Evening star., 1945-10-21
I he Art
N/orId
Book illustrations
In the Rosenwald
Collection on View
BY Florence S. Bergman

y a W. NSf|t - 1'fs"P
The munificent gifts from Mr..
Lessing J. Rosenwald of his collec-
tions in the book arts to the Ma
tional Gallery of Art and the Lii
brary of Congress are of such mag
nitude that only portions of them
have been shown from time to time
since the spring of 1943.
This month the library opened
a truly representative display of
illustrated books from the collec-
ton. 1t comprises 80 items, books
and manuscripts, covering the his
tory of Illustration from the 18th
to 10Th centuries. 1t Is beautifully
installed in the north exhibition
hall, second floor of the main
building. Supplementing the books
are examples from the superb col
lection of prints Mr.. Rosenwald
gave to the National Gallery.
Representative of practically all
important periods of book making.
from Gutenbergs time to the pres
ent, the exhibition in several phases
could not be duplicated by any
other library in the world, and few
libraries could exhibit items of
comparable significance and rarity
Furthermore, the condition of the
books and manuscripts is excep-
tionally fine, as is the case with Mr..
Rosenwald's prints in the National
Gallery.
Oldest Book
Of many facets of interest in this
exhibition we are concerned here
primarily with the illustrations and
other esthetic aspects. The Oldest
book on view, a copy of the Con
stitutions" of Pope Clement V, was
printed at Mainz in 1860, entirely
on vellum, by Johann Fust and
Peter Schoeffer. It's careful type
arrangement and tasteful employ
ment of red ink in the headings
make it a handsome example Of
the printers art.
Two examples of now rare block
books include the "Pauper's Bible"
printed entirely from engraved
wooden blocks, usually one for each
page. The copy on view is said to
be one of the finest in existence
This method of producing book
made it much cheaper than the
superb illuminated manuscripts,
hand lettered and illustrated with
miniatures in jewel-like colors,
which could be afforded only by
royalty nobility and other wealthy
classes. Two such manuscripts are
here shown, which are believed to
have been made by Geofroy Tory
early in the 18th century.
Nev World Books
OF particular interest to this
country is group Of early books
relating to the New World. Among
them is the 1894 Verardus, contain
ing Columbus description Of his
discoveries, with woodcuts depict
ing his landing, his flagship and
the islands, among other subjects.
Several early editions of Ptolemy's
Geography" include one of 1913,
with handsome wood cut maps
made by Martin Waldseemuller.
who is responsible for having named
the New World America"
The first illustrated book printed
In the New World is also here-a
little volume of tracts by Joannes
Gerson, brought out at Mexico City
by Juan Pablos in 1914. 1t contains
full-page woodcut. Thomas Har-
riots Brief Report of Virginia" in
English and French editions, printed
in 1890, has % copper plate en-
cravings, done presumably from
original drawings made at Roanoke
by John White, who. like Harriet,
was one of the early settlers of Vir-
ginia lin a colony which did not
survive). These engravings are fas-
ctnating transcriptions of Indian
customs, manners and attire.
Five 18th century editions of the
ship Of Fools" famous satirical
poem of that time, are on view. The
poem contains an allusion to the
discovery of America and all edi-
tions are illustrated with a series
Of woodcuts, the originals of many
of which are attributed to Albrecht
Durer. An undisputed example of
his book illustration is the series on
the passion of Christ. published in
15ll. The Images of the Old Testa-
ment," 1549, is the work of Hans
Holbein, who is also represented in
two editions of his famous illustra-
tions for THE Dance of Death"
This was favorite subject in the
middle ages. A Paris edition of
1910 has illustrations by an un-
known artist, regarded as perhaps
the finest achievement of French
woodcut in the 18th century" Mr..
Rosenwald's copy is the only one in
an American collection and only
f1ve other copies are known to be
in existence. Because of it's signifi-
canoe, the Library of Congress is
publishing facsimile of this book.
William Cartons Books -.
-Four illustrated books from the
press of William Caxton, England's
first printer, are high lights of
group of l6 early English books
dating from 1882 to 1925. To repre-
sent the earliest period of book
illustration are IA books of the 18th
century, among them three editions
OF "Aesop's Fables" and the same
number Of Bernhard Won Breyden-
bach's Journey to Jerusalem" The
latter, in an edition of 1896, has a
series of views of cities regarded as
perhaps the earliest cuts of any
Importance, definitely considered as
based on authentic typographical
studies. These freshly colored wood
cut views give one the feeling of
looking straight into 18th century
Europe.
A feature of the present exhibi-