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Editorials and resolutions in memory of Samuel Putnam Avery
Editorials and resolutions in memory of Samuel Putnam Avery Author:Samuel Putnam Avery Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: est pleasure. He had in his sentiments all the delicacies of his artistic taste. —Henri Pene Dubois, in Chicago Examiner, August 18, 19o4. THE BIBLIOPHILE ... more » THE vagaries and habits of the collector are legion, while his motives are as varied as his habits. Some men collect books for investment, resell their libraries, and gloat over the profits; others buy purely with the idea of reading, while again some have the dual motive of pleasure in reading rare books and of a shrewd investment. To none of these classes did the late Mr. Samuel P. Avery belong. He was a collector primarily for his own pleasure and delectation, and secondarily for the purpose of doing good to those to whom he was a benefactor and of helping those from whom he was a purchaser. He was that rara avis, an altruistic collector. Mr. Avery began life as an engraver on copper, and early had his attention drawn to the artistic and mechanical part of book-making. He was once employed by a bank note company. It was natural, therefore, that all through his career he should be an ardent admirer as well as collector of specimens of fine book-making, as regards type, illustration, and general format. Mr. Avery also practised wood engraving, and became very skilful at his art. He compiled andillustrated several volumes of humorous quality, and those who knew him soon discovered that he possessed a keen sense of humor. 11 was a matter of course that when The Grolier Club was founded in 1884 Mr. Avery should take a deep interest in its object and work, and all through his career he was a constant attendant at its meetings, working on important committees, besides serving the club as its president. It is said that his record for attendance at the monthly members' meetings exceeded that of any other member of this ...« less