Conditions of Sale

1. All bids to be per Lot as numbered in the Catalogue.

2. The highest bidder to be the buyer; in all cases of disputed bids the lot shall be resold, but the Auctioneer will use his judgment as to the good faith of all claims and his decision shall be final.

3. Buyers to give their names and addresses and to make such cash payments on account as may be required, in default of which the lots purchased to be immediately resold.

4. Goods bought to be removed at the close of each sale. If not so removed they will be at the sole risk of the purchaser and this Company will not be responsible if such goods are lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.

5. Terms Cash. If accounts are not paid at the conclusion of each Sale, or, in the case of absent buyers, when bills are rendered, this Company reserves the right to recatalogue the goods for immediate sale without notice to the defaulting buyer, and all costs of such resale will be charged to the defaulter. This condition is without prejudice to the rights of the Company to enforce the sale contract and collect the amount due without such resale at its own option.

6. All goods are sold as catalogued, and are assumed to be in good second-hand condition. If material defects are found, not mentioned in the catalogue, the lot may be returned. Notice of such defects must be given promptly and the goods returned within ten days from the date of the sale. No exceptions will be made to this rule.

7. Bids. We make no charge for executing orders for our customers. We use all bids competitively and buy at the lowest price permitted by other bids.

PREFACE.

THE

HE Chamberlain Library is by far the most important collection of First Editions of American Authors ever offered for sale. Not only did Mr. Chamberlain profit by the experience of previous collectors, but he brought to his work a most unusual personal equipment. An enthusiastic lover of his books, their quest was to him a delightful recreation and relief from the exacting duties of his professional life. To enthusiasm he added system and untiring industry, while his wonderful memory and ability to analyze, correlate, and properly estimate facts overlooked by others, give peculiar interest and value to his work.

Mr. Chamberlain was born in India of American parentage on July 3, 1860, being the son of Jacob Chamberlain, M.D., D.D., and in 1872 was brought to this country to complete his education. He graduated with honors from Rutgers College, in 1882. In 1883 he took a post-graduate course in chemistry; soon after he entered Thomas A. Edison's laboratory and took active part in the pioneer electric lighting work of those days. From this time to his sudden death in 1905 he followed his profession with marked success, and was identified with many important enterprises. He was one of the early members of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and of the Electric Club. He was also a member of the Colonial, Engineers, Grolier, and other clubs.

The entire Collection here offered (including the Second Part hereinafter referred to) was gathered in the short period of about five years, and the work of collecting was never delegated to others. Each book was bought, examined, collated, and catalogued by Mr. Chamberlain, personally, and when a better copy of the same work could be obtained the old one was ruthlessly laid aside. This Catalogue, as far as its necessary limitations would permit, will show how carefully and well this work was done.

In this connection it may be well to point out that while the chief interest and value belong to the first issue of each

577285

book, the later issues of the same edition, and later editions which show important variations, all possess high bibliographical interest and should be found in all collections which aim to be complete. Many books have bibliographical notes by Mr. Chamberlain laid in, the results of his careful investigation, which materially enhance their value.

Attention is called to the remarkably fine condition of these books. No collector has ever before so loved his books as to provide a special and expensive cover for nearly every book in the best style of the binder's art. Mr. Chamberlain always preferred to retain his books in their original covers as issued. To him it seemed sacrilegious and destructive of old associations to rebind an old and treasured book; and so he gave to each an attractive outer garment of its own, which not only preserved it from deterioration, but satisfied the aesthetic sense. In the case of some minor items the cost of the cover exceeded the value of the book and the total cost was necessarily great. Many other books, the more rare and valuable ones, have been furnished with beautiful levant cases, worthy of their costly contents.

All of the books and many of the pamphlets contain the CHAMBERLAIN BOOKPLATE, and many have the bookplates of other eminent collectors and previous owners. "Hallmarks of distinction," and "a sort of guarantee of authenticity, they are called by Mr. Joline in his delightful "Diversions of a Book Lover."

It will be noted that this Catalogue is called "PART ONE," and that it is limited to the first editions of "TEN AMERICAN AUTHORS." But Mr. Chamberlain was not indifferent to the choice works of other authors and became the owner of many such. PART TWO of the catalogue will include these books, many of which are of the highest interest and dear to the heart of all American Collectors.

It may be well to say that all responsibility for this preface and the personal note which it discloses belong to the writer alone. It was his privilege to know Mr. Chamberlain, to browse among his books and to profit by the larger knowledge of his friend: and this fact will explain and palliate all that is discursive and personal.

EMORY S. TURNER.