THE LATE MR. C. W. BENBOW'S LIBRARY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 196, 13 May 1908, Page 8

THE LATE MR. C. W. BENBOW'S LIBRARY.

It is not every day that a choice ar.d--well-assorted private library is placed under tho hammer, and when such an event docs happen, tho book collector's money burns holes in his pocket. Bibliophiles, casual readers, and others will havo just such an opportunity at Messrs. A. L. Wilson and Co.'s looms, ill Brandon Street, during tho next three days. At 11 o'clock this morning there will bo offered at public auction the whole of the late Mr. C. W. Benbow's very fine private library, which comprises a largo collection of standard -works, including history, 'biography, travel, scicnce-and natural history, architecture, fine arts and ornament (including reproductions of fanious galleries), biographies of tho great artists ; maiiy fine illustrated works, such as Pier turosquo Canada, Australasia, and Palestine; books illustrated by Gustavo Dore, Hogarth,Landseor; also runs of- numerous journals, rare editions of standard British authors, together with important works relating to New Zealand and Australasia, Maori folk lore, and other literature of special, interest to colonists. Glancing through the catalogue, ono notes that tho late Mr.?Benbow subscribed to a largo number of standard magazines, including chess journals. There are also a nuiliber of books on chess. Tho library is a most representative one, there being hardly any department of literature which Mr. Benbow has not at least glanced at. Travel is very well represented, and so are tho fine arts. Tho " Transactions and Proceedings of tho Now Zealand Institute,'" vols. 1-2S, aro included in the literature of Now Zealand. Altogether, book buyers will have nlacod before them ono of tho - most varied" assortments of good literature-which h\vc been submitted at auction for some time.