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FAMOUS BOOKS GO TO AMERICA

TWITCH-OF-THE-THUMB BIDS,

An Englishman and an American waged war over a green baize table at Sotheby's salerooms, London. They were buying rare and valuable books. The American won. . The library, comprising 108 lots, was the property of Mr. S. E. Christie-Mil ler, of Britwell Court, Slough, Bucks, whose famous collection of rare editions was started by his great-grandfather. Mr. William Henry Miller. Mr. G. D. Smith, a Now York book dealer, known to all his friends as "Mil-lion-Dollai'-De'al Smith," was tho chief purchaser, and his antagonist was Mr Bernard Quaritch, of Grafton Street, W. Between them they bought the whole collection, with the exception of about dSSOO worth. Mr. Smith's share was valued at ,£84,700, and Mr. Quaritch's at .£21,500, and both men were highly satisfied with their day's work.

It was a boring spectacle for the handful of spectators to watch these two quiet teen responding to the bids with a nod and a twitch of the thumb. Neither spoke during the whole four hours of the sale. Even when the figure topped the .£IO,OOO mark there was no visible sign of emotion on their, part. The an. dience snowed more concern and enthusiasm than either.

Mr. Smith, sitting squarely over the table, with his. eyes fixed l on the catalogue, his right thumb raised ready to twitch at the next bid, would certainly have netted the whole collection had Mr. Quaritch permitted it.: But he, too, sat motionless save for a twitch of the head and sent the bids up in keen rivalry, to his opponent. When the sale was over Mr. Smith complained to a "Daily Mail", representative that he had a pain in his thumb, and. Mr. Quaritch argued that it was nothing compared with the pain ho had in his head- That was the only comment the two "twitchers" made on leaving the room.

The American, buyer has now gone to Paris, where he hopes to purchase one of : the largest private collections of books in Europe, and when ho sails for the United States lie will talco with liim more than ; J200.000 worth, of the rarest volumes obtainable in Europe.. He has alreadv bought the Devonshire and Bridgewater libraries anil the Hoe and Halsev collections, in addition to smaller libraries. . He has purchased more than ,£3.000.000 worth of books for Mr. Henry E. Huntington, the American railway maenate. who will probably, said Mr. Smith, bar Hie biggest share of the Brit, well collection.

The total proceeds of the 6ale of Mr, Christie-Miller's library were .£110,350(i. record for a, day's book sale,, the previous, largest, figure being ,£52,000.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19200226.2.36

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 130, 26 February 1920, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
438

FAMOUS BOOKS GO TO AMERICA Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 130, 26 February 1920, Page 5

FAMOUS BOOKS GO TO AMERICA Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 130, 26 February 1920, Page 5

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