[79] Cf. Amer. Antiq. Soc. Proc., October, 1875.
[80] Dr. Trumbull himself has been a keen collector of books on American history, particularly in illustration of his special study of aboriginal linguistics; while his influence has not been unfelt in the forming of the Watkinson Library, and of that of the Connecticut Historical Society, both at Hartford.
[81] The first sale—there are to be four—took place in March, 1878, and illustrated a new device in testamentary bequests. Mr. Brinley devised to certain libraries the sum of several thousand dollars each, to be used to their credit for purchases made at the public sale of his books. The result was a competition that carried the aggregate of the sales, it is computed, as much beyond the sum which might otherwise have been obtained, as was the amount devised,—thus impairing in no degree the estate for the heirs, and securing credit for public bequests. The scheme has been followed in the sale of the library (the third part of which was Americana, largely from the Menzies library) of the late J. J. Cooke, of Providence, with an equivalent appreciation of the prices of the books. It is a question if the interests of the libraries benefited are advanced by such artificial stimulation of prices, which a factitious competition helps to make permanent.
[82] American Bibliopolist, viii. 128; Wynne’s Private Libraries of New York, p. 318. The collection was not exclusively American.
[83] Memoir of Mr. Crowninshield, by Charles Deane, in Mass. Hist. Soc. Proc., xvii. 356. Mr. Stevens is said to have given about $9,500 for the library. It was sold in various parts, the more extensive portion in July, 1860. Allibone, vol. ii. p. 2,248.
[84] This collection—which Mr. Allan is said to have held at $15,000—brought $39,000 at auction after his death.
[85] Another catalogue rich in pamphlets relating to America is that of Albert G. Greene, New York, 18339.
[86] The Catalogue is more correctly printed than the Essay. Sabin, Bibliog. of Bibliog., p. cxxv.
[87] Bibliotheca Mejicana, a collection of books relating to Mexico, and North and South America; sold by Puttick & Simpson in London, June, 1869. (About 3,000 titles.)
[88] Jackson, Bibl. Géog., nos. 844, 845.