N OT ES

O N A

% (uniq u e Glow

A A A T T ’ D R . I S C W S S

11 Eivine 50 95,

LATELY % N T H E P O S S ES S I O N

J A M E W A R D S ,

I M NOTT N G H A .

N OTTI N G HAM P R INTE D F O R P R I V ATE C I RC ULATION “ ” AT R R THE THO OTON P ESS .

Sllu strations.

P r t ra it o f R v . I sa . fr m n ra v in o e a c Wa t t D . D o a n s , , e g g

o r V e r t u 1 7 42 . P r in f r J a m B r a kst o n by G e ge e , t e d o e s c e ” t l in r n M % I a t he G o be Co hill DCC LI .

’ Pho t o gra ph o f fro n t co v e r o f t he co py o f Wa t t s s

D n e o n s 1 7 15 r e se n t e d b t he a u t ho r t o Miss ivi S g , , p y

n Eliza be t h Ab e y .

’ Fa cs imile o f t he t it le pa ge o f t he co py o f Wa t t s s ”

n r e fe r r e d t o he r e in . Div in e So g s ,

’

r Wa t t a u to r a h i n t he s a me bo k . Fa csimile o f D . s s g p o

tr a ti n a r e the exa ct si ze o the o r i i n a l The a bo ve illu s o s f g s .

Motes on a

%

(uniqu e Gl ow of a 1Rare JBook.

S a book collect or it has been my custom t o call at the stalls of the second - hand booksellers in Nottingham Market Place every Wednesday and Saturday

to see their books , and ascertain if they have purchased anything that

- would suit me . On the particular market day on “ which I first saw Th e D I V I N E SO N G S of Isaac

I . G Watts , said , as usual , to Mr eorge Bryan , Well , ? ” have you anything fresh this morning He answered , ” I a t Yes , have this , the same time pulling out of his pocket a small book wrapped in white tissue “ . I paper looked at it , and said Yes , it is very nice , how much do you want for it He answered Twenty - fi v e ” ”

s . O . O I pound h , that is too much f course , did not know the book , nor understand its value , and therefore

i . t I u . left called as sual again , and found that Mr Bryan “ still had the book . He remarked , It is a very rare I I book , and am sure it is worth a lot of money . left it

- I that day , and on the following market day called again

an . d found that Mr Bryan still possessed the book . At

e I . T . the same tim happened to meet Mr Henry Wake ,

D - of Fritchley , near erby , a well known antiquary and 2 NOTES ON A UNIQ UE CO PY

’

u . s dealer in c rios He said , Have you seen the Watt ? ” O f Hymns n answering in the a firmative , he said it

w a s was a very valuable book , and was also sure there not a copy in the British Museu m . I asked Mr . Wake if it was worth the sum Mr . Bryan asked . He said Yes ,

I am sure it is val u able . I then asked Mr . Wake why “ “ he . I did not buy it Well , he said , you know cannot

I . I . a n d buy everything see then went to Mr Bryan , I said Look here , Bryan , will give you a cheque for

u a n d twenty pounds , and ten po nds worth of books pictures o u t of my collection which I do not want . N d V . zu ery well , said Mr Bryan , and so , on ovember ,

1 0 1 . e 9 , ended the transaction with him At the same tim

h e Mr . Bryan informed me that he had purchased t

u r vol me from a lady near Mansfield , with several othe

- t fi v e . books , for wenty shillings

I t he then wrote to the Librarian of British Museum ,

r l offering him t he book for fifty pounds . In e p y I was informed that the Trustees did not care to e n t e r t a I n t h e I offer . Some months later was arranging to dispose of a portion of my collection of Manuscripts at Messrs .

o D V E Sothebys , in L ndon , and decided to send the I IN

SON G S up for sale at the same time . In the meantime the news spread that I had found and secured a copy (which proved t o be unique) of this

T th e rare lit tle book . his may be gathered from following extracts selected from various n ewspapers published throughout the country , many of the notices d being merely copies from other papers , probably obtaine through news - cutting agencies T here has recently been purchased in the Notting

- t he ham Market place a copy of that extremely rare book ,

’ D W 1 1 . The ivine Songs of Isaac atts , published in 7 5

’ a n d first children s hymn book , afterwards enlarged r E o A RAR BOO% . 3

‘ ’ t e - D named ivine and Moral Songs , ran through a f T hundred editions before the middle o the century . he particular volume secured by Mr . James Ward has a

r . histo y of its own , which much enhances its value It was presented by Isaac Watts with his autograph and a special dedication (suggesting t hat the book in this

e r spect is unique) to one of the Misses Abney , and is bound in full red morocco , with gilt edges and gilt

D r . T tooling . Watts paid a visit to Sir homas and Lady

n T 1 1 2 Ab ey at heobalds in 7 , which led to a proposal that d he shoul reside permanently in their house , and his remaining days were spent under their roof, either at T N heobalds or Stoke ewington , to which Lady Abney T removed after the deat h of Sir homas in 1 7 2 2 . This ‘ D ’ copy of ivine Songs , along with several other of ’ M Wa t t s s . works , have been sent up to essrs Sotheby and

Co . . A , London , to be sold during the spring copy of

’ ’ Wa tt s s 1 6 Hymns recently fetched 4 , and the British Museum is without a specimen of an earlier date than 6 1 7 1 . It will be int eresting to see what this rare book

n i n will realise at auctio . It changed hands Nottingham at a figure only represen ti n g about a fifth of the price obtained for the last copy sold in London . Such is the

% T e romance of old book buying . h N otti ngha m D a i ly

i a n 1 h G u a r d 1 t 1 0 2 . , February , 9

I SAAC TT T O G AN D WA S , H MAS RAY , O V G O D T LI ER L SM I H . A few days ago in these columns there was recorded the find in the Nottingham Market - place of a ’ D ’ copy of Isaac Watts ivine Songs , uniquely attractive by reason of his autograph inscription and dedication .

’ In the dispersa l under notice there occurs the edi ti o

’ pr i nceps of the same author s Hymns a n d Spiritual 4 NOTES O N A UN I QUE COPY

’ 1 0 t Songs , 7 7 , whose several shaved headlines will milita e

’ against last season s price of 1 40 . At least two ot he r

1 8 items belonging to the th century call for mention . I n the spring of 1 897 Messrs . Pickering bought for abo u t

T n two guineas a folio volume of racts , containing amo g

’ other items , An Elegy Wrote in a Country Churchyard ,

’ t he without place , printer s name , or date , on sub%ect of which Mr . Edmund G osse contributed a long letter to t he

- A then aeu m. Mr . G osse contends that w e have here an G extremely early piracy of the celebrated poem by ray , probably struck o ff within a few days of the publication o f

- the first 4to . We understand , however , that when the tract was submitted to the notice of the late Colonel i G . . U rant and of Mr F Jenk nson , the niversity librarian ff O . i at Cambridge , they formed a di erent pinion As s

t o well known , Walpole handed round friends severa l

‘ ’ . i M S copies of the Elegy prior to publication , and t

u may be , that in this folio we have the poem set p provisionally by him when the manuscripts ran short . We believe that the watermarks of the paper are of a

s earlier date than the first edition of the Elegy beside ,

CO ie s ? if this be a piracy , where are the other p Piracy

o ff only pays when numbers of examples are struck , and

. it this is the only one known to exist If, indeed , be the ’ e first appearance of the Elegy in print , then it has gr at attraction . Of somewhat kindred interest is what is

1 6 claimed to be a unique uncut quarto , on pp . , entitled

’

A . 1 0 Prospect of Society It consists of 3 lines , which G t form , so to say , the rough material out of which oldsmi h

’ shaped The Traveller . Apart altogether from questions of bibliography , we have here an excellent opportunity to

’ ” % T e study G oldsmith s method of workmanship . h N ot

ti n ha m D a i l G u a r di a n 2 0 t h 1 0 2 . g y , February , 9

Apr opos of the purchase by Mr . James Ward in the

6 NOTES ON A UNIQU E COPY

Nottingham Market - place of a copy of a very ear ly editio n

’ ’ Wa tt s s D 1 1 I a of Isaak ivine Songs , 7 5, discover th t ,

1 0 a n as with the Hymns and Spiritual Songs of 8 7 ,

’ 1 0 a t r example of which brought g 4 Sotheby s last yea , the British Museum possesses no copy . The earlies t

1 2 8 . edition in Bloomsbury , indeed , is the ninth , dated 7 By way of supplementing the details which have already h appeared in these columns , one or two incidents whic

’

t o . a n give special attraction Mr Ward s copy , bearing i d . inscription to one of the M sses Abney, may be recalle

When on account of ill - health Watts was compelled t o

- T abandon his ministry in Bury street , Sir homas Abney , d once Lord Mayor of London , and Lady Abney , invite

a t n him to recruit for a week or two their house , the

N . T e surrounded by fields , at Stoke ewington hre decades after he entered Abney House as a guest t h e

Countess of Hunt ingdon happened to be t here . The divine thus addressed her : This day thirty years I cam e T hither to the house of my good friend Sir homas Abney , intending to spend bu t one S ingle week under his friendly I roof, and have extended my visit to the length of

’ exactly thirty years . Long ago the Abney mansion was

’ o swept away , and it is impossible now to enter the doct r s

SO study at the top of the house , where many of his literary and religious works were composed . Morning and evening he conducted prayers in the Abney household ,

N 2 th 1 8 . The and here he died on ovember 4 , 7 4 house

it 1 8 survived almost a century , for was in 45 that it was

u pulled down , after having been sed as a Wesleyan college , for purposes of the cemetery which bears its name . In this cemetery is a monument and statue of

1 8 Watts , erected by public subscription in 45, whose pedestal bears the prophecy from his own writings that Ages unborn will make his songs R A B O A R RE OO% . 7

The %o y and labour of their tongu e s .

The monument is said to stand on the site of the house , and several of the old cedars and yews have flourished ” “ ” The e S . ver ince his day London Correspondence ,

N otti n ha m D a i l G u a r di an u 2 2 n d 1 0 2 . g y , Febr ary , 9

T T N H REE LI ERARY FI D S .

T ’ V N O WA T S D I I E S NG S .

’ “ G RAY S ELE G Y .

’ “ LO DG E S RO SALYN D E.

“ We have not yet reached the day , if ever it come ,

n when k owledge shall be robbed of its attribute of power .

It is a question of relativity , of course , for with the spread of education specialistic knowledge becomes more and more requisite . We often hear it deplored that the book

- t or picture collector of to day , for instance , canno pick up a bargain ; and it is true that Shakespeare quartos in good condition are not now to be found on bookstalls at

’ ” a few shillings apiece , or that auctioneers parcels frequently contain , as they did before cataloguing was a O science , volumes perhaps worth their weight in gold . n

Th e the other hand , a complete set of Constitutional

’ 1 6t h 1 8 6% 1 1 8 and Public Ledger, September , 3 J uly , 37 , was in 1 899 bought for £ 1 8 5. by a dealer who knew that the paper contained much Paris correspondence by

T n o t hackeray , reprinted , and was later sold to an

2 2 0 . American collector for some £ In other kinds , it is stated that the magnificent portrait by H a ls which

6o o s . recently realised 3 , g , changed hands some years ago i 2 0 . at £ , and the late M r Loudon is sa d to have given but £2 5 for the pair of orange tubs of old Sevres which

1 0 0 s . A fetched , 5 g few weeks ago there was found in the 8 NOTES O N A UNIQU E COPY

- u 1 market place of a Midland co nty town a 2 mo . boo k which may be expected to yield a considerable profit t o T ’ its possessor . his is the editio princeps of Isaac Watts

’ D 1 1 ivine Songs , 7 5, published probably at two or three

. D d f u d shillings espite many metrical e ects , m ch that oes not come within the domain of song , this work a ” t f t voluntary descen rom the digni y of science , in

’ Joh n son s words % ran t hrough scores of editions before t he middle of the cen t ury ; and it is only necessary to

‘ ’ t n O G o d ci e i stances like , our help in ages past , ‘ T ’ here is a land of pure delight , and When I survey

’ o u t o the wondr s cross , prove the enduring appeal of

’ The Watt s hymns . circumstances connected with the period at which it was first issued enhance the interest of

r l the pa t icu a a r copy under notice . It will be recalled 2 t that Watts at the age of 4 preached his firs sermon , he at t his time being a tutor u n de r I t he roof of Sir John a n d

’ H a r t ro N . Lady pp , at Stoke ewington After a ten years

’ c D r . harge of Chauncey s congregation , which meantime

- u - had removed from Mark lane to B ry street , considerations of health compelled Watts to su spend his ministry . At

Bury - street Sir Thomas and Lady Abney had become his

t hi m 1 8 1 2 si c devoted friends , and they invi ed in % % to visit

’ u them for a few weeks change and rest at Abney Ho se ,

’ T he Stoke Newington . issue may be told in the divine s

t he : M a da m e o u r own words to Countess of Huntingdon , y

Ladyship has come to see me on a very remarkable day . This day thirty years I came hither to the hou se of my

T i bu t good friend , Sir homas Abney , intend ng to spend I one single week under his friendly roof, and have extended my visit to the length of exactly thirty years an incident which recalls the first visit of a well - known

- living sculptor to a no less well known living artist , which ,

’ bu t u u intended to be of a quarter of an ho r s d ration , was O F A RARE B OO % . 9

u u extended t ill no omnib s or cab was proc rable , over the

a u night , past breakfast and lunch , revoir being finally

- - said twenty fou r hou rs later . In the mid nineteenth century , Abney House , whose old brick front was redolent

u e e h of the time of William I I I . and Q Anne , was swept

n o w away , and its site is occupied by the cemetery of that

u name , where is a stat e to the memory of Watts , a railed o ff arbour where he is said to have written many of his songs and hymns , and some of the old yews and cedars T which must have been in the grounds in his day . hese memories give point to the fact that the copy of the Divine Songs ’ recently found was presented by the au thor to one of the Misses Abney% there is an a u tograph inscription and a special dedication . We understand that ff t ’ the volume will shortly be o ered for sale at So heby s , although details as to t his are not for thcoming . Apparently it is in modern morocco , which militates somewhat Th i against its wort h in the eyes of collect ors . e earl est

e issue possess d by the British Museum is the ninth , of

1 2 8 7 , and it will be instructive to see how the price realised compares with the £ 1 40 paid last year for the i “ editio princeps , in original calf, of the earl er Hymns ” and Spiritual Songs , of which Peter Cunningham said in

‘ 1 854 that it is rarer than the first edit ion of The

’ Pilgrim s Progress , of which it is said only one copy

% The i . l D a N ews 2 2 n d 1 0 2 . is known y , February , 9

T OO % O T H E O N LAS B SALES F SEAS . O T NT O O I M P R A L CAL L TS .

The final book sale in Wellington Street , prior to the

2 8t h . long autumn recess , takes place on the inst and two Th following days . e first 84 entries in the catalogue

t . a rela e to books and M SS belonging to Mr . J mes Ward , N of ottingham . There can be no q u estion as to which I O NOTES ON A UNIQU E COPY

t i n - is the most impor ant book this series . I n t hese

u t he e i n col mns at time there was reported the purchas ,

t he N t - c i o tingham Market pla e , of the perhaps un que first

’ edition of D r . Isaac \Va t t s D ivine Songs Att empted i n

’ fo r se Easy Language the U of Children . It was pri n ted

fo r . 1 1 a n d Mr Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultry , 7 5,

t h e t r presen example , in contemporary English e d

V is i morocco , portrait by ertue in serted , of special nterest

‘ : T by reason of the autograph inscription o M rs .

’

% z n I . W . Eli abeth Ab ey, the work is dedicated to M rs

z a n Sarah , Mary , and Eli abeth Abney , between whom d

e the author a bond of deep friendship existed . An di ti o

‘ r i n ce s m p p of such a work , among the rarest and ost

’ n valuable to which genius has given existe ce ,

t t C t h e has paramount at rac ion for the ollector ; moreover ,

s 1 1 6 bu t econd issue , 7 , is known by one copy , th e earliest

s i 1 edition in the Briti h Museum being the n nth of 7 2 8 .

’ ’ D e a n d In ec mber last Watts Hymns Spiritual Songs ,

t 1 0 1 0 first edi ion , 7 7 , brought £ 4 at auction ; and it will be of int erest t o observe what value is placed on the even

’ D n rarer ivine So gs , purchased , it is said , for about a ” % The N o tti a i l a t u t . n h m D a G u r di a n fif h of that amo n g y ,

h 1 0 6t 2 . J uly , 9

s V M i s Henrietta Shirley Sanderson , of Bath ale ,

n . G Ma sfield , the lady from whom Mr eorge Bryan had

bought the books before mentioned , having seen the

t The N o tti n ha m D a i l G u a r di a n ar icle in g y , of February

1 1 th 1 0 2 , 9 , called on me at my place of business on South

zu d 1 0 2 . Parade on May , 9

u In the course of conversation abo t the above books ,

M iss Sanderson mentioned that Mr . Bryan gave her ” S D twenty hillings for the ivine Songs , and also

informed me that she is the great - grand - dau ghter of

- T CO D r . Meredith ownsend ( pastor with Isaac Watts , at

1 2 NOTES ON A UNIQU E COPY

N n t he o Stoke ewington) , and that she i herited book fr m

a d him . Miss Sanderson also stated that she h several other books which belonged to her great grandfather which she wished me to see . I said that I shou ld be very pleased to purchase them . At the Close of our brief interview I asked M iss Sanderson if she would accept , as I t a gift , a parcel of my publications , as anticipa ed h D ” disposing of t e ivine Songs on advantageous terms .

She was pleased to do so , and a few days later , forwarded to me two more works by Isaac Watts , one of which I T u . he ret rned other volume I purchased , which is a duodecimo , bound in scarlet morocco , with a portrait of

' W t e T Isaac a ts , engrav d by rotter as the frontis fl l f . O n e a piece the y of the book , which is in excellent th C t N o v . 1 1 G i r ondition , is writ en 3 7 94 ven to Ma y

T G O f ownsend , by her randfather in the Eightieth Year ” h Th . T e t e D his Age itle reads Psalms of avid ,

m it Ne w T I ated in the Language of the estament , And

s T applied to the Chri tian State and Worship . % wo

r l ti n . : . r i tu a u ota o s . Sc p q % London Printed for J F and C .

T . T . . . D Rivington , J Buckland , Longman , Field , C illy ,

G . and W . oldsmith

h 1 0 O 2 t 2 . n May 4 , 9 , Messrs Sotheby wrote Enclosed we have pleasure in sending you the man u script Sale Catalogue of your Collection , we shall be glad if you will kindly peruse it and return it to us for press at your early convenience , after we receive it from you it will of course be arranged in alphabetical order . We showed

’ the Copy of Watts D ivine Songs to a Client and he would like to purchase it privately if you would care to dispose of it in this manner and and will name the price we will negotiate with him but we do not wish in any way to i t recommend this , we merely suggest as we promised ” to do so . 1 OF A RARE B OO % . 3

O n t returning the manuscript Catalogue , I wro e to

’ “ ff a t s s D Messrs . Sotheby to the e ect that W t ivine ” u Songs sho ld be , in my opinion , sold with the other i books , as originally ntended .

2 th 1 0 2 I n reply I received a letter dated M ay 9 , 9

’ s We are in receipt of your letter of yesterday date , returning the manuscript Catalogue to u s . We note your

a n d d queries alterations , and will en eavour to follow them out . We are sure your decision as to the Watts is a ” correct one . Early in July I received a few of the printed

o Catalogues of the f rthcoming sale , and the following t h letter , dated J uly 4 Yo u have no d o ubt received the catalogue of t h e i sale conta ning your collections , the sale altogether is one of the most important that we shall have held d u ring the whole Season and the catalog u e was sent to America three weeks ago . We trust you are satisfied with the way we have compiled the catalogue of your t property , and we think you will admit hat we have done ” to t he W %ustice atts ,

In a fe w days I wrote to Messrs . Sotheby expressing an O pinion that I should suffer by the sale being so late in the season , as at the time fixed most people were leaving

Town .

I n reply I received the following letter , dated July

1 0 th

“ We are in receipt of your letter of the 9th inst . The Sale in which your books are included being one of unusual importance we are quite sure they will in no way

ff i n su er from being sold in July , instead of April , fact

u London is quite full at the present time , and f ll of book buyers . We are glad you are satisfied with the Catalogue . It is very diffi cul t to say how much the Watts may 1 4 NOTES ON A UNIQU E CO PY

ou realise , but we think we should not recommend y to part with i t for less than from a hundred to a hundred and fifty pounds to

O 2 8t h n the day of the sale , Monday , July , my brother went up to London as my representative (this he has done on previous occasions) , and as the book sales

’ O always commence at one clock , he arrived in good time , and found two gentlemen examining and making notes of ” V D v . the i ine Songs ery shortly after , the auctioneer

t he u a n d w ascended rostr m , the sale commenced ith a

o t h e s c py of Chapel Royal book of Anthem , bound in red morocco and elaborately tooled . Aft er the first

- twenty three lots had been quickly sold , there was a flutter of excitement on the production of the precious volume (lot 2 4) which for a great number of years had been most carefully preserved , and was now h about to change ands , we trusted , to find a final resting Th place in one of our great British libraries . e volume is thus described in the Catalog u e

‘ 7 4 WATTS (ISAAC ) D I V I N E S ON G S at t em pted i n Ea s y La n gu age fo r “ t h e Us e o f ldr n O u t o f t h e o u o f B s a n d S u ck Chi e , M th abe ” l n P r xxi 6 F I R ST s o u s t e r c d s t . 1 i g th ha p fe te ai e , M a t , ,

D o r tr a i t b V e r tu e i n s e r te d co n te m o r a r o ld En li sh E ITION , p y , p y g

r ed mo r occo H a r le i a n to o led sides i lt e n d a er s . e we ll r e , , g p p , g p

ser v e d r i n ted o r M . L a wr en ce a t the A n e l i n the P o u ltr 1 7 15 p f g y ,

U T H E Y C PY % W O F M I G N I QU E , ON L O NO N TH IS OST I NTEREST N

A N D P P A T T V M . O f t h e r l d t o n s t h e O UL R LI LE OLU E ea y e i i , s e co n d pu bli s hed t h e fo llo w i n g year 1 7 16 (on ly o n e so li ta ry copy

i s kn o w n r l e s t in t h e B r t s u s e u m i s t t o f n n t ) , the ea i i i h M ha i h

e d t o n 1 7 28 a n d o f t s o n l t w o o r t r Co s a r e k n o n . i i , h i y h ee pie w T H E A B OV E I s A P RESENTATION C O P Y F RO M TH E AUTHOR “ T H E r W ITH AUTOG RA P H I N SC R I PTION a s fo llo w s To M s . ” l z Th l m i E i abeth Abn e y I . W . e vo u e s dedi c ate d t o

S r M r s . a ah

M r n e . r s . Ma y a n d Ab y

M l z r s . E i a bet h F A E B O A R R OO% . 1 5

A B EAUTI FUL CO PY O F O N E O F T H E RAREST B OO % S I N TH E

E G A G AG . No w o n d r t n t t w e cl s s t he N LI SH L N U E e , he , ha a

’ D ivi n e S o n gs fo r Chi ldr e n a m o n gs t t h e r a r es t a n d m o s t

l r k t o e n u h a n l valu ab e w o s w h ic h g i s s give e xi s t e n ce . Chi dr e n

h i r l n r a n r W n li s p s ve s e s o g befo e they c ead t he m . e do i deed r ega r d thei r a u tho r a s o n e o f the g r e at be n e facto r s o f t he

u m n k n d a n d s r c d i n n m o n t t h e t m h a i , have ea he vai a gs o e s o f po et s o f fa r lo fti e r pr ete n s io n s fo r s o m a n y go lde n ve r s e s a s

’ a r t o o u n d i n t h e D n S o n s fo r l r n e be f ivi e g Chi d e .

Th e n 0 i auctioneer started the biddi g at £5 , wh ch was 1 2 quickly followed by bids of £5 , £5 , £53 , £54, and £55.

T 1 0 0 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 hen came bids of £ , £ 5, £ 35, £ 4 , £ 5 , and the book was finally knocked down fo r the sum of £ 1 55 to D . . 81 C o . Messrs J Pearson , ealers in Rare Books and

S . W . Autographs , of 5 Pall Mall Place , London , On the afternoon of the Sale I received the following telegram from my brother “ 6 . m . Handed in at 3 9 Strand at p , Received

0 . here at p m . Nottingham Jy 2 8 2 T o Ward South Parade Nottingham Watts sold for one H undred fifty five pounds sale Realised two hundred thirty

’ po u n ds fi For several days aft er t h e sale reports appeared in ff various newspapers , and friends in di erent parts of the country forwarded cuttings and marked papers . Some of these extracts are here reprod u ced as a permanent record of the interest excited by the sale of this unique book . V AL AB LE T D T O N A U FI RS E I I .

’ ’ The Wa t t s s D unique edition of Isaac ivine Songs , which Mr . James Ward so fortunately secured some

N - months ago in the ottingham Market place , was sold ’ m s u 1 . yesterday at Sotheby s , fetching the large of 55

The 1 1 t he copy , which bears date 7 5, is one of most notable little volumes which has come under the hammer 1 6 N OTES ON A UNIQUE COPY

for some time , for of the second edition of the book , that

1 1 6 t t o which appeared in 7 , only a soli ary copy is known exist , and the earliest in the British Museum is that of the ninth edition of which only two or three Co pies T are known . he book %ust sold possesses interest o n

. u o other grounds It is a presentation copy from the a th r ,

' ‘ f l % T o lo w z o . z n inscribed as s Mrs Eli abeth Ab ey . a n is z e d dedicated to the Misses Sarah , Mary , and Eli ab th

Abney , the family after which is named the Abney Park t T Ceme ery , London , Sir homas Abney having been one of the Lord Mayors of the City . Mr . Ward obtained the volume in the Nottingham Market - place from the stall of

- . N Mr Bryan , bookseller , of Park street , ottingham , the

2 sum paid for it being £ 5, so that the transaction has

u been a profitable one for the enth siastic local bibliophile , m ‘ ’ who has before now made any noteworthy finds . It was pu rchased by Mr . Bryan from a lady who was a

- . T co descendent of Mr ownsend , the pastor at Stoke

- e tti n ha m Newington of Isaac Watts . Th N o g D a i ly

G u a r di a n 2 t h 1 0 2 . , July 9 , 9 “ Amongst the collection of rare books and o ld

b . u manuscripts elonging to Mr James Ward , of So th

’ Parade , which were sold at Sotheby s in London on

D r Monday, was the only known existing copy of . Isaac

’ D n a fo r Watt s ivine So gs , Attempted in Easy L nguage ” the u se of Children . The book at au ction fetched the large su m of £1 55. Qu ite a little story attaches to the

is 1 1 a n d small volume , which dated 7 5, is personally

t . . . z dedica ed to Mrs Sarah , Mrs Mary , and Mrs Eli abeth T Abney , who were daughters of Sir homas Abney , Lord

. The u Mayor of London book , it seems , was p rchased

- . . s by Mr Ward from Mr Bryan , book eller , of Park street ,

i 2 2 . 5 . for £ 5, Mr Bryan having h mself given 5 for what he

T e u recognised no dou bt as a bargain . h vol me was

1 8 NOTES ON A UNIQU E COPY

u u u offered by Mr . Ward to the British M se m a thorities

T h 1 2 8 t , for £50 . hey have a copy of the nint ( 7 ) edi ion of which there are t wo or three other examples . . T he n imprint of the book sold on Mo day is Printed for M .

’

t . The N o tti n ha m Laurence at the Angel , in the Poul ry g

D a i l Ex r ess 2 th 1 0 2 . y p , July 9 , 9

E - T H SALE ROO M .

O D 1 0 1 1 0 n ecember 5, 9 , 4 was paid at auction for

' ’ ‘ ’ W a tt s s t a copy of Isaac Hymns and Spiri ual Songs ,

the 1 7 0 7 . A work by same divine provoked even keener

- . n I l competi t ion in Wellington Street to day U t Mr .

James Ward bought in a Midland county Market - place report says for about £3o % the present example of D ivine Songs , attempted in easy language for the use of

’ children , printed by Mr . Lawrence at the Angel in the

1 1 6 Poultry , the 7 issue , of which again one copy h w a s t e . Th e only is known , deemed to be earliest

o m T o volume is a presentati n fro the author , inscribed

z t Mrs . Eli abe h Abney , one of the three dedicatees .

. 2 . It consists of 49pp , with a pp table at the end , and the i i m. Th meas u rement s are 5% n . by 3 g e initial offer was of £50 ; then came one of £55 ; a t hird of £1 0 0 ; and

Messrs . Pearson , of Pall Mall Place , were the buyers at

% The l s ow H er a ld t h 1 G a 2 0 2 . g , J uly 9 , 9

I t D r seems certain that , whatever other copies of .

’ ’ Wa t t s s D 1 1 Isaac ivine Songs , 7 5, may be unearthed , that W t h lately re ali z ed the very high price of £ 1 55 at

’ Messrs . So theby s will retain its unique character . It was t not only a presen ation copy , but was given by the author ‘ T ’ o . z t he Mrs Eli abeth Abney , who is one of Mrs .

Abn e o ys t whom the little book is dedicated . A few weeks ago a Holborn bookseller had a copy of t he same edit ion

u (altho gh possibly not the example sold on Monday) , which a well - known bibliophile saw and might have

2 0 NOTES O N A UNIQU E COPY is going round that a Holborn bookseller recently had a copy of the same edition on sale for a shilling , and that a well known book buyer passed it by with contempt .

‘ ’ When the latter saw the D ivine Songs in the a u c

’ i n e e r s t o catalogue , he cursed his fate , hurried to the l Ho born shop , and discovered in despair that the shilling

. T tre asure had vanished here is danger in delay, even in

h . . . . T e book collecting late Mr W R Hughes , who D formed one of the finest ickens libraries in the world , w i t ’ never trusted to the post . I ired for , he would say , ” when he had secured a particularly valuable treasure .

The u n da Chr on i cle 1 0 th 1 0 2 . S y , August , 9 AS an apology for printing this brochure I Should explain that during the past three years I have presented to my friends at Christmas a specially printed book . The thought therefore occurred to me to prepare “ D one relating to the ivine Songs , similar to the

The G Recent History of a York radual , dated

Christmas , Before sending the D ivine Songs to London for sale, I thoughtlessly omitted to have photographs taken ,

. o and a collation made , of the book H wever , I wrote to

Messrs . Sotheby asking the permission of their client to T privately print a pamphlet . hey kindly interested themselves in the matter, as may be seen from the fo llo wm e 1 th 1 0 2 g letter , dated Sept mber 9 , 9 , which I

. o . received from Messrs . J Pearson C :

O . Messrs . Sotheby C handed us a letter which we believe came from you in reference to a copy of the first edition of Watts ’ D ivine Songs that we purchased in their rooms on behalf of a client . We forwarded the

‘ letter and accompanying pamphlet to our customer , and

1 The R ce n t H st o r o f Yo r k G r a du a l r e v o u l a llu d t . ( ) e i y a , p i s y de o R 2 1 OF A ARE BOO% . have %ust heard that he is willing to have a pamphlet o n the sub%ect compiled and printed as su ggested . Will yo u therefore kindly communicate with u s .

O . n receipt of this letter I wrote to Messrs Pearson , asking if they wou ld kindly obtain photographs of the

- binding and title page , and also a collation of the book . T e 2 6th h y replied on September , as follows Herewith we have the pleasu re of enclosin g t photographs of the title , binding , and also leaf wi h

o u fo r au tograph of Watts . Although y did not ask the latter we think perhaps you may like to make a block from it , as it is really a dedication inscription to the lady for whom Watts had this copy specially bound . The following is a full collation

1 0 11. D 2 a A B to in twelves , with portr it after Isaac Who o d (a short notice of him is in the D ictionary of National Biography) engraved by G eorge V ertue facing

6 1 ot . n . the title I n all 3 1 . counting the portrait Each leaf measures 5§ in . by 3h in .

The % book is made up as follows Portrait , title ,

z dedication to the Mrs . Sarah , Mary and Eli abet h Abney

A2 A8 c A8 to re to, on the reverse of commences the

A1 O the preface which goes on to verso .

’ The D B 1 D I ivine Songs extend from to , 49 pp . the Table occupying the reverse of D 1 and obverse of

D 2 , the last page being blank .

The T dedication is dated from heobalds , J u ne

1 8 1 1 . , 7 5 Any other information you may require we will gladly give .

t he fo llo wm I afterwards received g letter , dated October 2 n d “ We omitted to tell yo u that the owner of the

’ D - Watts ivine Songs is the well kno wn Mr . J . Pierrepont 2 2 NOT ES O N A UN I QUE COPY

N O Morgan . doubt you will mention this in your little wor k . Would you oblige us with an additional copy for ” ourselves . Thus ends my story of the acquisition and disposal

’ “ of a Copy of Watts D ivine Songs . The book n o t being one of the cl a ss I collect (I confine myself chiefly to t collec ing local history , I bought it entirely as a commercial speculation , and had not the slightest compunction in parting with it . Since the aforegoing transactions my attention has been drawn to a most interesting illustrated article entitled T he Romance of ” The Con n oi sseu r Book Collecting , by the Editor of ,

The L on don M a a zi n e t which appeared in g for Sep ember , Th 1 0 2 . e 9 article , which contains no reference to the D ’ ivine Songs , and which can be commended to the notice of all who read my brief narrative , commences and terminates as follows Few people realise the number of delightful

t - surprises that the book collec or of to day experiences . Nearly every one has heard of books being bought for a fe w pence which afterwards turned out to be wor t h hundreds of pounds , but it is generally supposed that such

finds were all exhausted years ago , and that nowadays there is very little Chance of finding valuable books on

- t second hand books alls or in old curiosity shops . Book collectors know better . Books worth more t han their weight in gold are still being picked up in all sorts of

- o f- - a re out the way places , and romantic incidents still T leading to such discoveries . hey may not be met with m by every one , and someti es an enthusiast hunts for years before lighting on anything worth securing , but in much searchi ng after books the true bibliophile finds no fl weariness of the esh , for he is cheered by the knowledge that of the finding of books there is no end . E B 2 OF A RAR OO % . 3

In t hese pages I have been telling of some of the strange places and ways in which book collectors have recently made valuable discoveries . I have only mentioned a T few exceptionally high prices . hose who like to read records may be interested to learn that a Copy of the

l e M en tz P sa t r . , sold to Mr Pierpont Morgan cost the

’ buyer abou t A copy of Ca xt o n s Ry a l B ook was sold last March for and a copy of the first

’ ’ t P i l r im s P r o r ess edi ion of Bunyan s g g , which was

1 6 8 e i hte e n e n ce published in 7 at g p , is now worth

AM E D J S WAR .

S ou th P a r a de ,

N o tti n ha m g , i Chr stma s , 7 902 .