Most people buy books to read. Literary people buy them to reread. Bibliophiles buy them to see, touch and to ponder their histories. Shrewd men buy them to sell. More and more potent becomes the last-named reason. The shy bibliophile who has picked up some musty, stained bibelot in a sulphurous basement often has apologetic recourse to the sales value of his purchase. Criticized, he will smile slyly, hint: "Wait and see what I can raise on it!" Under cover of this practical sounding alibi he conceals his...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
