The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-03
THE ASTOR library

THE RECENT ADDITIoN-RARE BOOKS on EXHIBITION
The opening of the addition to the Astor Libra
ry by which the size and convenience of that inst
tuition are doubled, has made necessary complete
re re-arrangement of the books. The new building
will be devoted to the works on bellies lpttres while
the older portion will be occupied by the scientific
DOCKS The alcOyes are designated by the letters
OF the alphabet, and the presses or rows of shelves
IN the acoves, by numbers. The completed system
will enable the librarians to gain access to the differ
ent books with the least possible difficulty Mr.
Coggswel, the accomplished and energetic librari-
an, deserves the thanks of the public for the nte-
gence and industry with which he has managed this
part OF his task Since the first of August we are
told, he has worked upon it from two and three
o'clock in the morning till ten at night.
Tuesday and Wednesday the books not exhibited
except Tor special purposes, were publicly shown to
all who chose to visit the library. They were laid
upon the long tables in the new building, and in
spected by large number Of visitors the majority
being ladies. All of these works are very vaITable
some very rare and few wholly unique Amonr
the latter may be mentioned singular Armenian
manuscript work on Martyroogy, beautifully iIIu-
minated, and said to be eight hundred wears old II
Is written with the most scrupulous exactness and
In the character now used in Armenian PRINTING II
is left for inspection by Mr.. Oscanvan who declares
it to be the only copy of the work known. Another
remarkable work is a huge folio yolume-an Anti
phonale-as used in the Catholic churches This
giant tome Is bound in morocco, and heavily Or
namented with brass cO-nces and clasps The
leaves are vellum, frequently adorned with fancy
letters and small water-color pantinus and +he
Latin words are accompanied by the music written
IN four slaves, without bars and with the obsolete
notes once in vogue, and still used in the LARGE con-
tinenta churches
At the religious services these mssals are placed
upon bookstand, and the officiating priests can
read the large printed words and the notes fr N
their seats several feet distant. The Cathedra, of
Siena possesses some of the finest msa in existence
The present is said to have been used the corona
tion of Charles " of France, in 1895. A curious
work is Hugden's "POly Chronicon." printed bv
CaxtOn in London, 1882. 1t is of quarto size. very
thick, and printed in the old English letter.
Another old book is Bartholomew ..De Proprieta-
thus Rerum," printed in l494, ty Wvnkvn de
Worde. 1t is rather curious that the venerable
specimens of literary and mechanical skill, mo-
duced at about the time when Columbus first sailed
on his great expedition should, after nearly four
centuries, find a permanent resting place in
the new world which he discovered
A book interesting to Shakesperian scholars is a
first folio edition of Shakespearcs works dated
London, 1923. Among the most attractive works
is magnificent series of superbv colored plates
in three imperial folio volumes. representing the
trescoes in the 'Loggie di Rataclle in the Vatican
10 all practical intents, these copies are more in
teresting than the original At the Vatican, the
visitor is forced almost to dislocate his neck in
gazing at the out-ofthe-way corners where Raf-
taelle has lavshed his artistic wealth. while often
the designs defaced by time as to be almost
lost. These beautiful plates of course on reduced
scale, give an excellent idea of the immense inge-
nuity rather than the genius of the great painter
Audubon's "Birds of America" in four volumes
elephant folio, together with Scott's "Border An
tiquities," and other Illustrated works. were also
on exhibition. oday the most valuable of these
books returned to their restingplaces on care
tully-guarded shelves, and henceforth only be
seen by means of a special permit
report has gained credencc that the new por-
tion of the Astor Library was destined as public
reading-room, to be furnished with periodicals.
papers, &c, to which the public would be allowed
access both dav and evening. This is probably an
error, as the librarians have been informed of no
such arrangement, and the utter absence Of gas
fixtures in the building would indicate that as
hitherto the library viii be closed at sundown.-
N. Y. Evening Post.