them, even in the neighbouring countries, so that there is increased
difficulty to procure them, it is 'very rare;' (4) If the number of
copies be but fifty or sixty, and those scattered, it is 'extremely
rare;' (5) And finally, every work of which there are not ten copies in
the world is 'excessively rare.' In all these cases, it must be supposed
that the book is a book sought for, and that the seekers are more
numerous than the sought.[6]

In the matter of _Condition_ and its effect upon price, long training is
required before all the qualities of a copy can be properly defined.
There are copies on 'vellum,' 'large paper,' 'fine paper,' 'coloured
paper.' There are 'crisp' copies, 'uncut' copies, 'tall' copies, 'ruled'
copies, and 'illustrated' copies, _cum multis aliis_.[7]

Fashion determines much as to price. As soon as it becomes a fad to
collect books relating to some particular subject, competition instantly
steps in, and prices go up. It may be well to state, for the benefit of
a very numerous and uninitiated public, that, _because a book is old, it
is not necessarily rare_. There are many thousands of people who have
most imperfect and valueless books, mostly on theology, or some
controversial abominations, and these people spend days wasting their
own and booksellers' time in seeking to sell at prices which their own
imagination alone has determined is right. Distrust the advertisements
of large paper editions. _Very_ few of them are worth purchasing, and
very few, indeed, increase in value. Fight against the first-edition
craze, which is the maddest craze that ever affected book collecting.
Again and again it must be repeated, and cannot be gainsaid, that _a
first edition may be the best, but in most cases it is the worst_. In
every case, inquire and find out which is the _best_ edition as to
completeness, good paper and print, and safe editing, if such has been
necessary, and then purchase a copy of that edition. One remark
finally. The prices of _all good books_ are going up, and any one who
lays out money with care within the next ten years will have the
enjoyment of his library and a good investment as well.

FOOTNOTES:

[5] D. Clement, _Bibliotheque curieuse_.

[6] Edwards, _Memoirs of Libraries_, ii. 647-649.

[7] Edwards, ii. 659.

_On the Care of Books._

The two things most neglected in houses are the trimming of lamps and
the care of the books. The condition of many libraries in lar