A Second-hand Book.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 22, 2 June 1906, Page 42

A Second-hand Book.

Book collectors are wont to coinplain of the increased literary knowledge and acuteness of the second-hand bookseller, who nowadays rarely allows them to pick up a scarce and valuable first edition for a “song,” remarks a London journal. A surprising loss has, however, just been sustained by a London bookseller, who inadvertently accepted sixpence for a copy of the first and only edition of Lady Anne Hamilton’s “Secret History of the Court of England.” published in 1832. The book is reputed to be worth a thousand pounds—at least there is some evidence that this; large sum was once offered for a copy of Lady Anne’s scandalous tittle-tattle of. the Georgian Court, the scarcity of which is due to the fact that it was suppressed immediately after publication. The unknown buyer was probably quite Jgnorant of the commercial of hts acquisition: but the bookseller is sportsman enough to admit that the purchase was entirely regular and binding -That is doubtless a correct interpretation of the law; but it is a nice little ethical point for the purchaser whether or no he should return the volume ami be; content with the £l5 reward offered for its recovery. IToverbially. however, moral considerations of that kind weigh very little y ith the collector.