viii Introduction 



date of the catalogue in which the volume quoted 

 appears — thus giving the reader an opportunity 

 to order any item that may take his fancy. 



It was most fortunate that while this work was 

 in press, the sale, by the Anderson Auction Co. 

 of New York, of the remarkable collection of 

 excessively rare and unique colored plate books 

 made by the late William C. Dulles of Philadel- 

 phia was announced. The sale took place on the 

 evenings of December lo, ii, 12, 1912, and was 

 largely attended by buyers from all parts of the 

 United States. The prices that wealthy collectors 

 are willing to pay for choice and unusual copies 

 of this class of " picture books " will be found 

 opposite each lot. It is the latest word regarding 

 the values of colored plate items, from the Ameri- 

 can collectors' point of view. 



As a general rule no lot is included that is worth 

 less than five dollars, or one pound sterling. 



F. P. H. 



Princeton, 191 3. 



