PREFACE

TH

HE entrance of the United States into the conflict which for the past three years has convulsed the world cannot fail to produce serious economic readjustments.

The auction season of 1916-17, however, was far advanced when the final step was taken; and the change from neutrality to active participation came so gradually that its effects had been largely discounted, and the records made at the few remaining important sales show little or no falling off from the high figure set earlier in the season. The Robinson sale of rare Americana held on April 30 and May I at the Anderson Galleries is a case in point. This was, with perhaps one exception, the most important sale of the season, and the prices realized at it were remarkably high. Colonel Robinson was a heavy buyer at the Hoe sale, and, in most instances, the records at his sale showed an increase over cost. The sale of the library of the late Samuel H. Austin at the American Art Galleries, one week earlier, was also one of the most successful of the season, with prices holding well above the average.

The Huntington sale of rare Americana at the Anderson Galleries on January 24-25, consisting of duplicates nearly all from the Church and Britwell Court collections, was the most sensational of the season, and was one of the most important offerings of Americana ever made in this country. New records were established for an extraordinary number of items, and the highest total for a single session since the Hoe sale was realized. Another feature of the past season was the offering of a relatively large number of modern books in foreign languages, chiefly French. A choice collection of rare editions, mostly of the great French writers of the nineteenth century, duplicates from Mr. H. E. Huntington's library, was sold in two sessions on November 21-22.

Mr. James Carleton Young's collection of inscribed books

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contained also a very large number of works by the modern French masters. This remarkable collection was so voluminous that it was divided into five separate parts. Practically every book in the collection was inscribed by the author, and nearly every modern author of note was represented. Thus it will probably remain for many years the best index to the value of books of this character.

Among the important miscellaneous sales were those of the Osborne and Purdy collections, sold at the American Art Galleries, and of selections from the Clawson and Huntington and Bixby collections, sold at the Anderson Galleries. Both of the latter contained, in addition to books, interesting and valuable autograph and manuscript material.

An interesting sale of Americana was held by Scott & O'Shaughnessy at the Collectors' Club on December 8, at which a number of rare and desirable items were disposed of.

As has been the case for several seasons, there was a great preponderance in the sales of Americana. Incunabula did not figure very prominently, and First Editions and Color-plate books showed somewhat of a falling off in quantity, although some exceptionally fine items of both classes figured in the Austin sale.

For autograph collectors the sale of the confidential correspondence of Robert Morris at Mr. Stan. V. Henkels' rooms in Philadelphia was an event of first importance. This collection included long and interesting letters from a large number of the Signers, many of them written in the year of the Declaration of Independence, together with political and military letters of the highest interest from most of the leading actors in the drama of the Revolution.

The sale of May 7, 8, and 9 at the Anderson Galleries was notable as being the last to be held in the hall which was opened six years ago with the remarkable Hoe sale, and in which so many famous libraries have been dispersed. When this volume appears they will be established in the new building at Park Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street, the former home of the Arion Society, which has been remodelled for their use.

Notwithstanding a slight falling off from last year in the number of sales recorded, there has been the usual increase in the number of items to select from, the increase being in the main in the higher priced books. After all possible elimination had been carefully made, it was found that there was still a great

increase in the number of items to be recorded. Faced with the necessity of either dropping out numerous important records, or of eliminating some of the lower priced books, the latter alternative was finally accepted, and, as a consequence, this year's volume will contain few items sold below $4.00. Even with this cut in effect the number of items recorded in the book section is 1195 more than last year. Whether or not this change will be permanent is dependent upon developments during the coming season.

A special effort has been made to have this volume appear at an earlier date than in recent seasons, and the indications at this writing are that it will be ready for distribution at least two months earlier than has been the case in several years.

The present volume contains records of 15,910 lots selected from 123 catalogues describing some 96,740 lots. As it may come into the hands of some persons not familiar with the work, the following explanation of the abbreviations used and of the scheme of the work is reprinted from the earlier vol

umes.

The name of the author (or, in the case of anonymous books, the first word of the title) is set in black-faced capitals.

Club or Press publications are (generally) under the Club or Press, and a few other books, such as anonymous histories and biographies, are entered under their subject. The titles of the various works of an author, printed in black-faced lower case type, are arranged in alphabetical order. This is followed by the place where printed (in a few cases), the date, and the size of the volume. The first portion of the description is general and applies to all copies of the work. Following this general description is the specific description of the copy or copies of the book as sold, each lot beginning a new line. This specific description is made up as follows:

First. A description of the binding, the abbreviations being those which are universally used and understood.

Second. A statement as to the condition of the particular copy recorded, if on large paper, if with extra plates inserted, if from a famous library, etc.

Third. The name of the sale where the name was given on the catalogue. This does not mean in every case that the name as given is that of the owner of the book, as additions from other unannounced sources are often included with books of a

Fourth. Capital letter, indicating the name of the auctioneer under whose management the sale took place:

A. is the Anderson Galleries.

B. is Charles F. Heartman.

G. is the American Art Association.
H. is Stan. V. Henkels.

L. is C. F. Libbie & Company.

S. is Scott & O'Shaughnessy, Inc.

W. is the Walpole Galleries.

Fifth. The date of the sale. In case of more than a single day's duration this date is that of the first day of the sale. Sixth. The lot number in the original sale catalogue. Seventh. The price realized. This is the price for the lot, not per volume.