Wilkinson, on resolving to
prospect in one parcel more before he overtook me, my eye rested
an instant only on the long-lost Benjamin, clean and unspotted. I
instantly closed the parcel (which was described in the Catalogue as
Lot '531 Psalmes, other editions, 1630 to 1675 black letter, a parcel')
and tightened the string just as Alfred came to lay it on the table. A
cool-blooded coolness seized me, and advancing to the table behind Mr.
Lilly I quietly bid, in a perfectly natural tone, 'Sixpence,' and so
the bids went on increasing by sixpence until half a crown was reached,
and Mr. Lilly had loosened the string. Taking up this very volume he
turned to me and remarked that 'This looks a rare edition, Mr. Stevens,
don't you think so? I do not remember having seen it before,' and
raised the bid to five shillings. I replied that I had little doubt of
its rarity though comparatively a late edition of the Psalms,
at the same time gave Mr. Wilkinson a six-penny nod. Thenceforth a
'spirited competition' arose between Mr. Lilly and myself, until
finally the lot was knocked down to 'Stevens' for nineteen shillings. I
then called out with perhaps more energy than discretion, 'Delivered!'
On pocketing this volume, leaving the other seven to take the usual
course, Mr. Lilly and others inquired with some curiosity, 'What rarity
have you got now?' 'Oh, nothing,' said I, 'but the first English book
printed in America.
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