a taste for the history and legend surrounding this phase of the Winning of the West. Mr. Giffen’s extensive library of books on Western outlaws is the result of a hobby of years’ standing.

Mr. Giffen’s article maintains that any well-rounded collection of Western Americana should have a division of books on gunmen, and mentions a number of men and titles that will serve as a general guide to their selection. Of particular interest are the books on Murrieta. “Joaquin Murrieta, the Brigand Chief of California” was published by the CALIFORNIA POLICE GAZETTE in 1854, and is now very rare, only two copies being known, both in private collections. According to Franklin Walker as set forth in “San Francisco’s Literary Frontier,” John Rollin Ridge, partly of Indian blood, who came to San Francisco in 1850, furnished the GAZETTE with much of its source material when he wrote “The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murrieta, the Celebrated California Bandit.” In 1859, the GAZETTE reprinted the story with additions but also in this instance, only two copies are known to have survived. Of the many later treatments of Murrieta, one of the best is “The Life and Adventures of the Celebrated Bandit Joaquin Murrieta,” translated from the Spanish of Ireno Paz, by Frances P. Belle. (Chicago, 1925).

_Edward Eberstadt & Sons_

_Specialists in Old and Rare Books Relating to the Far West_

55 WEST 42nd STREET
NEW YORK

_WANTED AT ALL TIMES_

Americana, State and Local History, Exploration, Overland Narratives,
Confederate Imprints

All Scarce or Interesting Items, Relating to California, Texas,
Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, the Middle and Far West, the Early
and Confederate South

CATALOGUES ISSUED REGULARLY

This is a readable account of his exploits, but it credits him with superhuman ability, and relates incidents that could not have happened. In Mr. Giffen’s belief, Murrieta’s true history has not yet been told and at this late date, it is unlikely that it ever will be. It may be interesting to collectors of Murrietana, to note that in 1880, a play was produced at the Adelphi Variety Theatre, San Francisco, purporting to picture the life of Murrieta. It was called “The Scarlet IX.”

Stories of two California bandits of a much later date, Evans and Sontag, are related in “The 25th Man”, published in 1924. The author, Ed Morrell, gives a readable account of his experiences with these outlaws, bearing however a bit heavily on the first person. The exploits of Evans and Sontag were also offered to the public in dramatic form, at the National Theatre, San Francisco, in the early nineties, some of the bandit’s children having been engaged as a sort of “added attraction.”