Catalogue of the unique collection made by Charles B. Foote, esq. of this city, of first editions of the following American authors : R. W. Emerson, Nath'l Hawthorne, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Henry W. Longfellow, Jas. Russell Lowell, Edgar Allan Poe, and John G. Whittier. [ Bangs & Co., auction catalogue, sale date: 23 November, 1894 ].

Bangs & Co.

Published by Bangs & Co., New York, auction catalogue for the sale held on 23rd November, 1894, 1894

About this Item

Yellow printed wrappers, 8vo, 45 pp, almost entirely printed in red. 278 lots. The first of three sales of Foote's extraordinary collection, this sale being limited to seven American authors. Cannon, in his Dictionary of American book-collectors, touches on Foote's remarkable endeavours to perfect his collection: The sale of the library of Charles B. Foote, New York banker, on November 23, 1894, January 30 and 31, 1895, and February 20, 1895, caused a considerable ripple in the book world. Both books and prices were reported at some length in The New York Times; and the New York Critic, a literary magazine, published an interview with Foote and a complete list of the prices realized at the sale of the English authors, running to four pages. "Foote, it appears, applied the industry and perseverance commonly attributed to bankers to the fascinating game of book collecting. He began collecting in the [eighteen] eighties and planned first to make a complete collection of first editions of the leading American authors. 'It was plain, he told the [New York] Critic, 'that only systematic, persistent work would accomplish my purpose. During the first two and a half years, I sent out more than 40,000 postal cards and letters and advertised in more than 100 papers and magazines. . I wrote to all the living classmates of Poe . to the pupils of Longfellow.". Wrappers duststained, spine rubbed and slightly worn at ends, otherwise Good. Seller Inventory # ABE-59313

Bibliographic Details

Title: Catalogue of the unique collection made by ...

Publisher: Bangs & Co., New York, auction catalogue for the sale held on 23rd November, 1894

Publication Date: 1894

Binding: Soft cover

Edition: 1st Edition