Mr. Stevens, among his anecdotes of Mr. Lenox, records that he "often bought duplicates for immediate use, or to lend, rather than grope for the copies he knew to be in the stocks in some of his store rooms or chambers, notably Stirling's _Artists of Spain_, a high-priced book."
This is a common trouble to large book collectors, who cannot find the books they know they possess. The late Mr. Crossley had his books stacked away in heaps, and he was often unable to lay his hands upon books of which he had several copies.
[4] Narcissus Marsh, Archbishop of Armagh, is said to have given £2500 for Bishop Stillingfleet's Library.
[5] _Reliquiæ Hearnianæ_, by Bliss, 2nd edition, 1869, vol. ii. p. 14.
[6] Edwards, _Libraries and Founders of Libraries_, p. 115.
[7] Edwards, _Libraries and Founders_, p. 136.
[8] _Correspondance de Napoleon I^er_, IV. pp. 37, 38, quoted by Edwards, _Libraries and Founders_, p. 130.
[9] Edwards, _Libraries and Founders_, p. 133.
[10] Edwards, _Libraries and Founders_, p. 135.
[11] Edwards, _Libraries and Founders_, p. 142.
[12] _Libraries and Founders of Libraries_, p. 95.
A discussion has arisen lately in bibliographical journals as to how best to supply libraries with their books, the main principle agreed upon being that it is the duty of the librarian to buy his books as cheaply as possible. Some of these views are stated by Mr. H.R. Tedder in a letter printed in the _Library Chronicle_ for July, 1884 (vol. i. p. 120). It appears that Professor Dziatzko contends that the books should always be bought as cheaply as possible, but that Dr. Julius Petzholdt holds the opinion that the chief object of the librarian should be to get his books as early as possible and not to wait until they can be had at second-hand. Mr. Tedder thinks that the two plans of rapidity of supply and cheapness of cost can in some respect be united. Of course there can be no difference of opinion in respect to the duty of the librarian to get as much for his money as he can, but there are other points which require to be considered besides those brought forward before a satisfactory answer to the question--How to Buy? can be obtained. There are three points which seem to have been very much overlooked in the discussion, which may be stated here. 1. Is the librarian's valuable time well occupied by looking after cheap copies of books? 2. Will not the proposed action on the part of librarians go far to abolish the intelligent second-hand bookseller in the same way as the new bookseller has been well-nigh abolished in consequence of large discounts? 3. Will not such action prevent the publication of excellent books on subjects little likely to be popular?