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Got Even With the Man Who Defaced Some of His Precious Volumes. From the New York Advertiser.

One of the most prominent of the old New York book collectors was William Menziest who belonged to the group which had as members John Allen, J. Carson Brevoort, J. B. and Charles C. Morean, William J. Davis and others. Like Allen, he was a Scotchman, but unlike the antiquarian, who lived in Vandewater street until every one else had moved uptown, he was very careful as to the condition of his books. Allen was satisfied with a great number of volumes, and was indifferent as to the state they were in, but Menzies only admitted into his library the very finest copies of the books he collected, and consequently had not such a large collection as his friend. Though engaged in the lumber business, he found time to collect books, and, as he grew older, his library became, like Cotton Mather's, "Ye darling of his little enjoyments," and most of his leisure time was passed among his treasured volumes.

Menzies sold his book collections in 1876, because he found himself growing too old to attend to it properly, and was unwilling to have it pass into the hands of those who might not appreciate it, and, though! he did not die until a few years ago, hel lived so quietly that few of the present day collectors know much about him, though they all knew how careful he was in his selection of books. An old New York book, dealer, who knew well the late collector, recently told a story which illustrated Menzies's love for his books. One of the collector's country customers came to town, late one afternoon, and, calling at his of fice, just missed Menzies, who had gone home. Not knowing where he lived, the countryman went to his hotel for the night. The next morning he was up early and got Menzies's address from the hotel directory. So he called informally on the collector about 7 o'clock, and, to amuse himself while waiting in the library, opened one of the cases and took down one of the Dibdins-Menzies's especial pride-and went through the volume carelessly, leav ing on every page the grimy traces of his reading. Then he inspected another book -a totally uncut volume, with many unopened leaves-and in the course of his inspection used his hastily washed fingers as paper cutters.

While he was thus engaged Menzies entered the room and almost wept at the sight. Still, he said nothing, greeted the customer pleasantly and transacted the business on hand, and the countryman departed.

"Thus far," said the book dealer, "Menzies used to tell the story to me, and then he would stop. But the tale was not yet ended, and, knowing this, I would ask him if he had never scolded his customer for his careless handling of his highlyprized books.

"Never,' he would say: 'I did not refer to the affair, but I charged him for the damage in the bills I rendered several times.'

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BOOKS RELATING TO AMERICA,

An unapproachable series of BIBLIOGRAPHICAL WORKS and Fine Specimens
of EARLY TYPOGRAPHY, many of the EARLIEST BOOKS
printed in the North American Colonies,

A REMARKABLE AND

Unique Collection of Illustrated Works of Very Great Value,

AUTOGRAPH LETTERS BY WASHINGTON,

Books in General Literature, &c.

It is especially worthy of note that the entire collection is in the first possible condition, and that
in the qualities of rarity, beauty, and intrinsic value it far surpasses any collection
that has ever been offered for sale in America, the

WHOLE OF WHICH WILL BE DISPOSED OF BY AUCTION

AT THE SALE ROOMS OF

MESSRS. GEO. A. LEAVITT & CO.,

CLINTON HALL, ASTOR PLACE AND EIGHTH STREET, NEW YORK,

ON

Monday, Nov. 13, and following days,

COMMENCING at

Three and a-half o'clock, and Seven and a-half o'clock, p. m., each day.

TWO SESSIONS DAILY.

3 and a half o'clock to 6 o'clock p.m., and 7 and la-half o'clock to 10 o'clock p.m..

The books will be ready for examination for eight days previous to the sale.

Admittance by card only, which may be obtained on application to the Auctioneers.

Gentlemen unable to be present may have purchases made for them by J. SABIN & SONS, 84 Nassau
Street; H. B. LANE, 27 Lafayette Place; C. DE F. Burns, 127 Mercer Street; or by the Auctioneers.

PRICE TWO DOLLARS.

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