TURNBULL LIBRARY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1929, Page 5

TURNBULL LIBRARY

RAPID INCREASE IN VALUE. WELLINGTON, April 30. Mi* Johannes Andersen, librarian of the Turnbull Library, speaking at the Rotary Club, said the hooks collected |,V the late Mr Turnbull were so rapidly increasing in value that be estimaleu the library was now worth between a quarter of a million and half a million, and in ten years, or probably much less, would increase to - a million. He gave instances where first editions and similar works eagerly sought after by collectors, had advanced in one case from I3ogns., paid by .nr Turnbull, to £3500j another, for which lie gave to £3000'; and another, of which there are three sets on the shelves, which recently brought £‘2ooo lor one set. Even in modern authors prices had increased most remarkably. Mr Turnbull gave lßgns. for a copy of a hook by Conrad with the author’s inscription in it. A similar hook recently was sold for £420. For Fielding’s “Tom Jones” £SBOO was lately paid, and there is a copy m the library. Mr Anderson added that the hbiaiy is better known on account of its literary value outside New Zealand than in it.