BELGIUM Yes, pity for thine unjust need The eyes that weep, the hearts that bleed But envy of thy radiance for thy valor, praise. The glory of thy spirit And proudly be thy debtor until the end of days. Introductory Rote The items offered in this sale comprise various classes: First, the books, with autograph inscriptions, presented by members of the Authors Club. Secondly, the autograph copies given by other authors. Thirdly, paintings and original drawings contributed by artist members of the Authors Club, by other artists, and by various publishers. In the fourth class will be found sets and single volumes given by publishers. The fifth class of items includes manuscripts, autograph letters, and books, presented by members of the Authors Club or obtained by them for this sale. Every volume or set is accompanied by the Authors Club book-plate, signed by the artist, George Wharton Edwards. On all sides coöperation has been prompt and generous. The Committee of Arrangements received thankfully aid from many members of the Authors Club, and from authors who do not belong to this organization; and special thanks are also due to the publishers and the dealers in rare books and manuscripts, whose names are recorded on a subsequent page. Grateful recognition is made of the services of those artists who have aided us, especially George Wharton Edwards, Walter Russell, Penrhyn Stanlaws, and J. Walter Taylor. The press has been very kind in giving publicity to this sale; and, finally, we would express our special gratitude for the generous courtesy of The Anderson Galleries in printing without any charge, as their contribution to the cause of the Belgian sufferers. All the items included in this Catalogue have been given; and the individual books and the sets either contain inscriptions in the autograph of the authors or are accompanied by autograph letters. No such literary sale as this has ever taken place in America; and the sentiments inscribed in many of the books-sentiments relating to an unparalleled event in the annals of mankind-give this collection a unique historical interest. So many important association items are included that it may seem invidious to particularize; but we cannot forbear mentioning the manuscript of an unpublished story by Mark Twain, obtained through the courtesy of his literary executor, Albert Bigelow Paine; a manuscript by Colonel Roosevelt, and the series of books autographed by Mr. Howells, the dean of American letters. Through the generosity of their publishers, many of the deceased members of our Club are here represented, notably Lowell, Whittier, Stevenson, Arnold, Higginson, Stedman, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. It remains for the Committee to emphasize once more their gratitude for the aid spontaneously rendered during the weeks of preparation for this sale, and to express the hope that the worthiness of the cause, no less than the intrinsic value of the items offered, will lead to generous bidding. For, when all is said, the success of our efforts must now depend upon the sympathetic coöperation, not alone of book-collectors, but of all in this community who feel for the Belgian sufferers. The fund obtained by this sale will be forwarded to the American Minister at The Hague, our fellow-member, the Hon. Henry Van Dyke, who will give his personal attention to its distribution. ROSSITER JOHNSON, JAMES HOWARD BRIDGE, JOSEPH SPENCER KENNARD, Committee of Arrangements. THE AUTHORS CLUB New York, May, 1915. A priced copy of this edition of the Catalogue may be purchased after the sale for $1.00. An edition of 250 copies has been printed for the Authors Club on heavy paper, uncut, which are offered at $1.00 each; priced copies, $2.00. |