PURCHASES FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7922, 14 April 1887, Page 6

PURCHASES FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY.

. TO THE EDITOK, ! . Siß,—lt was reported in your paper some days ago that the' City Council had received an offer from -Mr.- Shaw of some books which he was desirous of selling.. I- hoped some person more competent than I would have uttered a npte Of warning, but as that has not been done, I venture to do so. The books, 1 understand, Mr. Shaw has for sale are what are known as collectors' books—books oi often unusual value only becau&e they are rare being of no particular merit in themselves, but characterised by some peculiarity of printing, paper, or binding, or possibly of ancient date. Where such ancient books are of real intrinsic worth, they are always reprinted and sold at low prices. For instance, a series of classical Euglish authors has been for some time in course of publication by Rontledge and Sons, at Is each ; others by Cassell ; how many of these very books existing in old type or binding are worth many pounds apiece? The best illustra tion of the kind of thing I meau is shown by the price of c certain editions of the Bible. There is a Bible in which, instead of the words "they 3ewed fig leaves together," &c, occur the words " they made themselves breeches," and for that reason that particular Bible is called "the breeches Bible." Of course, as soon as discovered, such Bibles were withdrawn from circulation. But any odd copy left in private bauds soon became of great value to the class of persons who colleot. Not long ago a Bible possessing a certain peculiarity of paper, binding, and type was sold for over £5000. Of course, the value is a collector's value only; and when the fashion of collecting goes out, and there are signs that it is going out, such books will not merely be of less value—they will have no value at all. Now; for the purpose of the Public Library, a Bible Society's Bible of good type and binding, costing 10a, will be of infinitely areater use than a fancy rarity valued at £5000. I do not think that the City Council should go into the "collecting " business. Their doty is to buy good editions of good books at the lowest prices at which they can be obtained ; not curious editions of often' worthless books at fancy prices. Sir ' George Grey has, with great generosity, given to the city his collection of illuminated missals, Coptic MS., etc, but he would be the last man to advise the City Council to spend one shilling of rates in the purchase of such. This town has willingly rated itself to support a library, and it would be a wrongful use of sush rate to spend it in the purchase of books which derive all their value trom the fact that men are selfish, and desire to possess something which others cannot get—the thing itself being often of no intrinbic worth. Ido not know that Mr. Shaw's books are of that class, but I am aware that he is known as a "collector,"and i venture to utter my warning on the occasion of his offer to sell; but the application of it I intend as general, and not necessarily as referring to his books.l am, necessarily as referring to his books.—l am, etc, Old Books.