Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-01
News Of Art and Artists
Rare Books on View
Delight Many With
Glinpses of Past
Through Woodcuts
By Florence 5. Berrymon


The fourth annual exhibition of
rare books presented by Leasing j.
Rosenwald of Jenkintown, Pa, to
the Library of Congress, on view in
the second-fioor exhibition hall
through September 80. is a display
which cannot fail to delight not only
bibliophiles, but art lovers, graphic
artists, typographers, students OF
history and every one who feels the
spell Of the past. Eighty-flve VOL
umes, constituting the present dis
play, have been acquired mostly
during the past year. They exem-
plify the finest book publishing and
production from the 18th to 10Th
centuries.
A group of early English books In
cludes six volumes from the press
of William Caxton, the first English
printer, among them THE Game
and Playe of Chess" published at
Bruges after March 81, 1474, the,
second book printed in the English
language. There are three books
printed by Wynkyn de Worde, Cax-
toms assistant and successor One
of them, Ranulphus Higdens THE
Descrypcyon of Englonde,' 1893, has
a title page depicting six walled
towns, the earliest woodcut OF an
English landscape. The second De
Worde volume is his edition Q499)
of Won Hildesheim's "Thre Kynges
of Cologne" who were none other
than the Wise Men. An elaborate
woodcut depicts their visit to the
Christ Child. In 1912, De Worde got
out an edition of an eighth century
legend, Helyas' THE Knight OF the
Swanne," profusely illustrated with
woodcuts. The one at which the
book Is opened depicts the knight
in his swan boat, which must have
been an inspiration of Lohengrin.
Another quaint item in the early
English group is THE Beaulte OF
Women" printed in 1900, valued for
It's 10 little woodcuts of gentlemen
of the period gazing appraisingly at
ladies who would call forth no
whistles today. More important are
two editions of Christopher Saxtons
Survey of England and Wales" the
first atlas of England One is on
vellum, with 80 maps drawn by Sax
ton, beautifully engraved and en-
livened with schields. ships and sea
monsters. The other london, 1879.
Is dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. An
elaborate colored portrait Of her, en-
throned, is the frontispiece. The in
terest of this copy is enhanced by
the fact that it belonged to Sir
Francis Walsingham, great states
man and her Secretary OF State
when Saxton's maps were first pub
lished.
Fine French Printing.
Turning to French printing of
the 18th and 18th centuries, one
finds many fine examples. An early
one is a charming little Psalterium
with red and blue headings, and
woodcuts. Tart de Bien Vivre! ct
de Bien Mourir" 1493) is an out
standing illustrated book of the
period, with 70 admirable woodcuts.
The misogamy of Pierre Gringoire's
little allegory on the various trials
of life, especially marriage 1499), is
reflected in Is quaint illustrations.
Verard's popular French Bible,
copiously illustrated, a translation
of St. Augustine's The City OF
God" paris, 1890. an edition OF
Terences plays with more than 300
lively illustrat lions Of scenes as
acted out on the contemporary
stage, and Book of Hours 1542)
illustrated in the mastery style OF
Geofroy Tory, each page with a
distinctive pictorial border, are
among the early treasures in this
section. An 18th century master
piece of book production is set OF
La Fontaines Fables in six volumes,
with more than TOO engraved illus
trations by IL different artists; 1t
took a decade to complete this work.
Augsburg was a center OF book
publishing in 18th century Ger
many From the presses OF That
city are editions of Albumasar's
astrology G4S8) with 70 woodcuts;
"Christ's Passion" and Fables OF
the Middle Ages" (both 1490), each
with hand-colored illustrations.
strassburg, too. produced many fine
books. From that city comes an
edition OF Flaccus. Among the $50
woodcuts is one of Caesar curiously
dressed as a sultan, being stabbed
by Brutus and Cassius; and
passion of Christ" with Is superb
engravings. There are is rare Ger
man books in the exhibition.
Famous Venetian Volumes.
The small italian section OF 8
volumes includes some of the great
est masterpieces of the worlds
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