Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-13
PAGES u TO "a.

the gems are copy of the first printed
edition of Plato's works, published in -atin
at Venice, in 1491; q copy of Cranmer's
English Bible. printed at London in 1540;
Sallust's Conspiracy of Cataline," in
English, printed in London in 1541, with
autograph of Oliver Cromwell; manuscript
Latin Bible on vellum, dating from the
middle of the thirteenth century, of italian
origin, embellished with countless miniature
paintings and illuminated initial letters
purchased for $1,000 at the sale of the
Perkins Library In 1873. a first edition Of
King James English Bible, published
in 1911; several rare first editions
of Shakespeare, folio, printed in 1923;
first edition of Millions "Para-
disc Lost" folio; first edition Of
Burton's ANATOMY of Melancholy" 1920;
first edition of Izaak Walton's "Compleat
Angler" copy OF John Eliot's Indian BIZ
BILE, printed at Cambridge, Mass, in 1868; q
first American edition of Burns poems,
with autograph OF Alexander Wilson, the
ornithologist; several notable black-letter
editions Of the early English writers; val
liable collection of the early voyages to
America and narratives of travellers to va
rious parts of America, printed in all the
languages of Europe; O complete file of the
London Gazette from its beginning in 1866
the only complete set in America; a CON-
plete file of the Daily London Times from
1896; q complete file of the French Morsiteur
from its beginning in 1889; a complete file
OF the German ANgenlsiiH Zeitugsg from 179S;
and rare files of Confederate newspapers
published during the Civil War some
printed on wall paper, straw paper, etc.
Library of Historian Bancroft.
New collections of books are purchased
by the Government at frequent intervals. A
proposition is now pending to buy the
magnificent historical library of the late
George Bancroft for SO, 900. 1t contains
10000 volumes, and is the material collected
by the distinguished historian in the pre-
paration of his history Of the United
States. Among the rarities of this collec-
tion are volumes of the original papers of
the Committee on Correspondence" in the
American colonies prior to the Revolution
the engine which drew the eolonists to-
gether in the scheme Of opposition to Great
Britain; volumes OF documents and papers
OF the Revolutionary patriots, including
Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, the
Adamses, Hancock and Lee.
Another proposition is pending before
Congress to purchase for 100000 the
library collected by the California historian,
Hubert II. Bancroft, consisting of 60, 900
books, manuscripts, maps and pamphlets,
principally concerning the discovery, settle
ment and development of the Pacific Coast.
Through the influence and dinstrumentality
of this great library the City of Washington
will become the Mecca of the student, the
author, historian and scientist, as well as~-
the resort of politicians and statesme/
since it is the seat of Government, and the
library in conjunction with the Smith
sonian Institution, the National Museum,
the Patent Office, the Naval Observatory,
and the Army Medical Museum will confer
on the national capital the proud distinction
of being permanent center of intellectual
activity and research.
JOHN d. CREMER-