Show MILTON BIBLE IS DISPUTED autographs in famous barac book may be forged new york it were alive today to day probably he would find the text or another chapter 0 hla amenities of literature in what promises to become an historic international controversy over the authenticity of the milton breeches bible following fallowing Fal lowing the declaration that the book la not that from which the daughter of the blind bard of paradise lost read to him in bis declining days and that the so called autographs of himself the milton breeches bible and his third wife written therein are forgeries the situation has taken an acute turn first definite action came when george H richmond a dealer who bought the volume tor 1225 at a sale by the american auction corn pany insisted upon returning it and having the sale canceled he was met by representatives of the auction corn pany with a flat refusal to accept it but a partial compromise was effected by which the bible was left in the custody of the company as depository mr richmond agreeing to take out a policy of insurance upon it although no money tor the purchase has yet exchanged hands ath the question of ownership thus banging in the balance prompt measures were taken to refute the charges made against the integrity of the work as one of the rare treas ores of literature as it had been characterized by high authorities and communication was begun with professors of literature and connoisseurs in europe who are familiar with the book toy the purpose of obtaining their opinions at the same time experts in this city were called to make an exhaustive examination of the book and the inscriptions n it their find ings to be contrasted with those of the foreign authorities and with the history of the volume from the ear blest date obtainable |