SALES REPORT

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24820, 9 March 1946, Page 5

SALES REPORT

notes on a recent book auction A Christchurch book-buyer permits the following extracts to be taken from a gtter in which a friend describes this sale. In the evening I ran through the catiogue and marked several lots. Next day I visited the auction-room again and made a more careful examination of those I had not looked at properly on the Friday. While I was doing so X. the economics bloke, began towing round the room a woman who evidently sought his advice about values. They happened to stop just behind me for a minute or two. and I overheard him drawing her attention to several very fine bindings. From her remarks I formed the impression that she was not a booklover but wanted handsome editions. ... I did not hear her voice during the bidding while I was at the sale: but one man who bid very freely and would not be denied when any “choice” binding was in question bought the books to which X had most directed the woman's attention. X had specially pointed out. among other things, an extra-gilt full-calf Macaulay's History and the half-dozen English Men of Letters in half-calf—these were some of the cheaper reissue of the old series, rebound —and had then expatiated on the Trollope. As you can imagine, I pricked up my ears properly when they came to the Trollope. Well, the Trollope (Shakespeare Head issue. 14 vols. J went at £8 10s. the English Men of Letters at £2 ss. and the Macaulay at £lO Is. all to the same buver, together with many other handsome editions, but mostly sets. (I have just reminded myself that I heard X sav to the woman: “If you are looking for pretty books ...”!!!) So there you have someone splashing money on fine bindings and other handsome editions. There was alsn the Turnbull Library buying freely. Other buyers again were obviously looking for anything to fill up shelves The real booklovers had to edge in between as best they could. So prices Varied strangely. Blitz Values I forgot to mention that some of the buyers were prepared to pay above publication prices for modern, or comparatively modern, books, because they knew it would be a long time before these would be reprinted: they remembered the heavy losses British kmblishers suffered in the blitz. I heard a comment revealing this passed In the auction-room to-day. So some jnodern editions went at prices above the publication prices. I was one of the buyers who had to follow that suit. sFor quite a while I’ve been looking cut for Benjamin Haydon s Autobiography. The catalogue offered Aldous muxley’s re-edition of it. published by J’eter Davies at 21s for the two vols. The lot was “as new’.” with the dustjackets still on. I had to go to 23s to

get it. Perhaps what I have said gives you some picture of the sale, but still an incomplete picture until I mention one or two other prices. However. I want to tell you now what the Lambs sold for. The seven vols. of the Works lE. V. Lucas's edition] fetched £2 12s. After the price rose above your 35s I put in a bid or two. but soon became convinced that I would have to go too far above your bid to get the set. It was specially apparent that P . . . L . . . was determined to get the set. He did. and also the Life at 19s. I don’t think he got a bargain. . . . In-and-out Luck One lot I keenly desired was the set of Peacock’s novels, edited by Garnett, bound in half-calf. 10 vols. . . . Nicely bound: that was the trouble. I was prepared to go up to £3 or a little more, and dropped out after bidding £3 10s. It went at £4 12s 6d. and I think that the buyer was the bloke who had beaten you (and others) for the Trollope. I had one spot of luck a little later. I wanted Scott's Familiar Letters and Journals. 4 vols.. in very good condition. Auctioneer says: “Anyone start this at £1?” No response. “Well, anyone start it at 10 bob?” I nodded my head. There wag no other bid? So I got ’em at half-a-crown a vol. Two lots later I thought I was getting Gray’s Letters and Macaulay’s Life and Letters (Trevelyan's. yoq know) at 30s, but found too late that, although the auctioneer seemed to be looking at me. ?. ,ol°he immediately beside me had bid the 30s. Poor Raskin! Now look at this lot in your copy of the sale-catalogue: twenty-seven vols. the Knebworth edition of Lytton >vent for—shades of Lytton!—22s. Exx cellently bound, too. in half-calf, but toot ornate binding. I haven’t room for p complete Lytton: otherwise I might Have put in my spoke. Th e next lot. Croker's edition of Boswhich Macaulay tore to bits, went an extraordinarily high price: I was so overcome that I omitted to jot down the figure! It was well up in the hounds. But the two superb Ruskin lots, the large editions, beautifully and gmply bound in half-calf, went at £3 5s and £2 respectively.