A. Edward Newton

Alfred Edward Newton (1863-1940) was an American author, publisher, and avid book collector. He is best known for his book "Amenities of Book Collecting" (1918) which sold over 25,000 copies. At the time of his death it was estimated that he had approximately 10,000 books in his collection, focusing on English and American literary works, the major part of which were auctioned by Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York in April, May, and October 1941. Highlights of the sale included the autograph manuscripts of Thomas Hardy's novel "Far From the Madding Crowd" and Charles Lamb's essay "Dream Children." However, the fall in rare book prices steadily through the Great Depression meant that many sold lots brought only a fraction of prices they would have realized at the time of the Jerome Kern sale in 1929. The three volume Newton sale catalogue remains a useful reference for literature collectors.