Catalogue of the Library of the Late Winston H. Hagen (Classic Reprint)

Download or read book Catalogue of the Library of the Late Winston H. Hagen (Classic Reprint) written by Winston H. Hagen and published by Forgotten Books. This book was released on 2017-12-16 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Catalogue of the Library of the Late Winston H. Hagen I have been asked to write a few words by way of introduction to the catalogue of the library of my dear friend, Winston H. Hagen. It is hardly necessary to do so, as the well selected and beautifully proportioned character of the collection speaks for itself, and it is at once evident to the most casual observer that it was formed by one intimately familiar with the history and development of English literature. Mr. Hagen often said that when he first began buying rare books, he had formed a plan to secure a small but important collection which should consist of the monumental works of the leading authors from Chaucer to the present day. For instance, a First Folio Shakespeare, 1623; Paradise Lost, 1667; Burton's Anatomy, 1621; Pope's Dunciad, 1728; Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield, 1766, and so on until he should cover the development of our literature from the early days to our own time. But gradually, while still pursuing this intelligent plan, he found himself from time to time enlarging his scope here and there as seemingly unusual opportunities occurred to add treasures that he found too attractive to resist. So almost unconsciously he found himself a general collector of all English writers. Hagen was a collector because he was essentially a book lover and student of literature, and did not buy simply to add a rare item to his catalogue, that aside from its rarity had little else to recommend it. And so it has developed that, in my opinion, a better planned collection within its well-defined limits has never been dispersed by auction. And now this splendid result of a lifetime is to be broken up, and those cherished volumes are to find other homes and other owners. Perhaps it is better so. I remember the late Robert Hoe returning from abroad told me of the neglect he had seen in some famous libraries, where priceless Caxtons were carelessly thrown into open bin-like shelves, and covered with grime and dust, permitted to lie there neglected and forgotten. "No," said he, "rare books should go to those who value and love them." This is no doubt the reason his library was dispersed by auction and not bequeathed to an institution. When I come to turn over hastily the proof sheets of this collection, I am struck by its completeness. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.