CAPTAIN COOK’S BOOKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9828, 22 March 1923, Page 5

CAPTAIN COOK’S BOOKS

FAMOUS SALE IN LONDON. MITCHELL LIBRARY PURCHASES (Per Press Association, Copyright.) (Received This Day, 2.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 21. The Commonwealth has purchased Captain Cook manuscripts relating to Australia, which were auctioned for £6780. There was an element of uncertainty about the sale owing to the presence of Mr Rosenbach, the famous American book buyer, who recently caused a sensation in London by spending £70,000 in one week on rare books. Mr Rosenbach, however, did not participate in the bidding for the Cook manuscripts. The bidding began at £SOO and finally the lot was knocked down to Mr Ifould, representing the Mitchell Library. The only other bidders were two London dealers. Mr Ifould is a satisfied purchaser, as he feared he might have to give considerably more for the diary, and was prepared to do so. London dealers bought Cook’s sailing directions of 1755 to 1762, relating to the East Indies. Mr Rosenbach purchased Cook s remarks taken aboard the sloop. Porcupine in 1761, for £IOO and the log - * book of the Weasel from 1775 to 1781. The Weasel was operating in the Atlantic and West Indies during the American War of Independence.