bindings, for Mr. Sherwin thinks that books should not only be properly housed but also properly clothed. He has for years been perfecting his collection, rejecting poor copies and buying better ones, getting tall ones where his were cropped, and generally making his library more worthy the name of a collector's.

Mr. O. H. P. Belmont has a fine sporting library, such books as relate to horses, racing, coaching, driving and other out-of-door sports, finding an ardent collector in him, who does not hesitate to spend money freely in acquiring rarities, providing they are in his line, and make his collection more complete. One turns, however, from these to that of Mr. John G. Hecksher with pleasure, because the man and his books are so closely identified.

Seventy-fifth street between Columbus avenue and Central Park West has an air of great respectability. Here in a house with high stoop and brownstone front lives the well-known collector and gentleman sportsman, John G. Hecksher.

One is ushered into a spacious hall not unlike many others of the modern New York houses and is shown into a parlor filled with furniture and objects of art which delight the eyes, while the pictures are those which indicate taste and characteristic of their owner.

No one could mistake the parlor in Mr. Hecksher's house for any but that of a sportsman. Here hangs a portrait

of Walton etched by S. Arlent Edwards. Between the parlor and the spacious dining-room, occupying the entire middle of the house, is the socalled library. Here the book shelves go to the ceiling and within a fine quartered oak setting is lodged a large portion of Mr. Hecksher's fine collection.

Of Walton's friend and fellow author, Charles Cotton, this library contains some interesting volumes, notably, his translation of The History of the Life of the Duke of Espernon, folio, London, 1670; The Planter's Manual, London, 1675; The Compleat Angler, Part II, 1676; Poems on Several Occasions, London, 1689; Genuine Works, London, 1715.

In November, 1898, the library of Mr. Edward Snow, of Boston, was sold by Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge in London. It was the angling collector's harvest, and although only 669 lots were sold, they reached the handsome sum of £1280 25. The most remarkable volume in the collection, and the most desired of angling books in English, was a copy of Dame Juliana Berners' Book of St. Albans, 12 leaves on Fysshynge Wyth an Angle, printed in black letter by Wynkyn de Worde, at Westminster, in 1496.

This copy is bound in morocco extra, gilt edges by Riviere & Son. It has only one leaf in facsimile but otherwise is an immaculate copy. Besides this specimen of incunabula there are most of the reprints in this collection.

Two books, one on Angling and the other on Deer Stalking have always been a delight to the reader as well as the collector.

I refer to the writings of William Scrope. In 1838 he issued his first volume entitled the Art of Deer Stalking illlustrated by charming lithographs.

This Mr. Hecksher possesses, in morocco extra by R. W. Smith, but it is to the Days and Nights of Salmon Fishing that one must turn most lovingly. The gentle Tweed was the scene of these triumphs, and pleasantly does the author discourse upon his favorite sport. Mr. Hecksher's copy originally in one volume, is extended to two by the insertion of extra plates, portraits, views, etc.

A book greatly prized by the sportsman and collector is The Ristagouche and Its Salmon Fishing, with a chapter on Angling Literature by Dean Sage. Never were literary qualities and enthusiastic sportsmanship more closely united. This volume was most carefully prepared and issued regardless of expense, Mr. Sage even taking some of the artists to his camp, in order that they might more perfectly sketch the scenery and catch the local color; the illustrations being by such well-known men as Geo. Reid, R.S.A., Stephen Parrish (the etcher), Mrs. Anna Lea Merritt, C. A. Platt (the etcher), H. Sandham, Burn-Murdock, George Aikman, C. O. Murray and many others.

Only twenty-five copies of this book were offered for sale in America. It was privately printed and cost its author many thousand dollars to issue. It has been judged by many as the most sumptuous angling book ever issued. No expense has been spared in its manufacture and illustrations. Exquisite head and tail pieces adorn its chapters, while etching, engraving and photogravure lend to its beauty. The fullpage plates are on Japan paper, while the text is printed on Whatman paper. Mr. Sage not only knew how to cast a fly to perfection, but used his pen with great charm and vivacity, while his knowledge of angling literature was unequaled in this country.

It seems almost a truism to say that a sporting book without illustrations is like "Hamlet with Hamlet left out." Henry Alken, Rowlandson, Cruikshank, Leech, Phiz, all the famous illustrators have contributed their mite to the embellishment of sporting litera

ture.

Fabulous are the sums now paid in London for old sporting prints and books illustrated by the famous illustrators. Among the favorites are the novels of R. S. Surtees. To most of these John Leech added his magic touch and this library is rich in these rarities.

Here is Handley Cross, London, 1854, Jorrock's Jaunts and Jollities, with plates by Phiz, London, 1838, in a fine morocco jacket by Stikeman. Haw

buck Grange, London, 1847, with Phiz's designs, Ask Mama, London, 1858, with plates by Leech. Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour, London, 1860, with Leech's inimitable plates, in the original thirteen monthly parts. Indeed, most of these books were issued this way and are largely sought for by the collector. Large sums are paid for these books in their original form and even advertisements and covers are carefully preserved in binding.

Among old treasures contained in Mr. Hecksher's library are the works of Appian, who is represented by the editions of 1555, 1722 and 1776.

In the more modern books, beautifully printed and sumptuously issued, may be mentioned Fur and Feather Series, on large paper, Haddan Hall Library, also on large paper, Badminton Library, American Sportsman's Library, and Grimble's Salmon Rivers of Scotland in four volumes, all on large paper.

Pierce Egan's Real Life in London, 2 vols., Life in London, Anecdotes, Sporting Anecdotes, are all here in fine copies, with plates by Rowlandson.

Of bird books of course Audubon's Birds, seven volumes, and Quadrupeds, three volumes, Wilson & Bonaparte's American Ornithology, three volumes, are included.

Thomas Bewick was such a master both of the graver and the gun and rod, that his Birds and Quadrupeds, New

castle, 1797-1800, should be in every library.

A book which especially interests its owner and which can safely be called unique, is a copy, the only one, printed on vellum, of a book called The Angler, a poem in ten cantos by Piscator (i. e., T. P. Lathy) with a portrait by Gosden bound in russia by Gosden, stamped on the sides with the well-known device of Walton and Cotton, a "W. & C." intertwined. Only one copy was printed and this one was T. Gosden's and bears his book-plate.

Mr. Hecksher's library contains many rare books on duelling, and some rarities, as Cary's Life in Paris and Poetical Sketches in Scarborough with plates by Rowlandson.

Mrs. Bowdich's Fresh Water Fishes, London, 1828, each plate hand-painted from the drawings by the author, is issued in eleven parts of text and plates.

To the student of former days and former collectors there is an evident change of standards. The modern collector, whether he be a sportsman or literary student is far more careful about the condition of his tomes than former

ly. This is shown in many books owned by Mr. Hecksher. Many books are here found that have a well-known pedigree.

Happy is the man who not only has a famous book in immaculate condition, but adds to this the fact that it once belonged to some famous collection. Here are books from the library of Thomas