Collecting old Hungarian books

8 Órai Ujság, July 1923 (Volume 9, No. 146-170)

The collection of old Hungarian books is largely stagnant, according to the statements of antiquarians. The owners of existing collections are still happy to sacrifice large sums of money for a rarity that is still missing from their collections, but there are no new book collectors who collect with expertise, competence and within predetermined frames and periods. The rich today consider books more as home decorations, they buy good books, but the most important thing is the beautiful binding, because they already feel that the library makes the room level, friendly, and pleasant. Nándor Gottermayer, the famous old downtown bookbinder, said that one such wealthy man sent him a bunch of the worst books, magazines, three or four of which were from the same year, and he bound all this garbage, which was worthless even at today's prices, in the finest morocco leather bindings just so that the external decoration of the library would not be missing from his room.

That is why there is a strong decline in the number of beautifully bound German collector's editions, and many people are currently collecting the so-called amateur editions of Hungarian books that are being published, which are sold in small numbers, on gorgeous handmade paper, in ornate bindings, and at very high prices.

Most old collectors would be willing to part with their collections at today's prices, but here, as everywhere else, the private seller can never get a fair price for his treasures. The intermediary trade profits the most, even on books.