Collecting Medical Literature
An Interview With An Authority
Hello, Henry Schuman.
Hello, James Madison.
Since moving from Detroit to 730 Fifth Avenue, New York, are you continuing to make a specialty of medical rarities?
Yes indeed, in fact more so than ever.
What class of collectors go in for medical books?
Mostly members of the medical profession, but also general collectors along scientific lines of which medicine is an integral part.
Do collectors of medical literature aim to cover the entire field?
Not in most instances. They usually specialize in branches that encompass their special interests, such for example as physiognomy, transfusion of blood, heart disorders, venereal ailments, etc.
Has a well-selected medical library that was already assembled at say the turn of the century, increased or diminished in value?
Increased I should say, or, from a very conservative estimate, at least held its own. This is due, no doubt, to the permanent interest such a medical library holds. On the other hand, authors of literary classics, especially from the beginning of the 19th century on, are subject to increasing or waning interest due to a change of popular favor and appreciation. In the case of modern authors such as Hemingway, Faulkner, etc., this is even more noticeable. The “white-headed” literary lion of today may be on tomorrow’s bargain shelf, and vice versa.
Is the number of collectors of medical literature increasing?
Somewhat, I should say. In the late twenties, Dr. Henry E. Sigerist became head of the Institute of Medicine at John Hopkins University where his outstanding accomplishments, combined also with his splendid achievement in promoting the Bulletin of the History of Medicine, did much to stimulate new interest, especially among the younger men.
Which is the best medical bibliography?
Probably the best, and certainly the most concise is Garrison’s “History of Medicine”, first published in 1914 by W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia. The fourth edition was issued in 1929 and is revised and comparatively up to date. It sells for $14.
How can one get posted on the prices of medical literature?
The Sanders Price List of Medica Incunabula gives some prices of early medicine. The cost is $10. As far as more modern medical books and miscellany are concerned, I believe the best guide is dealers’ lists who specialize in this sort of thing. I myself get out occasional catalogues of medical rarities, my latest one being issued to honor the seventieth birthday of Dr. Harvey Cushing, who is since deceased.
How do you procure the medical material that you resell?
There is no royal path that a dealer can pursue. One source is medical libraries privately owned, and which on the decease of the owner, have come into the possession of heirs who have no special interest therein, and who therefore are not adverse to turning them into ready cash. Europe, which may be termed the cradle of old medicine, holds most of the rarities, especially those of ancient vintage, and my correspondents on the other side are constantly on the watch for me.
How highly are medical periodicals regarded by collectors?
They play, as a rule, ‘second fiddle’ to books and pamphlets. They are quite bulky, and in harmony with the modern scheme of architectural contraction, collectors are not inclined to grant them shelf room. The best modern outlet for medical periodicals appears to be colleges and universities, although in many instances, the seller pro tem is apt to be met with the rubber-stamp response of “Insufficient funds.”
Have many facsimile reproductions been made of rare medical books and pamphlets?
Only a negligible number thus far and which have sold rather indifferently. However, with the increasing interest displayed in the collecting of medical literature, facsimiles will come more and more into their own.
Are many medical works sold at book auctions?
Hardly any, I should say. Medical books at best interest but a modest pro rata of collectors. Therefore, except in occasional instances, it has not been found profitable to include them in auction catalogues.
Who are the modern American trail blazers as far as stimulating interest in the collecting of medical literature is concerned?
In my opinion, Drs. Oliver Wendell Holmes, William Osler, and Harvey Cushing.
A New Aid to Collectors
Early in the year, the Pinwheel Press, of 142 So. 11th St., Philadelphia, will publish “Early American Sheet Music” by Harry Dichter. This is probably the first attempt to aid collectors and dealers in this fascinating field of Americana. It will be illustrated with many full-page reproductions of esteemed sheet music covers and also give much useful bibliographical information. A business announcement in this issue, gives full information as to its cost in the several editions.
About The New York Mirror
In 1823, George P. Morris in conjunction with Samuel Woodworth established the New York MIRROR. In those days Woodworth was considered quite a poet, his most permanent obeisance to the muse being “The Bucket”, later more fittingly known as “The Old Oaken Bucket”. The MIRROR lasted until 1842, but returned from its journalistic grave the year following and was known as the NEW MIRROR. It ran for a year and a half and stated in its last issue in Sept., 1844, that it was being discontinued because the Post Office charged it magazine postage which was much higher than that required of newspapers. Perhaps, to avail itself of this discrimination, it became a daily about this time, a weekly edition being gotten out for the benefit of the former NEW MIRROR subscribers. From Sept., 1844 to February, 1845, Edgar Allan Poe, so the “Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America” reports, was employed as critical writer. Perhaps this explains why “The Raven” was printed in the EVENING MIRROR, on Jan. 29, 1845, “by permission”, from the advance sheets of the AMERICAN REVIEW where it appeared a few weeks later. While the MIRROR copy is usually spoken of as the second appearance of “The Raven”, most collectors prefer it to its AMERICAN REVIEW appearance and it commands a higher price, although in neither case as much as one might conjecture.
After Willis and Morris withdrew in 1845, Hiram Fuller took charge and with certain minor changes of title, the periodical continued until 1857. Soon after Fuller came into control, he was sued by Poe for having published the Thomas Dunn English article reflecting on his character. Poe was awarded $225 damages.
WALTER R. BENJAMIN
655 Fifth Ave. New York, N. Y.
AUTOGRAPH LETTERS AND HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
BUYS—
Leading expert in autographs will purchase for immediate cash large collections or single items of historical or literary importance. American or foreign.
SELLS—
Collectors! Send for sample copy of THE COLLECTOR, a magazine for autograph and historical collectors, established 1887. See prices quoted on letters, guaranteed authentic, of the great Kings and Queens, Statesmen, Authors, Musicians, Scientists, and Soldiers of all times and all countries.
The United States
CARD COLLECTOR’S
Catalog
A 90 page, 6×9 inch handbook, completely covering the card field, cigarette, candy, gum, playing, advertising, etc., together with related items of Albums, Silks, and other inserts. Dealers of all kinds should have a copy to show markets and values. Pays for itself many times.
50c postpaid
J. R. BURDICK
417 So. Crouse Ave. Syracuse, New York
Indian Relics, Minerals, Miniatures, Beadwork, Coins, Books, Jewelry, Buttons, Basketry, Rugs, Old Glass, Dolls, Gem Stones, Stamps, Covers, View Cards, Western Postcard Photos. Catalog 5c.
LEMLEY CURIO STORE
North Branch, Kansas.
Another instalment of “How To Tell First Editions” in the February issue of THE COLLECTOR’S GUIDE.
Stephen Foster Sheet Music Wants
Fletcher Hodges, Jr., Curator of the Foster Hall Collection in the University of Pittsburgh, Penna., advises us that the following titles are still required, and for the first satisfactory first edition copy of each received, the respective prices noted will be paid.
| Beautiful Child of Song | $100. |
| Happy Little Ones Are We | 25. |
| I Will Be True To Thee | 100. |
| Little Belle Blair | 100. |
| Lizzie Dies Tonight | 100. |
| Mine Is The Mourning Heart | 100. |
| Mother, Thou’rt Faithful To Me | 100. |
| My Loved One And My Own | 100. |
| Onward And Upward | 100. |
| Open Thy Lattice, Love Tonight | 250. |
| Somebody’s Coming To See Me | 100. |
SCHUMAN’S of New York
are Leading Specialists in Historical Medicine and Science, and are large buyers of desirable material in this field.
IMMEDIATE CASH PAYMENTS
SCHUMAN’S
730 Fifth Avenue, New York
WANTED! WANTED
MECHANICAL
PENNY
BANKS
DR. A. E. CORBY
(Collector)
44 Wall St., New York City
GUY DE MAUPASSANT
Will purchase ANY interesting material by or about him. A. Artinian, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, N. Y.
FIRST EDITIONS—AMERICANA—FINE BOOKS.
Bought & sold. Catalogs free.
ANTON GUD
636 East 13th Street New York City
Wanted For Cash: U. S. Presidential Bookplates or Booklabels. State name of President and price desired for plate. Give your name and address. Bookplate, Care of The Collector’s Guide, P. O. Box 124, Grand Central Annex, New York.
Some facts about Baedeker’s Travel Books in the February issue of THE COLLECTOR’S GUIDE.
Suckers’ Progress
A book jobber recently found on his hands an entire warehouse full of obsolete histories in sets of 20 volumes each. They simply wouldn’t sell; nobody wanted to give them away as premiums; their stock was so inferior that secondhand paper dealers laughed at the idea of purchasing them. Then inspiration came to the jobber. He expressed the entire edition to a publisher’s sucker list, accompanied by the following letter.
Sir:
We are forwarding you herewith a set of Professor McFeely’s History of the World From Earliest Times Down to the Inaugural of Chester A. Arthur. There are two bindings available: one in cloth such as we are sending you, retailing for $19.25, the other in beautiful hand-tooled crushed levant, for $39.98. If you should decide you prefer the expensive leather-bound edition you may return the set we are sending you and upon remitting the balance you will receive the other magnificent volumes.
Each sucker actually received the leather-bound edition—in fact, no cloth one existed. But every recipient, imagining that he had received the wrong books by mistake and was gypping the jobber, sent on his $19.25 and kept the books. In no time the entire edition was sold out. (Lucius Beebe in New York HERALD TRIBUNE and reprinted by READER’S DIGEST).
The New York TIMES reports that a new Medical Library building is being erected at the Yale University of Medicine to receive Dr. Cushing’s library and collections, including his letters, diaries and manuscripts. Any of his friends who wish, now or later, to present correspondence, photographs or other memorabilia for permanent preservation among the Cushing papers will receive the appreciative thanks of the university.
The late Merle Johnson, in his “American First Editions” called attention to the fact that there is no formal Bibliography of the writings of Bret Harte. The collector is referred to the sales catalogue of the Charles Meeker Kozlay sale, held at the galleries of the American Art Association some years ago and now on file at the New York Public Library. It is the only known listing of the variants and minutiae.
BOOK-DEALERS
Take Notice
We Want Scholarly Books
1. We Want Elizabethan & Restoration Dramatists—In First and Later Editions.
2. We Want Best Edited Editions of Dramatists: MARSTON, PEELE, NASH, etc. BULLEN’S Old Plays, etc.
3. The Publications of ENGLISH LITERARY SOCIETIES, such as HUTH, MALONE, FULLER, and BIBLIOGRAPHICAL.
We Pay Promptly on Receipt.
THE BRICK ROW BOOK SHOP, Inc.
55 Fifth Ave., New York City
WE BUY WE SELL
Specimen Books of
Printing Types
and
Printers’ Ornaments
Penmanship Publications
Prior to 1880
PAUL A. STRUCK
415 Lexington Av., New York
The Long, Long Ago
In “San Francisco’s Literary Frontiers”, by Franklin Walker, “The Annals of San Francisco” is described as being probably the best book ever written about that glamorous city. Its 800 pages give not only the history of California during the Spanish and American occupations, but also a faithful account of its social history from 1846 to 1854. Included also are vigorously penned descriptions of special local happenings, such as the Great Fires, Steamer Days, the lawless ravages of The “Hounds”, etc, to say nothing of short biographies of outstanding oldtimers. The “Annals” have long been out of print, but the book was gotten up so sumptuously that many copies were kept. It can usually be picked up for from $7.50 to $20.00 depending on the condition and binding. A folding map should accompany it. A few years ago, the California Historical Society, San Francisco, compiled, under the direction of Charles Francis Griffin, a 28 page index, which is a big time-saver for historians, and literary searchers. It is bound in full paper boards, and is sold by the Society for $1.25.
The first issue of the Princeton University Library CHRONICLE contains a checklist of Winslow Homer, famed painter and designer for wood engravers, whose life span was from 1836 to 1910.
RARE OLD JOKE BOOKS
(Joe Miller and Up)
Send for catalogue
WEHMAN BROS.
(Since 1889)
712 BROADWAY NEW YORK
EARLY AMERICAN SHEET MUSIC
Lure and Lore
by
Harry Dichter
After completing ten years of searching for and locating some of the finest pieces in this field of Americana, these notes and checklists are offered so that the collector and dealer may avoid the ordinary pitfalls that await the novice.
INVALUABLE TO DEALER AND COLLECTOR
This is probably the first attempt at giving a working knowledge of the field of sheet music collecting.
Not a history of American Music but a necessary tool for every Rare and Out of Print Dealer and even the seasoned collector of this interesting material.
Definitely names highspots and attempts at valuation (Both the Author and Publisher realize that prices in such a field can only be approximate as condition, demand and scarcity are prime factors.)
Included is a Checklist of Early American Music Publishers, their places and dates of operation.
Many Full Page Reproductions of Important Items
Cloth bound, Autographed Copies Strictly Limited to the number of orders received before Feb. 1, 1940. Publication Date: Feb. 10, 1940.
Price $3.00
Specially Priced Edition in Wrappers at $2.00
Regular Trade Discount to Dealers on 2 Copies or More
Order Your Copy Now
PINWHEEL PRESS
PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS
142 S. 11th STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Order direct from publisher or your bookseller
Locating Bookplates
Bookplate collectors who desire to know what collections have been assembled, where they are, the type of material gathered, how they are cared for, and their availability for study and consultation, should procure a copy of “A Census of Bookplate Collections in Public, College and University Libraries.” It was compiled by Carlyle S. Baer, presiding genius of the American Society of Bookplate Collectors & Designers, and Miss Clara Therese Evans, of Columbia University. The cost is $1.00 and it can be obtained by writing to Mr. Baer at 1763 Euclid St., N.W., Washington, D. C.
Robert L. Shurter presents in the July, 1939, issue of the SOUTH ATLANTIC QUARTERLY, an article on “The Writing of Looking Backward”, in which the facts regarding the composition, purpose, and subsequent influences of Edward Bellamy’s novel are set forth.
We understand that a committee of bibliographers headed by Lawrence C. Wroth, librarian of the John Carter Brown Library, Providence, is making plans for the compilation and publication of a “Cooperative Catalogue of Americana, 1700-1800”, and will be based upon material now housed in the principal libraries of this country. It will contain all eighteenth century historical material relating to the Western hemisphere, except newspapers, broadsides, maps, prints, almanacs, legislative and administrative proceedings and statute laws. A preliminary survey has disclosed that only about half of the existing material is recorded in either Sabin or Evans.
TRAILING GERONIMO
by Anton Mazzanovich
Over 100 Illustrations of Historical Value
The First Authentic Story of the Trailing and Capture of this Great Apache Indian Chief
This book will make a valuable addition to any American Historical and Indian Library. It is real Americana.
Size 5¼×7½, 278 Pages, Elegantly Bound in Art Craft, 4-Color Illustrations of Geronimo
Price $3.00
WEHMAN BROS.
PUBLISHERS and BOOK JOBBERS
712 Broadway, New York
This amazing story has been made into a great motion picture by Paramount Pictures, Inc.