Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-27
COLLECTION OF AMERICANA
Numerous Original Editions in the Library
of Congress.
Some Notable Deficiencies Occur, Says
MIR. foung-He Points Out Defects
That Should BE Remedicd.

John Russell Young the librarian of Con-
gress. called attention to the collections of
rare books IN the possession of the library
There are, however, not wanting spe-
c1al departments in which the Congress
stonal Library Is EXCEPTIONAL" said Mr.
Young. The collection of Americana is
extensive, embracing most published books
and multitude of pamphlets published
i'll or relating to the discovery, settlement,
&c, of the Americas. 1t includes numerous
original editions of such books, besides
their reprints. There may be noted the
first editions of Hamor's Virginia, 18Th;
Thomas Pennsylvania, $685. Smiths Map
of Virginia. 1872; Smiths History of Vir-
sinia, 1874; Morton's New England's Me-
mortal. 1863; Woods New England's Pros
pect, 1875; Lederer's Virginia. 1872; Sy-
monds Virginia. 1909; New England's First
Fruits, 1913; Makemies Narrative 1907;
Massachusetts. First Planters of New
England 1896. Hubbards Troubles with
the Indians in New England, 1917; Cam
bridge MassD Almanacs, 1859 to 1865;
England, 1126; ThorowgooIs Jews in
America, 1850: Hooke's New England
Tearcs for Ola England's Feares. 1911;
Relation of Maryland, 1855; Romans Flor
ida, with two whole-sheet maps. 177i-1775;
Byiields Late Revolution in New England,
1850; Morton's New English Canaan, 1861;
Anne Bradstreet's Poems, 1878; New Life
of Virginia. 1872; Symond's English Colonie
in Virginia, 1912; Whitaker's Good News
from Virginia 1913; Good Speed to Vir-
ginia, 1909: Carvajal, CRATIC Con Column
bus Discovery. Romae, 1913; Calvert's
(Fredcrici) Uord Baltimore) Gaudia Poet
lea, 40; Eli"ts Indian Bible first and
second editions). 1868 and 1851: Jesuit Re
lations, Canada, original editions: Writ
ings of Increase and Cotton Malher (over
200 separate works., etc.
The library possesses a complete set
of Hansard's Reports of the Debates in
the House Of Commons, as well as its pre-
decessors. Cobbett's Debates and the Par
Elementary History, from 1866 to 1897, more
than eight centuries. The indexes to the
house of commons journals and the jour
mails CT the commons and lords are COM
plete from 1871 to 1895.
The library has very complete col
lection Of American local histories, or
those of counties and towns; while of the
numerous family genealogies (mostly pri-
vatey printed and not copyrighteD 1t
possesses about two-thirds. 1t is rich in
Observation-Disclosures, British and Euro
pean. In political economy and finance its
strength is very great, there being lew
noted works in English French not in
the collection. Political science IS FULLY
represented. both in special works upon
government and in miscellaneous treatiSes
y full set of the parliamentary papers or
reports and documents OF Great Britain
from 1916 to date is among our most inn
portant possessions.
I'm international law the principal trea-
ties in various languages are in our pos.
session. together with great variety OF
monographs and discussions.
In geography the library has nearly
every collection published OF voyages, IN
Guiding sets of De Bry and Hulsius, while
its stores of individual travels and voyages
embrace many thousands of volumes. in
Guiding nearly all narratives of travellers
in America in various languages.
The library's collection of directories of
American towns and cities is very extern
sVe for the last twenty-five years issues.
while of three four leading cities it en-
braces nearly all the issues, back to the
earliest published. This collection Is OF
much practical Importance. supplying the
means OF tracing family and individual
residence as well as mercantile and bust
ness information.
Some Rare First Editions.
"Of the first editions of notable writers
the library possesses a few Of the rarest.
The first folio of Shakespeare, 1929 "a
sound copy, with the three following folios
Original editions) of 1G32 1864 and 1853;
first issue of Midsummer Nights Dream
1900: Milton's Paradise Lost first edi-
ton 1861 Burton's Anatomy of Melan-
choly," first edition. 1920: the first five edi-
tions of Walton's Complete Angler"
Painters Palace of Pleasure" 'PerCe's
PloWman's Vision" first edition, 1850; King
James Folio Bible, first issue, 1911 Ia very
fine COPY: the Bishops Bible, 1863: Gran
ners Version various editions, $40 etc;
Coverdale's Version; Matthews Version.
1.,J1. the CodcX Sinaiticus. and the CodeX
Alexandrinus, each in four volumes folio,
III fac smile: many black-letter Bibles of
various early dates: Luther's German YER
sion of the Bible, CHRISTOPHER Saur. Ger
mantown, Pa, first edition, and Athens
Bible, two volumes, Philadelphia. 11S2.
There are numerous early printed books
of the fifteenth century, beginning with an
edition of the Constitutions of St. Clement,
14oI, and representing every year since
that date, and in some cases by numerous
examples. The library has no original
CaXton, but there are two fine examples
of Wynkyn de Worde. Among it's other
treasures the library possesses George
Washington's Bible, in three quarto vol
umcs. mentioned by him in his will and
bearing his autograph. OF the funeral Gu
loSies upon Washington, printed in all
parts of the country in 1900, $50 are in the
library, or more than four-fifths of those
known TO have been printed.
Large Deficiencies.
Every large deficiencies in the collection
exist in the department of musical ltera-
ture. medical science, archaeology, natural
science, useful arts, theology and phlology
especially in the Romance language and
literature. The medical division of the
library has been purposely left without in
crease, save by copyright accessions, for
years past, to avoid duplicating at govern
ment cost the very large and complete col
lection of the surgeon generals library. so
fully catalogued, at the Army Medical
Museum. There are reasons, however, for
Il discontinuance of this policy, as a uni
versal library should be strong in every
branch of knowledge, not weakened by the
wants of minor special collections.
Worthy of special mention is an extern
sive series of the original editions of the
writings of Martin Luther. in over 200
quarto tracts, printed in black letter at
WittenberS, from 1870 to 1916 during the
lifetime of the author. These are in the
Smithsonian deposit.
We can better understand the value of
the library and what is necessary to its
by a glance at some of its
deficiencies.
while the copyright law brings valuable
works, we by no means receive the most
important. We do not possess for in
stance, Ford's Writings of Jefferson, in
which are found valuable papers not in
cluded in the government edition. In re-
cent years there have been issued from
private presses, societies. book clubs and
other sources quantity of productions