34 BOOKS OF SECRETS. 



to think of that wlien another copy is found which satisfies our fastidious 

 taste. Besides, another copy may never appear, and that which was 

 secured may be the sole survivor of the edition. Moreover, supposing 

 there be another copy, instead of being in better state than that which 

 was despised and allowed to slip, it may be in worse ; the lesson whereof 

 is, let no opportunity pass. 



When such rarities occur, a copy in unusually fine condition, a hitherto 

 unknown treatise or edition, it is customary to acclaim it as unique, but 

 that- is an epithet which should be taken with a lot of salt, for when once 

 the hunt is up it is surprising how other copies come to light and infringe 

 the monopoly. Still, among the books of Secrets there are a few which 

 are provisionally unique. The pursuit and acquisition of such specimens 

 afford some temporary amusement and gratification to the collector. 



Research on this subject seemed at first simple, for all that had to be 

 done was to find the books and describe them. But, as has been shown 

 above and as anyone can prove who tries, the finding of the books involves 

 a tedious waiting on protracted time. There is besides the question of 

 cost, which is one of the most significant changes of these latter days. 

 There has been a steady advance in the price of the books as a whole, 

 and a preposterous rise in the case of some, such as gardening and 

 cookery. A raw curiosity is pursuing the old books, and as their number 

 is small and that of their hunters is growing the value of available copies 

 has been correspondingly enhanced. So it happens now that books 

 which were plentiful enough a generation or two ago when nobody cared 

 for them have disappeared from the market and cannot be got at all. 



The description of them too is at first easy, and then as usual up 

 spring hydra-headed difficulties which are not despatched at one stroke. 

 There are doubts about authors, doubts about first and other editions. 

 There are different editions in the same year, not impossible with a speedy 

 sale ; there is the same edition in different years, or in different size and 

 form in the same year. There are doubts about readings, doubts about 



