Excerpt from Book-Lore, Vol. 3: A Magazine Devoted to Old Time Literature; December, 1885 May, 1886Between February, 1675, and February, were issued seven auction catalogues. One of these comprised the library of Dr. Benj. Worsley, and duorum aliorum Doctorum Preestantium. This catalogue introduces us to two new names as auctioneers, viz John Dunmore and Rich. Chiswell, book sellers. The sale was held at the house over against the Hen and Chickens, in Paternoster Row, and began on the 13th of May, 1678. This is classified, but each class is arranged alphabetically. It is the first example of this mode which is specially referred to by the auctioneers as being adopted for the more ease and Satisfaction of all Buyers. Two or three other interesting particulars may be gleaned from the preface to this catalogue. First, that the method of the sale of books by auction had met with good approbation and acceptance from all Lovers of Books. Secondly, that a suspicion had got abroad that a system of running up, or raising the prices of the books by indirect means - a system perhaps not quite unknown in our own days - was to be resorted to. The auctioneers emphatically deny this, and affirm that it is a groundless and malicious suggestion of some of our own trade envious of our undertaking and they proceed to say that to avoid all suspicion they have refused to accept commissions to buy in this sale - the first example of the word being used in this sense. In another sale, November 11, 1678, which included the libraries of Dr. John Godolphin and Dr. Owen Phillips, and of which Cooper again appears as the auctioneer, it may be noted that, according to the preface, the method of selling books by auction was so well established as to need neither apology nor explanation. The place of sale is interesting from a topographical point of view.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis 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.