Evening star., 1886-11-06
RARE OLD BOOKS.
THE RICH MANUSCRIPTS AND VALUABLE
BOOKS COLLECTED BY A BLACKSMITH-vALr
UABLE RESULTS GAINED BY CULTIvATING A
TASTE FOR BOOKS

| FHE RICH MANUSCRIPTS AND VALUABLE
| BOOKS COLLECTED BY A BLACKsMITH-vAL~
| UABLE RESULTS GAINED BY CULTIvATING A
| TASTK FOR BOOKS.
| A private library composed almost entirely
| of rare manuscripts and richly illustrated and
valuable old books Is not often collected. Such
| an achievement requires the persistent waiting
| and watching Of years, in addition to q genuine
| love tor books. Such q library, however, has
| been collected In this city by Mr.. Frederick
\ Schneider, who is we'll known as one of the
oldest residents of the District. 1t Is only few
| years since Mr.. Schneider retired from active
business. and during the fifty-four years that he
has lived In this District the greatest part of his
working days has been given to the hard and
exacting toll OF the forge. He was brought up
! to the trade of a blacksmith, working with his
| father who came over to this country rom
| Germany when his son was twenty-One years
of age. The elder Schneider located his forge In
this city near what was then known as the
| glasshouse, in the First ward. Mr.. Schneider
during the greater part OF his early manhood
and middle life gave his days TO the unremit-
tlng toll OF his trade and his nights and the few
holiday houls that came to him In these years
to his books. In the course of time his humble
blacksmith shop became foundry, and
one of the leading establishments in the
District subsequently he gave his attention
to the hardware store at the corner Of 18th
street and Pehnsy sylvania avenue, which Is still
conducted by his son. Now, at the age OF
seventy-five, MIR. Schneider, relieved from the
cares of business, ,devOtes his entire attention TO
his books He lives in the large, comfortable
brick house on H street, bei ween 18th and
18th, where that street enters Pennsylvania
avenue, thus leaving. by the Intersection of the
street and avenue directly in front of his resi-
dence, one of those delightful little triangular
parks which add SO much to the attractiveness
of this city. The house is q double one, and
in these pleasant surroundings the old man
lives, enjoying the fruits of a long life OF hard
toll and having an opportunity TO follow with
out the hindering restraint of stern necessity
the pursuits which are dear to his heart.
Although Mr.. Schneider has passed the three
scGre aud ten years which has been held to be
the limit of mans life, and for this reason
may properly lay claim to the title of old, yet
as an old man. His step is elastic, his eyes
bright and his mental faculties in their full
to such good use during his long life, he still
employs, and when clock needs q doctor or
musical instrument becomes discordant,
HIS DEFr HANDS
search out the cause Of the trouble and cor
rect it. Such work he thinks very lightly of
as compared with his collection of books, and
he is in his element when he finds his way to
the third-story room where his treasures are.
STAR man accompanied MIR. Schneider the
other day on visit to this room, aud was
given the opportunity Of seeing something OF a
collection which is really remarkable and
IL iuIce Tse cnpne s whnh hsd M Space 70 a1
has printed of course would give an adequate
idea 10 those who are familiar with old and
",
large pamphlet containing some 13O pages, CIV
Ing the titles of the books In the library up to
the year 1876 and the titles OF the books added
since then would probably occupy ten or fifteen
pages in addition. In the preface to this cata-
logue, not the least interesting feature of which
Is the fact that it was Ill SET up and printed by
Mr.. Schneider himself, he says: .The cares and
duties OF an extensive business-iron foundry
and ornamental iron wOrk-have not SO COM
pletely absorbed my time that i could not
spend part Oi ii in my library. Let the troubles
and vexations be ever SO great could there
Books have been decidedly mine. cannot ex-
press my delight on the opening of every new
parcel. never expected TO make such q valu-
able collection. When in the course OF my read
ing found some curious book referred To
could not resist the temptation to procure 1t.
In that way my library has increased TO such
an extent that i am sometimes myself sur
prlsed at it,"
The arrangement of the books under the fol-
lowing subjects gives some idea of the extent
and variety of this collection: Bibles and Bible
Histories, Eyangeli@, Chronicles and Histories,
histories relating TO America; Topography,
Expeditions and Voyages, Costumes, Religious
Ceremonies and Mythology, Art, Architecture
and Ornament, Tournament and War, Manu-
fPGs,pis, DraMinss aN,s Nasuri history Botany
Acts OF Eminent Men, History OF Wurtemberg,
Art Literature, German Literature aud Swa-
bian Dialect. The collection while in numbers
perhaps Is not especially notable, it is SO in the
character and value oil the books.
RARE OLD BIBLES.
For instance, there is q large folio German
Bible, printed in the year 1483, at Nuremberg,
by Koberger. The text is Gothic letter, and the
volume contains about one hundred large illu-
minated wood cuts. There is another folio Ger
man Bible printed at Frankfort in l5S3 an
other at Strassburg in 1880. and besides seven
others Of different dates. All these Bibles are
handsomely illustrated with wood cuts and
copper plates, and are rare and fine editions. A
book that would interest classical scholars is q
translation in German OF the History of Liyy,
by Johan SchOter, the grandson of JOhan
Faust, published in Menlz In the year 1895. It
cuts There is also = folio volume OF Caesars
history. issued by the same man i'll the year
1880, which has one hundred and fifteen wood
cuts and number OF other books, including a
rare German edition OF J0eephus. A large fOiio
in Gothic letters, "ChrOnicarum Liber' pub
lished BY A. KOberger in 1493, and containing
master OF A. DureF, may be also seen. A more
recent work is kiDgsDOrough;s Antiquities OF
imperial iOliO, In London, in 1880 and lS4S.
Mr. schneider says that the expense Of pub
fishing this Work amounted TO over 6U,OOO
pounds sterling, and involved the publishers
in complete ruin.
BOOKS RELATING TO AMERICA.
Mr.. Schneider has some very curious and rare
books OF histories relating to America. Among
these may be mentioned q description OF Amer
lea published by John Ogiiby in London in
1911. This work abOunds with MAPS not the
least interesting OF which is q map OF Mary land.
in which the boundary of that province and
some oi Inc nrst inhabited countie, are marked
down. There Is also the three-volume folio edi-
tlon OF the History OF the Indian Tribes OF North
America, by Thomas l.. Mckenny and James
Hall, containing l2O large and beautitully-col-
ored portraits from the Indian gallery, which at
the date OF the publication, in 1886, were in the
War department.. He has also ScnOoicraft's =
Archives OF Aboriginal knowledge aud George
Catins North American Indian Portfolio
which Is illustrated by twenty-five magnificent
photographic plates the full size 0f the original
drawings made by the author during his travels
OF eight years among the Indians. Mr.. Schnei-
der says that Mr.. Catiin started in 1882 on this
journey and visited torty-eighl different tribes,
and on account OF their superstition had to re-
sort TO many devices. For instance in several
of his Cartoons his little boat ca be seen in the
river and his attendant is represented firing a
revolver, which attracts the curious and aston
ished natives TO the waters edge, while the
artist, concealed In the cupola, makes his
sketches.
That portion of the collection which is deyot.
ed TO works on costumes is very rich and full
and contains many books of great value show.
ing the style oil dress in many countries and in
remote ages. Perhaps the most valuable ID that
devoted to medieval costumes, which was pub.
llshed In three volumes at Frankfort in fSAO
and 80, by Heffner. There also may be seen the
two works by u. Mason, published in london
In 1900 and 1SOl respectively, on the costumes
of China richly illustrated by tineiy colored en-
cravings
A very handsome work are the seven folio
volumes OF Bernard Picart's General History
OF the Ceremonies and Religious Customs OF the
People of the World, published in Paris In I74I.
II contains DAB engrayings. There is also
Dante's COMEDY, published in Venice in 1896 in
royal iolio and cont tanning about 100 fine wood
cuts. Raoui Rochette's magnificent folio con-
tanning 2S nne engravings in cOlOrs. oil the