Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-04-15
RARE GEMS IN BOOKS.
LITERARY TREASURES m THE AsToR
LIBRARY ~ NEW YORK.


Ancient Illustrations IN priceless. Manu-
scripts.
Even many otherwise well informed
people are not aware that the public Ii.
hraries of this city contain some Of the
choicest literary gems extant-books for
which wealthy bibliophiles have offered
fabulous sums. II New York is not the
literary center of America. then books
immense in number, rare in antiquity
and almost priceless in value are not
factors in the competition.
There are thirty-four public libraries |
in New York. and the number and value !
OF the volumes within their walls have
grown so rapidly that Paris. Munich and /
even London viii be surpassed in their |
library collections If the present growth |
continues
The day when the citizen Of New Am |
sterdam was content 10 sit outside his
door. drink beer, smoke, grow fat and
die in the firm belief that he had enjoyed
life, has given way 10 an entirely differ
ent state of affairs.
Twenty-Five years ago one public Ii
brary collection was considered sufficient
to meet the demands OF every class call
ing or profession. Today nine institu-
tions can be picked out, each one Of
which is patronized by a single class.
The Aston is the richest of all our Ii
braries. One million dollars worth of
books repose upon its shelves, but not
without frequent disturbance. From
fifty to 100 studieus men aud women are
Q delving into the enchanting mysteries of
; some favorite theme every day that the
2 reading rooms are open to the public.
! The library contains nearly $500 900
IS worth of rare books and manuscripts.
Z which are seldom allowed 70 20 into the
% hands OF the public. Perhaps the largest
u aud finest single volume ia New York
d may be found there. II any ono thinks
20 that the contemporaries Of Shakespeare
g and Milton would marvel at the superb
product Of modern illustrators heis very
ig much mistaken. Nothing has been pro-
~ duced in the last century that can equal.
p much less rival, the illustrations in a
% Seventeenth century manuscript entitled
10 "Antiphonale" II contains 22s pages Of
e vellum, adorned by 212 small and 50
v large miniatures in the highest style of
rs the French art of that day. Some of its
III illustrations have been attributed to lie
n Brun. the great painter Of the time Of
W Louis XIV. The larger paintings for
g the most part are scenes from the Scrip.
We lures appropriate to the various church
III festivals and many of the initial letters
Y. which accompany the stanzas are
~ illnmined in a style wholly unknown NJ
IT the present day. This volume, bound in
" purple morocco, with gilt mountings and
III / 4 a l.
ne designed for the coronation of Charles
M V. At "A public sale 1t would easily com.
On mand several thousand dollars.
hu Another valuable work Is Sylvester's
ht- universal Photography" in two vol
~ umes, containing upward Of 800 finely
III. executed facsimiles Of mediPval works
NJ of art. This sumptuous work Is said tl
- have cost the sun Of go 900 for lis exc
Vr cution alone. Among other rarlties is q
~ copy Of the first letter written by Chris
Up topher Columbus after lie discovered
~ America, There are only six copies o.
81 these in existence. The letter consists d
IKE only four leaves. but II London auction
lih sale in 1872 it brought SsOO.
IN Another rare volume 70 be found onls
To- in this library is Lloyds History o.
Dh- Columbia. Now Called Wales" pub
.ys lished in 1864. II contains the legendary
ie- narrative of the expedition OF Prime,
Modoc and a Welsh company that voy
aged to America prior to Columbus, bu
,to never returned Many foreigners hav.
M sent TO this country FOR abstracts from
IN this rare volume.
~. The earliest known editions OF Ptole
M my's geography repose on the shelves o
~ the Aston The dates ON their title page.
~ range from liis 10 1921. There is also
"a superb specimen OF the "Biblia Sacri
Nv Latina of tiGa. the first edition Of thl
Ia Bible bound in old crimson morocco. witt
gilt edges, which is worth $4,000. In
~ side tho covers are the names Of tho4,
~ Immortal printers, Johann Faust aut
.a5 Peter Schaifer. The oldest palyglo
mn edition of the Scriptures, executed Il
/, the order Of Cardinal Ximenes. which
N. cost 10000 ducafs in gold and fifteen
- years for its preparation. is also ut tht
m. Aston. The oldest manuscript Of all i,
IN, the "Leetiones EvangelIis. printed OF
IN yeilum and containing whole pages oi
~. Examinations. This manuscript wa
- executed by the monks in A. ID. lI1o
and is almost priceless ia value. NJ
other library in America possesses sucl
treasure. Next III point Of antiquity
-, H. john Wyclifs English version Of the
~ New Testament. written in 800. and
-, containing the autobiography Of Hum
IA phrey. duke Of Gloucester There arr
~ also two rich Persian manuscripts Of Tia,
on Fifteenth century, besides manuscripts
~. of more recent date.
~ Several competent Egyptologists
among them the late Miss Amelia b
,vs Edwards. who inspected the collection
49, during her visit to this city, have pro
IA nounced the library especially rich IN
~ oriental works. The great work OF
-, James Audubon on the Birds of Ameri
n, ca" consisting 81 four volumes. would
'oo probably bring 5000. Eiliott's Indian
Bible, dated 1861. the FIRST Bible printed
in America. the Geneva. or the Breeche,
Bible OF 1860; a copy Of the papal bull
against luther loco: rare siamese
ir manuscripts. and the valuable and in.
teresting collection of autograph letters
from empe-ors poets, statesmen, presi
ier dents. soldiers and authors are included
in this collection. New York Herald.
A Sunday suit.
Il Mr. Constant Souabbler-W hat kind