When you want to support . . .

 

In times of distress, dealers and the collecting community in the rare books

field have made common cause to both raise the flag and raise money for 

the disadvantaged. Such events tend to disappear in the miasma of uncertain

times. One such event was an occasion to voice support to the English People.

It’s date: July 3^rd, 1941.

 

 

 

A Catalogue

Of

BOOKS AND MSS.

To be sold for

The

 

Distress Fund

On Aid of Booksellers who

Have suffered loss

From Bombing

 

Organized by

The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association

 

Which Will be Sold by Auction By

Messrs.

Hodgson & Co.

(Established 1807)

 

At their Rooms

115 Chancery Lane

London, W.C.2

 

On Thursday, July 3^rd, 1941

At One o’clock

 

 

More recent but long receding into dissolving memory there was an auction staged as

 

Literary Auction

 

Autograph Letters / Manuscripts

First Editions

 

Tuesday, April 23, 1968

Exhibition: 1:00 – 7:45 PM

 

Held at the

Ethical Culture Society

2 West 64^th Street

 

Auction Hall courtesy of the

Ethical Culture Society

 

 

 

This sale was especially well designed. Every item’s donor was listed. Every item’s virtues were concisely described. As well, their Sponsors List was included subject to space. That list also included um-teen hyper-famous personalities.

 

This sale probably drew a crowd just to see the crowd.

 

How did the sale did? Not particularly well. Almost all lots sold but the prices were modest. What turned out to be both good politics and good investments: ? Original manuscript material.

 

Net net. Both of these sales remind us that authors and collectors have stepped up when the chips were down.