Annalistic list of accession of early printed books gleaned from
librarian's annual reports 1810 to 1911. Material is in Princeton
University Archives, Xeroxed set of such gathered from the Maclean Papers, Trustees
Minutes, and other sources.
Made by Maritza Maxwell and Ben Ripley on 2 August 1991 with additions and changes
by Steve Ferguson.
1760 (PUL 1916)
"Catalogue of Books in the Library of the College of New Jersey, January
29, 1760" - approximately 1300 volumes listed, including many volumes of
the Delphin and other "choice editions" of the classics; Erasmus's
edition of the Greek New Testament, Basileae, Frobenius, 1535; Eliot's Indian
Bible; Marsilio Fecino's translation of Plato; Stephen's Thesaurus linguae latinae,
1740, 4 v. folio; Thucydides, translated by Lorenzo Valla, 1588, folio; Maimonides
de sacrificiis; Scaliger de emendatione temporum, and Historia concilii constantiensis,
7 vols., folio.
*Note: Majority of library's holdings were destroyed during the Revolution.
"Concordantiae sacrorum bibliorum hebraicorum, auctore Mario de Calasio, Londini, 1747-49." 4 volumes, preserved from 1802 fire by President Smith.
Calvin's works - 11 volumes, folio, printed in Amsterdam, 1676, also saved from fire.
"Arturi Jonstoni psalmi davidici, interpretatione, argumentic, notisque illustrati, Londino, MDCCXLI", believed to be one of Governor Belcher's books. Rediscovered in 1876.
1785 (from PUL 1916)
Dr. Rogers gives an "elegant copy" of Montanus' Hebrew Bible.
"Apology for the true christian divinity, as the same is held by the people
called, in scorn, Quakers...by Robert Barclay, 6th edition, London, 1736";
"Sermons on Several Subjects, by E. Pemberton,"; both volumes identified
to be from Belcher's original collection. Survived two fires and the vandalism
of two armies.
1810 - 29
Records of donations in MacLean Papers 14:
Donors:
Jonathan Bayard Smith, Esq. of Philadelphia - Class of 1760 -- 36 titles including Willards Body of Divinity; Locke - On Human Understanding; Milton's Poetical Works, Baskerville Edition; Daniel's History of France; Maclauren's Fluxions; Smith's Voyage's to Guinea; Reynold's History of the Parliament of England; Fundamental Principles of the Quakers; Vertol's Revolutions of Portugal.
William Barton of Lancaster, Pennsylvania - 20 titles including Darwin's Botanical Garden; Telemachus.
Dr. Wharton of Burlington, NJ - 1 title - Seneca's Lives (?)
Rev. Professor Hunter of Princeton, NJ - 3 titles including Sidney on Parliament and Ramsey's History of the American Revolution.
M. Minto of Princeton, NJ - one title - Nouvelles de la Republique des Lettres.
Dr. MacLean of Princeton, NJ - 2 titles.
Other books listed in Maclean 14:
History of Insects
Ornithological Dictionary
Yeats Entomology
Falconers Collections
Klaproth's Mineralogy
Jameson's Mineralogy
1813
26 first numbers of Pemberton's Collection of Voyages and Travels
Owen's Works, abridged in 4 volumes
Edinburgh Review - current editions
1819
Nearly two dozen books on subjects such as minerals, geology, and chemistry.
1815
93 volumes presented by various people as well as by the publishing firm of Collins & Company of New York.
1816
Edinburgh Review and other subscriptions continued
1820
Over a dozen volumes on scientific subjects
1827
Several volumes, including an English Lexicon, a Greek Thesaurus, and various periodicals.
1829
long list of several hundred volumes on selected subjects. Very little information given (i.e. no author, no year)
1832
Periodicals including the Classical Journal, the Edinburgh Review, and the North American Review.
1834
Notables include translations of Fischer, studies of electrical dynamics, Tuckson's Sights of Nature, six volumes of Dejean's Species general des Calestenier (?) and four volumes of Newton's Principia.
1835
Astronomical books; Hitchcock's Geological Survey of Massachusetts.
1836
"The Parliamentary History of England from the Earliest Times to the Year 1800." 142 volumes, bought with funds left by James Madison.
First three polyglots of the Scriptures given by James Lenox, LL.D..
"Napoleon's grand Desciption de l'Egypte," given by Philadelphia merchant Matthew Newkirk.
List of books including The Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence; various encyclopediae and dictionaries; 4 plays of Aristophanes and other Greek plays; collections of lectures as well as philosophical and religious works.
1837
small listing of a half dozen books including Wilmet's Arabic Lexicon; lengthy list of such classics as the Koran, Hume's England, Locke, and Plutarch.
1838
Small list featuring works by such authors as Racine and Chateaubriand; 12 volumes of Swift's works.
1839
Several hundred volumes including a series of works on Parliamentary History; lengthy list of books on historical and religious subjects.
1842
Original copy of Monuments of Washington's Patriotism; Thucydides, 3 vols; various dictionaries and compilations of philosophical debates.
1843
Lengthy list of volumes on many subjects from chemistry to geology.
1846
Small list of philosophical volumes
1847
Small list of travel descriptions and observations
1848
Long list of novels and historical books.
1850
Long list of works including a volume containing Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States of America.
1851
Books including historical works and philosophical discussions
1852 - 58
Lists begin to mention authors of the works, but not publishing dates.
1854
List of books about religion, literature, history and geography.
1855
List of books including histories of the Church, and the Constitution.
1856- 1859
Subjects include classic literature, philosophical works, and historical accounts.
1860
Several books on the religion in early America, other religious titles, philosophy, mathematics, travel, history, and grammar.
1862
Books on the origin of the human race, fine arts, and Egyptian and Sanskrit subjects.
1863
Books concerning matters in classical Greece, religious histories, and biography.
1864
English books; also books about political economy and history, and first volumes of Beecher`s autobiography and Kingslake`s Crimean War.
1866
Several books on the history of England and certain Christian churches, along with dictionaries and grammar books.
1867
A copy of Franklin`s Experiments in Electricity, printed in 1774.
Several other books and pamphlets printed after the turn of the 19th century.
1868
Several volumes of congressional documents given by the Department of the Interior.
Other items including a Chinese Bible, and many single titles without dates
of publication.
1869
"List of Donations to the Library of the College of New Jersey for the
session ending December 21, 1869:
1. A very rare and curious German work on Mining, with illustrations, description
of implements, etc, printed in ---, presented by Gen. A. A. Halsted. Probably
Vom bergkwerck, 12 bucher, [ by G. Acricola], verteuscht durch P. Bechius, Basel,
1557. Is this Ex 9306.115.11q ?? or Ex 9306.115 ??
Several books concerning religion, local history, Portuguese history, Japanese
language, and science and mathematics.
A very rare and curious German work on Mining, with illustrations, with an unknown
publishing date.
1870
Books including Encyclopedias, local history, Civil War documents and accounts, and religious subjects.
1871
Books of Indo-European literature, folklore, and tradition.
Biographies of Sir Walter Raleigh, among others.
Various travel books
1872-73
Collection of Adolph Trendelenberg, metaphysical philosopher of Berlin, 10,000
volumes and pamphlets acquired, including 185 volumes of old editions of Aristotle
and his commentaries.
See: Minutes of the Trustees of the College of New Jersey, vol. 5, p. 249 (Princeton University Archives, Mudd Library) //
Meeting on 18 December 1872. //
In the President’s report the following re the Trendelenberg Collection //
“The Committee of the Trustees have, on the recommendation of the Faculty, instructed me [i.e. President James McCosh] to purchase the valuable library of the late Dr. Trendelenburg of Berlin consisting of about 12,000 volumes offered at 6,000 thaler, a little more above $5,000. These volumes will soon be forwarded and will help to fill the alcoves of our new Library. I ask the Trustees to advance the money out of the Elizabeth Foundation.”
Librarian Frederic Vinton’s memorandum book has this entry for 1873:
October 20th The library was first opened to the students-for purposes of study, between 10 and 11 o’clock, A.M. and between 3 and 4 o’clock, in the afternoon. The Trendelenberg library having been roughly arranged by my son, its examination by myself was commenced today. The immediate objects, however, are merely to enable the treasurer to report on its value, and me to select books for location with the rest of the library on the lower floor.
December 1st The first examination of the Trendelenberg collection has been completed, the Greek and Roman classics, several hundred in number, separated from the rest, and much of the remainder grouped according to
Vinton's annual reports in bound codex. Covers 1873-1889.
Mudd Library
Princeton University Archives.
p. 1: "Library of the College of New Jersey, August 18th 1873. Arrived
in Princeton, today, and immediately commenced inquires preliminary to the removal
of the library from its old quarters to its new lodgement. ...
Vinton estimates (p.2) that CNJ library at about 20,000 vol at this time. One of this jobs was to process the TRENDELENBERG collection which was on the order of 9,000 to 10,000 volumes.
See Richardson's 1916 PUL book for details on Trendelenberg. P. 22: "Prof. Adolf Trendelenberg, the metaphysical philosopher of Berlin, ... It includes 185 volumes of old editions of Aristotle and his commentaries, with a hundred modern essays in Latin on his philosophy; several hundred volumes of classics comparatively rare, and a large body of miscellaneous books. ...."
___________________________________________
Annalistic list of accession of early printed books gleaned from
librarian's annual reports 1810 to 1911. Material is in Princeton
University Archives, Xeroxed set of such gathered from the Maclean Papers, Trustees
Minutes, and other sources.
Made by Maritza Maxwell and Ben Ripley on 2 August 1991 with additions and changes
by Steve Ferguson.
1873 - according to Coleman (36) this is the beginning date of the Pierson's donations for his Civil War Collection. Pierson died in 1907. That was the last year of his gifts.
1874 (Report of the Librarian)
Donations:
Olson, Charles E. 290 volumes
Pierson, John S. Over a thousand volumes on Civil War
Childs, George W. 60 volumes, reprints of old English poets and theologians
Peyster, J. Watts de. 40 volumes on historical addresses and essays, many on
the Civil War
Lenox, James. 12 volumes of The Historical Magazine, unbound; The Complete works
of H.W.Prescott, the historian of Spanish America, 16 vols. in a new edition.
Alexander, Rev. S.D. 58 volumes
1875 (Report of the Librarian)
Donations:
Governor C.E. Alden, of Princeton. 290 volumes
Childs, George W. 46 volumes
Pierson, John S. 720 more volumes on the Civil War
1876 (Report of the Librarian)
Donations:
Pierson, John S. 250 Civil War volumes
1877 (Report of the Librarian)
Donations:
Pierson, John S. 714 additional volumes to the Civil War collection
Long, Mahlon. One hundred volumes, many of them important editions of the classics
1878 (Report of the Librarian)
Pierson, John S. 200 volumes to the Civil War collection
1882
A complete set of all editions of all the laws of New Jersey from the surrender
of the government of Queen Anne in 1702 to the year 1800.
Other volumes representing the Fine Arts; also, medical journals and encyclopedias.
1892
A complete set of the N.Y. Herald in 124 bound volumes given by J.T. Agnew
Esq.
More Civil War pamphlets.
1893
2,000 volumes including Steven`s Facsimiles
1894
The Pyne-Henry Collection of Autograph Documents relating to the history of
the College.
A number of first and early editions of the classics.
According to Coleman (35), "nearly five hundred autograph letters and documents, almost all relating to the College, were received from Moses Taylor Pyne '77 and J. Bayard Henry '76. Also, by 1894 Junius S. Morgan '88 had given various early editions of the classics..."
1896
Coleman (36): Junius S. Morgan '88 gave the library the Vergils and other early editions of the classics. "Mr. Morgan, who was the Associate Librarian from 1898 until 1909, continued to present early editions of the classics and other works to the Library until shortly before his death in 1932."
1900
Coleman (37): The Hon. William Nelson deposited his collection of New Jerseyana
1901
Coleman (36): Robert Garrett '97 began depositing the world-renowned collection of manuscripts he would later give the Library in 1942.
1905
Coleman (36): Robert W. Patterson '76 begins the Horace collection, adding to it over the next 20 years.
Among numerous acquisitions are these which were printed before 1800:
Bergier, N., Histoire des grands chemins de l`Empire romain. Bruxelles, 1728.
Collection of state tracts published in 1688 and the reign of William III. London,
1705-07. 3 volumes.
Hardwicke, P.Y., Miscellaneous state papers from 1501-1726. London, 1778. 2
volumes.
1910-1911:
No detail about accessions.
Note p.[2]: The disproportion between the large sums provided for building with
the similar sums talked of for instructors, and the relatively petty sums, seriously
wanted for definite pressing needs in the manner of books, is bewildering to
the professors and a challenge to scoffers in other in other institutions attempting
like work to ours.
Aug 1, 1911-July 1, 1912:
The accessions numbered 14,676, of which 12,067 were bound volumes, 7,133 were acquired by purchase, 4,934 by gift. The most noteworthy gift was five Vespucci items from the Hoe sale, given by Cyrus H. McCormick '79, and among these the only American copy, out of only four existing copies, of the book which gave the name America to this continent. The additions to the Patterson Collection contain also items of unusual rarity and interest.
August 1, 1912-July 13, 1913
The gifts and deposits have been unusually noteworthy. They include additional volumes for the Vespucci Collection from Cyrus H. McCormick '79; the Laurence Hutton collection of association books and pictures; the gift of Mr. R.W. Meirs '88, of 533 volumes, with a deposit collection of more than 400 volumes, 125 autographs, original drawings, etc., by Cruikshank, making a unique working collection; a collection of 623 cuneiform tablets from Messrs. R. Brnnow, Robert Garrett, '97, Cyrus H. McCormick '79, M. Taylor Pyne '77, Russell W. Moore '83, and others; a collection of 35 cuneiform tablets from Messrs. W.J. Funl '09 and G.W. Gilmore '83. The additions to the R.W. Patterson '76, Horace Collection have also been of unusual significance and include the first English translation, two manuscripts of Horace and one of Virgil, and five Horaces from Robert Browning's library.
Other gifts include: a collection of photographs of Phillipine life from Mrs. Woodrow Wilson; a collection of Cruikshank illustrations presented by Alexander Van Rensselaer '71.
1913-1914:
no specifics
1914-1915:
no specifics
August 1, 1915-July 31 1916:
Noteworthy gifts include preeminently the remarkable collection of Cruikshankiana
given by Richard Waln Meirs '88 and containing 1,589 numbers, including broadsides,
drawings, etc. Two European War Collections - one of war posters by John W.
Garrett '95, and one of war relics by Richard Ridgeley Lytle '13 - have attracted
much interest. There were gifts of some special importance also from Pliny Fisk
'81, and Allan Marquand '74, and the additions to the R.W. Patterson Collection
maintained their customary distinction.
Coleman (37): Laurence Hutton's library arrives
August 1, 1916-July 31 1917:
Noteworthy gifts include several lots of war posters, books and medals sent by J.W. Garrett '95, S.R. Taber '83, Clifford N. Carver '13, and J.S. Morgan '88. The Philadelphian Society also has turned over their books.
August 1, 1917-July 31, 1918:
Special attention is called to the Benjamin Strong Collections of war posters, war currency, and bound newspaper clippings, including 1,403 items. The extensive literature of the Liberty Loans, also given by Mr. Strong, is not yet organized for report. Mr. Strong is adding to all these collections, with special attention to books and pamphlets on the economic aspects of the war. The Pitney fund for books on the war, with some special reference to the books on International Law aspects, has been peculiarly useful.
August 1, 1918-July 31, 1919:
The most important acquisitions are, the Magie, Brnnow, and Paton libraries, the Frothingham Collection of Revolutionary Communism, the items from the American Commission to Negotiate Peace at Paris, several rare books of importance from Messrs. McCormick, Patterson, and Coles, a choice collection of English translations of the classics from the library of Gustav Schirmer by Mrs. Schirmer, Dr. Robertson's collection of European War Relics in memory of his son Malcolm '15, additions to the Benjamin F. Strong special war collections and large additions by Mr. Strong and Mr. J.O.H. Pitney to the war books. The Magie library is the law library to the late Chancellor Magie, presented by Dean Magie and his sister Miss Henrietta Oakley Magie.
1919-1920:
no specifics
August 1, 1920-July 31, 1921:
Through the interest and agency of Professor Harper, the Library has received as a deposit the collection od Wordsworthiana made by Mrs. Cynthia Morgan Saint John of Ithaca, New York. This collection consists of over one thousand books and periodicals representing practically all editions, both English and American, of Wordsworth's works. It includes many manuscripts, letters. photographs, and paintings, first editions and copies owned and read by the poet. It is the largest of its kind, with the exception of that at Dove Cottage, Grassmere. It is hoped that funds can be raised for the purchase of this very valuable collection.
1921-1922:
no specifics
August 1, 1922-July 31, 1923:
Among the most notable gifts of the year is the collection of books on the French Revolution, made by the late W.D. Weaver, and given to the University by James W. McGraw. This collection, numbering 2,141 volumes and several hundred pamphlets, is of great value, including as it does many works which are very rare and are not to be found even in the President White Collection at Cornell University.
The bequest of the late Alexander Horton Travis '84, enriched the Library by the addition of several hundred volumes of the classics of English and American literature, all in editions that are a pleasure to handle and to use. This gift has enabled us to discard many badly printed and outworn volumes that were a discouragement rather than an incentive to reading.
Mr. Benjamin Strong has supplemented his former gifts by funds which have permitted us to place commissions in the hands of foreign booksellers for purchase of the original sources for the study of present day public finance.
To the generosity of Mr. Rodman Wanamaker '86, we owe the collection of books and pamphlets relating to the European War, made by Herbert Adams Gibbons, and a collection of 28 medals struck to commemorate the various Presidents of the United States.
August 1, 1923-July 31, 1924:
To the Class of '84, we are indebted also for a most interesting collection of autographs, together with the sum of $100, to be applied to their permanent installment; for a miniature of Dolly Madison; and for the original box in which the repeal of the Stamp Act was sent to America.
We are indebted to Mrs. Adrian H. Joline for one of the most valuable and interesting gifts this year, a collection comprising a Tibetan manuscript on Buddhist mysticism, a Persian illuminated manuscript, a manuscript copy of the Koran which was captured at the time of the relief of Lucknow in 1858 by Lt. Gen. Sir Edward Lugard, K.C.B. and three printed volumes distinguished for their bindings.
August 1, 1924-July 31, 1925:
The first of the larger collections to be received was the private library of George H. Boker, of the Class of 1842. ...friend of Leland, of Bayard Taylor and of most of the group who, during the second half of the nineteenth century, created an American literature. ... many first editions of American authors, inscribed as presentations copies...
The LeBrun Collections of Montaigne and Rabelais, comprising 367 volumes, is of very great value; containing, as it does, all of the 16th century editions of Montaigne and most of the significant and scholarly editions, published at later dates, of both authors; and a wealth of critical material that it would be difficult, if not impossible, now to assemble. It is emphatically a scholar's collection.
The Woodrow Wilson Collection...is an almost complete collection of the original prints of the writings of President Wilson, as well as of the books published, both in this country and abroad, which contain specific estimates of his life and work. The obituary notices, appearing in the press during the months following his death, for which the Board of Trustees made a special appropriation, have been bound in 15 large folio volumes and are of unique interest. Through the courtesy of the Department od State, the Library has received a complete file of the Executive orders issued by President Wilson during his term in office.
To Dickson Q. Brown, we are indebted for a magnificently extra illustrated copy of Dr. Doran's life of Mrs. Montagu, "queen of the Blues". The extra illustration was the work of A.M. Broadley, who collected for this purpose portraits and autograph letters of hundreds of the men and women famous during the 18th century, including such names as Queen Charlotte, Lord Chatham, Alexander Pope, Samuel Johnson, Horace Walpole, and David Garrick. Sir Joshua Reynolds is represented by a signed sketch.
August 1, 1925-July 31, 1926:
By the death of David Paton, of the Class of '74, the Library has lost a loyal friend and generous benefactor. ... death on November 27, 1925 ... he gave to the Library his entire Egyptological and Assyriological Collection ...
Among the more notable acquisitions of the year is the collection of books by and about Rousseau, made by Hippolyte Buffenoir and consisting of 69 volumes and 242 pamphlets.
Of great interest is the gift of a group of 11 letters written by the Reverend John Woodhull of the class of 1766, and a member of the Board of Trustees from 1780-1824, during his service with the Continental armies in August and September 1776. These were given to us by George H. Cunningham, in memory of his wife, Evelyn De Vivon Woodhull Cunningham, a great granddaughter of the writer.
The bequest of Paul Weir '85 added to the Library 357 books of travel, of history, and of literature and enabled us to replace worn and soiled copies by those that are clean and fresh. The duplicates in the collection were, many of them, sent to the infirmary and others to the Public Library in Owensboro, Kentucky, the home of Mr. Weir.
August 1, 1926-July 31, 1927:
The most notable gift of the year was that of Mrs. Pierre L. LeBrun of Brooklyn, who was kind enough to endow the splendid collection on Montaigne and Rabelais, made by her husband, the well-known architect and scholar, which was presented to the Library two years ago. In March Mrs. LeBrun sent us her check for 15,000, 1,000 for the purchase of specified editions, and the balance as an endowment for the acquisition of books on Montaigne, Rabelais and their times, This income, expended through the years, should make and keep this collection in the first rank.
As a memorial to the late Charles Richard Williams '75, the distinguished editor, scholar and poet, Mrs. Williams has given his valuable private library to the University. A Section of it is to be used as the nucleus of the collection in a "browsing room" in the new Library building. In this room, we shall hang a portrait of Mr. Williams, painted by Howard Russell Butler '76, which is now temporarily placed in the old exhibition room.
Junius Morgan '88, has enriched the Vergil Collection which bears his name, by adding to it the Bucolica printed by Quentel in Cologne in 1495, the Georgica of the same printer, 1499, the very rare Opera printed by Soncino in 1508, and the Richer translation of the Eclogues, Rouen, 1718.
To the kindness of Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan we owe the completion of the set of Mansi, Concilia given to us by his father a number of years ago, a copy of the Roxeburgh Club edition of "A Book of Old Testament Illustration" and the Catalogue of the Murray Collection of drawings by the old masters.
Dickson Q. Brown '95 was so generous as to give us three valuable works on George Morland and a copy of Holman's graphic processes.
To Charles A. Pope we are indebted for a fine copy of Terence in the Venice edition of 1494 and to Charles Scribner '75 for the Julian edition of the works of Shelley.
Our collection of Princetoniana has received a number of notable additions, the most important of which is a manuscript record book kept by Nathaniel Fitz Randolph, who in 1753 gave to the newly established College the land on which Nassau Hall stands. This was presented by his collateral kinsman, Evan Randolph. Irving L. Roe '97 made it possible for us to secure photostatic copies of the letters written by Joseph Shippen Jr. during the Newark period of the history of the College. The originals are in the Library of the Pennsylvania Historical Society. Edward L. Howe gave us a copy of the rare print "Washington at Princeton" made by Nathaniel Currier in 1846.
August 1, 1927-July 31, 1928:
Among the gifts which came to us from friends of the University the copy of the First Folio Shakespeare stands preeminent. Formerly a part of the splendid library of William Augustus White and given to us by his family, the copy is of the greatest interest and value. It has been owned successively, during the last hundred years, by Sir William Tite in England, and in America by Mr. Robinson, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Brayton Ives, and Mr. White. It is peculiarly gratifying to receive this gift, since Mr. White and his sons are of the Harvard family, and they desire that this gift should express the cordial interrelation of the two institutions.
Our collection of incunabula has been greatly enriched through the gift of another anonymous donor of a beautiful copy of the four-volume Bible printed at Strassburg in 1480 by Adolf Rusch. The edition is very rare, only 13 copies being known to exist in America.
Mr. Junius Morgan continues to find new Vergils to add to his collection. Of the fourteen early editions given to us, seven are from the presses of Spain, two from those of Portugal, two from Italy, and one each from Belgium, Germany and England.
Dr. Frederick J. Tooker '94 has presented an exceedingly interesting collection of ancient Chinese money.
To the generous cooperation of the Princeton Bank and Trust Company, the First National Bank and of Professor Kemmerer, we owe a subscription for the service of the Standard Statistics Corporation.
August 1, 1928-July 31, 1929:
Of the greatest importance is the gift of Junius S. Morgan '88, of a unique copy of the first edition of Vergil to be printed in Paris. It was issued by the press of the Sorbonne, about 1472. For a long time it was supposed that only Bucolics and Georgics were published, but this copy, which was described at length by M. Ch. Mortet in Bibliographe moderne in 1906, has proved the contrary. Mr. Morgan has further enriched the collection which bears his name by the gift of a fragment of a Virgil manuscript, written in the late 12th or early 13th century.
Another important incunabulum came to us from the estate of William B. Isham '79, - a Vulgate Bible, printed at Strassburg in 1470 by Henri Eggestyn...
A similar group of Princetoniana was given by Mrs. Bayard Henry, and the collection was further enriched by the gift of Dr. Ralston Fithian Elwell and Mrs. C. Edwin Buxler of the Master's diploma awarded to Philip Fithian in 1775...
In this connection should also be noted the gift of Charles L. Burke '01 of a sword once owned by General Hugh Mercer.
Dickson Q. Brown has consented to the use of his name as the giver of the valuable Rowlandson collection...
To M. L. Parrish we owe our thanks for a copy of his privately printed list of his uniquely valuable collection of the works of Lewis Carroll.
Mr. Lucius Wilmerding has been gracious enough to give the Library a copy of the beautifully printed edition of the Boswell manuscripts in the collection of Col. R.H. Isham; and Col. Isham was so courteous as to transfer to us, for the purchase of books, his honorarium for a public lecture, in which he described the manuscripts and told of their acquisition.
August 1, 1929-July 31, 1930:
Our collection of books on manuscript illumination has been enriched by the gift of Robert Garrett '97 of a copy of his privately printed edition of Sir Thomas Arnold's Bihzad and his paintings in the Zafar-Namah manuscript, and by J. Pierpont Morgan of the Miniatures des plus anciens manuscripts grecs de la BibliothŠque Nationale, by Henri Omont.
To Edward L. Pierce we owe the opportunity to purchase a copy of the Baskerville Book of Common Prayer, Cambridge 1760, and to Gabriel Wells the gift of the Seawood edition of the Works of Booth Tarkington.
August 1, 1930-June 30, 1931:
Mr. [Junius S.] Morgan has, during the past year, given us a copy of the facsimile of the magnificent Ambrosian manuscript of Virgil, which was once the property of Petrarch, and added eight important editions to the Virgil collection. He has given to us, as well, an example of the medal struck by the Italian Government in commemoration of the Virgil Bimillennial Celebration, and awarded it to him in recognition of his services in connection with it.
Mr. Cyrus McCormick '79 has presented to us copies of Stamler's Dyalogus. Augsburg, 1508, and Huttich's Novus orbis regionum ac insularum veteribus incognitarum. Basle, 1555, which supplement effectively the Vespucci collection which he presented to us a number of years ago.
July 1, 1931-June 30, 1932:
The lamented death of Junius S. Morgan '88, on Aug. 18, 1932, has removed from the circle of our friends a man whose interest in the welfare of the Library was constant and vital, and whose benefactions were very great indeed. The Morgan Collection of Virgils will remain his monument aere perennius. His last visit to the library was on Jan. 5, when, standing in front of the cases containing his collection, he received, from the hands of the Italian Consul-General at New York, the decoration of the Order of the Crown of Italy. Only a few weeks before his death, he sent us a beautiful copy of the Virgil printed in Leipzig by Wolfgang Stoeckel in 1511.
Cyrus McCormick '79 has added another to the list of valuable books related to the discovery of America, given to us in the past years, by presenting a copy of Maurolico's "Cosmographia", Venice, 1543.
July 1, 1932-June 30, 1933:
...the gift of Henry F. Montagnier '99 is a collection on Swiss history, particularly related to the Cantons of Geneva, Baud and Valais, Bern, and Neuchatel. Many of the books, particularly those related to the Reformation and the municipal history of Geneva are rare and difficult to secure.
1933-1934:
no specifics
July 1, 1934-June 30, 1935:
Although it comes within the record of the present rather than the past year, I cannot fail to call attention to the deposit with us by Mr. Andre deCoppet of the papers of EugŠne de Beauharnais, the stepson of Napoleon, and his Viceroy in Italy from 1805-1814. The papers comprise about 6,000 letters and documents addressed to EugŠne by officials of the Empire, and about 28,000 letters, documents, and reports by officials in the Italian government, together with EugŠne's private papers during the period, after Waterloo, when he lived in retirement in Bavaria. So far is known, these papers have never been examined by competent historians and they are certain to contain much new material relating to the Napoleonic era in Italy. Dr. Richardson has most graciously consented to the release the room which he has occupied as an office so that we may have space for the installation of these manuscripts.
Articles in the Alumni Weekly and in Biblia have described the gift by Cyrus McCormick '79 of the manuscript of Strachey's "Historie of Travell into Virginal Britania", and of those excessively rare books, "For the Colony of Virginia Britannia: Lawes Divine, Morall and Martiall. London, 1612, and Rich's famous poem, "Newes from Virginia. The Lost Flocke Triumphant." London, 1610. The three are monuments in the history of Virginia of the highest importance and are another evidence of Mr. McCormick's continued generosity.
July 1, 1935-June 30, 1936:
An exceedingly important addition to our collections in 17th century English literature was the purchase of the Henry Austin Whitney Milton Collection, which included first editions of substantially all of Milton's works, except the very rare Comus, Lycidas, and Of Education, a large amount of critical material, and many books and pamphlets related to Milton's political career.
The manuscripts and the personal and literary correspondence of the Rev. Henry van Dyke '73 have been presented to the Library by Tertius van Dyke '08, on behalf of the literary executors...His papers contain autograph letters from hundreds of men and women distinguished in the field of letters, and they will be a mine for the literary historian of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Particularly interesting are the letters dated during his service as Minister at The Hague from 1913-1917.
July 1, 1936-June 30, 1937:
During the year announcement was made that John H, Scheide '96, a generous friend of the Library, has deposited with us two collections of manuscripts of the very highest importance. The first is a portion of the oldest manuscript of the Bible extant. Some time ago there appeared on the market a number of leaves of papyri containing both the New and Old Testaments, and Mr. Scheide was the fortunate purchaser of 21 of them, containing parts of Ezekiel, chapters 19-39. There is an agreement among scholars that this manuscript, which is remarkably well preserved, dates at approximately A.D. 200. Mr. Scheide has also deposited with us an extensive collection of vellum documents, deeds, wills, charters, marriage settlements, bulls, etc., originating in Central Italy and dated from the 10th to the 18th centuries.
We received from Mrs. W.P. Earle Jr. as a memorial to her son, William Pitman Earle III '38 who was killed in an accident in his sophomore year, a collection of 64 volumes which illustrate the modern treatment of the Arthurian legend. The collection contains the 2nd edition of Dryden's King Arthur, 1695, the suppressed Empedocles on Etna by Matthew Arnold [1852], and several other very fine items.
Gifts by Henry N. Paul '84 and Edward L. Pierce have greatly enriched our Shakespeare and Milton Collections. Mr. Paul gave us 12 early editions of Shakespeare and 2 volumes of early criticism, and Mr. Pierce presented 1st editions of Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. We are also greatly indebted to Mr. Pierce for a remarkable collection of postage stamps, containing about 30,000 varieties.
Mrs. Harry B. Fine presented two lovely volumes of John Donne's Sermons, which were printed in 1640 and 1649. They are a memorial to her father, the late Paul Elmer More.
John Forsythe Joline '07 and Mrs. Joline presented a collection of letters, journal and other documents relating to the Hon. John Forsythe, class of 1799. There were in addition 18 letters from Mrs. John Forsythe (Clara Meigs), 1803-1851. Mr. Joline also gave us some first editions of American authors.
An exceedingly interesting addition to our collection of Princetoniana was made through the generosity of Charles Scribner '13. This was a manuscript of The Tattler, an undergraduate publication of the '40's which preceded the Nassau Lit...W.L.L. Peltz gave us an interesting autograph letter of Charles Webster relating to the Great Rebellion in Princeton in 1816.
July 1, 1937-June 30, 1938:
Henry N. Paul '84 is giving us excellent help in rounding out our Shakespeare Collection. During the past year we received eight 18th century editions of collected works, together with two lovely editions of the Poems. Mr. Paul also presented a collection of books and pamphlets relating to Monmouth's Rebellion, Titus Oates, and the Popish Plot.
Our collection of the writings of Herman Melville is now complete, so far as American first editions go. This was brought about by the gift from Dr. Frank J. Mather Jr., Marquand Professor of Art and Archeology. Emeritus, of lovely copies of Timoleon, and John Marr and Other Sailors, two outstanding rarities in American literature. Dr. Mather also presented 54 miscellaneous volumes of special interest because of their illustrations.
Robert Frost delivered on the Stafford Little Foundation on October 26, a lecture entitled, "The Poet's Next of Kin in a College". During that week a collection of Mr. Frost's writings was on exhibition in the Treasure Room. Mr. Frost very kindly presented us with three first editions of his poems, and Frederic E. Camp '29 generously made a contribution for the purchase of other Frost volumes.
The William Seymour Theater Collection was enriched by the addition of an unusual collection os material relating to the circus, from the estate of Joseph T. McCaddon. An autographed print of Sir Henry Irving came from the Estate of Joseph P. Bickerton '00. Archibald MacLeish presented the original manuscript of his play Panic.
Our collection of Princetoniana now contains what is the keystone of such a collection. There is an original subscription list which was circulated for the raising of funds for the "purpose of Erecting a Collegiate School in the Province of New Jersey for the instructing of youth in the learned Languages, Liberal arts and sciences," dated March 5, 1745, a year and a half before the granting of the Princeton Charter. The acquisition of this most important item, together with two collections of papers of William Paterson (1763) was made possible by contributions by Henry J. Cochran '00, et al.
The original draft of the petition which was to have been sent to King George by the New Jersey Assembly protesting against taxation without representation is now in our collection of manuscripts. This is in the handwriting of Richard Stockton (1748). The purchase of it was made possible with money received from the following contributors: Mary F. Bradford, Katharine C. Clark, Arthur M. Conger '09, Juliana Conover, Daughters of the American Revolution - Princeton Chapter, Dean Mathey '12, Henrietta G. Ricketts, Richard Stockton III '09, Anice Terhune, and Owen Jones Toland '19.
Charles H. McIlwain '94 presented the Journal of the Votes and Proceedings of the General Assembly of the Colony of New York, April 9, 1691-December 23, 1765, published by Hugh Gaine in the years 1764-1766...George R. Cook III '26 gave us a lovely copy of Georgius Agricola-De Re Metallica, translated by Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover, and autographed by Mr. and Mrs. Hoover. Ten volumes containing the records of the cases of the S.S. Titanic and S.S. La Bourgogne were presented by A. Gordon Murray '91.
Coleman (37): "From 1937 until 1941 John Hinsdale Scheide '96 deposited some eight thousand European documents and manuscripts which were given to the Library by his widow and their son, William H. Scheide '36. in 1946.
July 1, 1938-June 30, 1939:
The Library continues to be fortunate in the receipt of gifts from Alumni and friends. Harry C. Black '09 presented a remarkable group of manuscripts of Louis Alexandre Berthier, Napoleon's chief of staff. There are over a hundred maps, Berthier's diary for 1977-1983, and several other documents, all related to French military operations in the Colonies during the American Revolution. The acquisition of this collection is of very great importance and enriches materially the Library resources for historical research.
Louis Banigan '04 presented a group of volumes on Latin American history, John W. Garrett '95 presented a copy Colonial and Historic Homes of Maryland, by Don Swann.
John C. Cooper Jr. '09 graciously turned over to us a complete file of the Daily Radio Press Bulletin, published during the period July 21, 1918-April 30, 1919, by the United States Naval Communication Service. This Bulletin, which was issued in mimeographic form in a few copies for very limited distribution to certain officials, gives the text of short wave propaganda messages picked up from foreign stations. Because of the period covered, this material is of very greatest interest, and it is unlikely that more than one of two files are being preserved in any other libraries.
Gabriel Wells, the well known rare book dealer, very thoughtfully sent to us the autograph manuscript by Albert Einstein of an address delivered at Swarthmore in June 1938.
A splendid gift came to us from Mrs. Dan Fellows Platt, consisting of a collection of books on mountain climbing. Among other volumes there is a file of the important periodical The Alpine Journal and a choice copy of the 8 volume edition of Horace Benedict de Saussure's Voyages dans les Alpes, published in 1803.
July 1, 1939-June 30, 1940:
Among the noteworthy gifts are the following: from William B. Bamford '00, Ars Quator Coronatorum, volumes 13049, a valuable and exceedingly interesting periodical of Masonic origin, devoted chiefly to architectural and historical subjects; from George W. Betts Jr. '92, 26 American bank notes 1824-46 and a pamphlet on Benjamin Franklin's examination before the House of Commons on the Stamp Act, 1766; from Edward Duff Balken '97 a group of 8 fine volumes, 3 of which are incunabula...St. Bonaventure, Sententiarum (Kilianus Piscator, Freiburg im Breisgau, 1493), Nicholaus de Ausmo, Supplementum (Hailbrun, Francfordia, Venice, 1474), and St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Epistle of St. Paul (Michael Furter, Basel, 1495); from John H. Scheide '96 Aphra Behn, Lycidus: or the Lover in Fashion (london, 1688), Wordsworth, Excursion (London, 1814), Suckling, Fragmenta Aurea (London, 1646) and Wither, Collection of Emblemes, ancient and moderne (London, 1646).
As illustrating the variety and interest of material in the Princetoniana Collection, the following gifts are worthy of note: from John F. Joline Jr. '07 some 1st editions of books by Booth Tarkington '93; from Robert M. Van Sant '07 two copies of the picture of the locomotive "Princeton"; a rare Currier print describing the explosion on the U.S.S. Princeton, presented by Philip Rollins '89, Stuart R. Stevenson '18, C. Vincent Armstrong '14, J. Harlin O'Connell '14, Shelton Pitney '14, and John N. Stearns '14; a letter signed by President Tyler March 7, 1844, referring to an accident on the Princeton, presented by Stuart R. Stevenson '18 and J. Harlin O'Connell '15...
July 1, 1940-June 30, 1941:
An anonymous established a fund for the purchase of poetry and prose of the English Renaissance in honor of Professor Charles G. Osgood. A small group of contributors enabled the Library to publish a scholarly bibliography of Paul Elmer More by Malcolm O Young. Mr. John H. Scheide presented a 17th century Bible box and added 1,189 pieces to his important deposit of European manuscripts, including 386 autograph letters and documents of royalty, nobility, statesmen, and other celebrities of France during the reign of Louis XII to the beginning of the French Revolution.
Through the good offices if Professor Chinard the Library received a highly interesting deposit from Mrs. Marie Leroux Dehay of manuscripts, letters, newspapers, broadsides, etc., altogether 432 pieces, pertaining to Socialist experiments in the United States in the 19th century. Two desirable incunabula were received as gifts from Sergei Cheremeteff, who presented a copy of Strabo's Geographia, printed in Treviso in 1480, and from David A. Reed '00 who presented an excellent copy of Cicero's Epistolae Familiares printed by Jenson in 1471.
July 1941-June 1942:
Among the notable acquisitions during the year the following items were received through purchase: about 800 documents of James Chaytor, a sea captain and officer in the Civil War; 34 letters of the Bache family, including a letter from William Stahan, the famous London publisher, to Benjamin Franklin and one letter from Franklin's sister, Jane Mecom; 44 letters of John Ruskin; Rainolds, Overthrow of Stage Playes, 1599; Vergil, Bucolica, printed by Wynkyn de Worde, 1529; Sir Thomas More, Lubricationes, 1563; John Milton, Treatise on Civil Power, 1659; Rabelais, Oevres, 1558; Montaigne, Esais, 1594; Eusebius, Chronicon, 1512. The Library also acquired important microfilm sources during the year; a microfilm copy of The Pennsylvania Gazette, 1728-1790, covering about 14,000 pages of Franklin's famous newspaper; and microfilms of 91 American periodicals of the 18th century. In addition, two further installments of microfilms of books printed in england before 1600 were received. About 8,700 photographs of actors and actresses were added to the William Seymour Theatre Collection, and also several thousand letters, portraits, scripts, account books, and other memorabilia of George C. Tyler, a New York producer.
The past year was distinguished by one of the most impressive gifts in the entire history of the library, the presentation by Robert Garrett '97 of the Garrett Collection Manuscripts, described by President Dodds as "one of the world's great collections of books and manuscripts, embodying the best of literature, art, religion, science, and history of the Islamic and Western Civilizations". This munificent gift, embracing approximately ten thousand volumes of manuscripts ranging through more than twenty countries, had been appreciatively described by various scholars in June, 1942, in the issue of The Princeton University Library Chronicle and has been widely commented upon in the public press of this and other countries. Through the appraisal of the Arabic, Persian, Greek, Indic, and Western European manuscripts in this collection, as made by competent scholars in The Chronicle, it is possible to obtain only an outline of the rich scholarly resources that have been added to the University's collections: years of scholarly research, cataloguing, annotation, comparison, and publication will be required to realize the full potentialities of this great collection. It is gratifying to report that the donor has added meaning and distinction to his gift by expressing the wish that these records of ancient civilizations should be made freely available not merely to the scholars of the University but to the entire world od learning.
Among other noteworthy gifts to the Library during the past year have been the following: from A.S.W. Rosenbach, a series of twenty-seven letters from Jonathan Dayton of the class of 1776 to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, covering the years 1805-1815; from the estate of Robert Bridges '79, through Mrs. Flora B. Witherspoon, 114 letters written by Woodrow Wilson to Robert Bridges from 1885-1919; from Stuart W. Jackson, two manuscript journals, with numerous maps, kept by Lieutenant Joachim du Perron, Comte de Revel, during his service under Admiral de Grasse. Through the generosity of various friends, the Library has been enabled to publish under its own imprint a handsome brochure describing the du Perron journals and including a full-size reproduction in color of the map of the fortifications at Yorktown, drawn in 1781 by Lieutenant du Perron. These journals and maps admirably supplement the Alexandre Berthier manuscripts previously acquired through the generosity of Harry C. Black '09. Generous contributions from Frederick E. Camp '28 and John H. Scheide '96 enabled the Library to acquire a handsome copy of the first edition of Richard Burton's Anatomy of a Melancholy, Oxford, 1621, thus completing the Library's holdings of all editions of this classic that were issued during the life of the author. Almost six hundred volumes of American History and literature, including such substantial works as Niles' Weekly Register and Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New york, were given to the Library by various persons as a result of an interesting experiment carried on in the summer of 1941. This venture was financed through contributions made ny Wolfgang S. Schwabacher '18 and others, enabling the Library to employ a member of the Class of 1941 to travel through New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania as a representative of the Library for the purpose of making its needs and policies better known and of securing gifts and books and manuscripts. The Committee having charge of the collection of letters and manuscripts of American literary interest.
July 1942-June 1943:
Among the notable gifts to the library during the past year was that of Eugene O'Neill -10, who presented the manuscripts of eleven of his plays, including drawings, scenarios, and proof sheets. These plays belonged to the earlier period of his work (1919-1924) and included the following: "The Straw", "Gold", "Anna Christie", "Emperor Jones", "Diff'rent", "The Hairy Ape", "Welded", "All God's Chill'un Got Wings", "The First Man", "Desire under the Elms", and "The Fountain". Mrs. O'Neill presented one of the fifty facsimiles of the handwritten dedication to "Mourning Becomes Electra", and Mr. Carl Van Vechten gave more than one hundred of his excellent photographs of the O'Neills. Winthrop M. Daniels '88 gave the typescript and proofs of his essay, "The Passing of the Old Economist", together with more that a hundred letters from prominent men commenting upon the essay.
July 1943-June 1944
NOTABLE ACQUISITIONS
AMERICAN LITERATURE
Poe, E. A. - The Raven, and Other Poems. 1st edition. London, 1846.
MacPherson, James - Fingal. 2nd edition, 1762. (Herman Melville's copy with his notes.)
Habington, Wm. - Castara. Bristol, 1812. (Herman Melville's copy with his notes.)
Howells, William Dean - 14 holograph manuscripts, letters, etc.
Hutton, Laurence - Original Poem engrossed on vellum, and nine autograph letters.
AMERICAN HISTORY
Biddle - A.L.S. from Athens
Charlevoix - Voyage to North America. Dublin, 1766.
Hay, John - Letters and diaries. 1908. 3 volumes.
Hitchcock, Luman - Original autograph letter-book. 1859.
Lind, John - Answer to the declaration of the American Congress, 1766, bound with five other pamphlets.
Reed and Pettit letter-book.
Rush, Benjamin - seven holograph letters.
Stockton family manuscripts (deeds, etc.)
Chart: "From South to North River, New Netherlands", by Pieter Goos. 1666.
Maclurian Society: Manuscripts minutes...of a scientific society founded in Philadelphia in 1826.
Collection of books and papers dealing with Maritime cases and shipping records.
Manuscript Register kept by the Whaling Insurance Company of New Bedford, Mass. 1838-41.
PRINCETONIANA
Peters, Samuel - General History of Connecticut. London, 1781. (Philip Freneau's copy)
Robin, Claude - New travels through North America; in a series of letters, trans. by Freneau. Philadelphia, 1783.
Witherspoon, John - Eleven A.L.S.
THEATRE
Hodgkinson, John - Narrative of his connection with the Old American Company. New York, 1797. Playbills. (Approximately 700) of nearly all the Shakespeare plays and plays adapted from Shakespeare, (1785-1864).
Hervey, Charles - Miscellaneous writings on the drama, the theatre, actors and actresses... collected by Hervey...with specially printed titles, c1843-92, together with his Theatres of Paris. Paris, 1847. (many A.L.S. inlaid.).
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Bacon, Sir Francis - Saggi Morali, (Trans, by Tobias Matthew.) Florence, 1618-19.
[Baxter, Nathaniel] - Sir Philip Sydney's Ourania. 1st edition, 1606.
Beaumont, Joseph - Some observations upon the apologie of Dr. Henry More...Cambridge, 1665.
Boileau-Despreaux, Nicholas - Le lutrin. London, 1682. 1st English translation.
Congreve, William - Works. 1710. 3 volumes. 1st collected edition.
Daniel, Samuel - Tragedy of Philotas. 1st ed. 1605. - Whole workes. 1623. -
Collection of the History of England. 1636.
Davenant, Sir William - Salmacida spolia, a masque. 1st edition. 1639.
De Morgan, William - It never can happen again. A likely story Sally somehow good. When ghost meets ghost (Original typescripts).
Donne, John - A sermon preached...24 Febr. 1625. 1st edition, 1626.
Dryden, John - Tyrannick love. 1st edition. 1670.
Fielding, Henry - The opposition. 1st edition, 1742.
Lamb, Charles - Elia. 2nd series, Philadelphia, 1828, 1st edition.
Landor, Walter Savage - Poems. London, 1795. 1st ed. with Landor's own notes.
Moore, George - Anglo-Irish essays by John Eglinton. (Original typescript and printed version from The Observer.)
Nelville, Henry - Isle of Pines. 1668, 1st edition.
Sterne, Laurence - Life and opinions of Tristram Shandy. 1760-67. 1st edition.
Swift, Jonathan - Travels into several remote nations of the world. 2 volumes, 1726, 1st edition.
Wycherley, William - Love in a wood. London, 1672, 1st edition.
Croker - Balmanno correspondence. Manuscripts.
HISTORY
Baggallay, Sir Richard - Documents dealing with the slave trade. 1875. Many in ms. in Sir Richard's own hand.
Bossewell, John - Workes of armorie, devyded into three books. 1572.
Colnett, Capt. James - Voyage to the South Atlantic and around Cape Horn. 1798.
MISCELLANEOUS
Albertus Magnus - Philosophia naturalis, 1506.
Galileo - Opere. Bogna, 1655,1656. 1st coll, ed.
Joannes and Damascus - Theologia. Paris, 1507.
Knox, Vicesimus - Spirit of despotism. London, 1595. 1st edition.
Locke, John - Letters concerning toleration. London, 1689.
Powell, Willis - Tachyhippodamia. New Orleans, 1838.
Sale-room, No. 1-28. Edinburgh, 1817. (Periodical)
Sporting Magazine. 1792-1870. (156 volumes)
VietŠ, Francois - Opera mathematica. Leyden, Elzeviri, 1646.
Collections of political cartoons by American Cartoonists.
July 1944-June 1945:
NOTABLE ACQUISITIONS
New Poems - Original typescript of the anthology prepared for the printer with
author's corrections,
John Owen - Epigrammatum...libri tres...ad Edoardum Noel...Guilielmum Sidley...Roger
Owen...Editio prima. (London, 1612)
Epigrammatum...libri tres ad Henricum principem Cambriae duo. Ad Carolum Eboracensem unus. Edito prima. (London, 1612).
Epigrammatum...libri tres...ad D. Marium Neville...Edito quarta. (London,1612.)
Alexander Pope - The rape of the lock. (London, 1714.) First separate edition.
Works. (London, 1717-35.) 2 volumes. First edition.
Percy Bysshe Shelley - The revolt of Islam. (London, 1829) This edition is composed
of reminder sheets of the original edition with a new title page.
Songs in the Justiciary opera, composed 50 years ago. By C--M-- & B--I.C.C...
(Auchinleck, 1816.) 1st edition. (Attributed to James Boswell)
Thomas J. Wise - Collection of letters dealing with his publishing, autograph
letters signed, etc.
William Butler Yeats - Deirdre. (Prompt book from the library of Mrs. Patrick
Campbell with autograph notes by Yeats and Mrs. Campbell.)
HISTORY
Charles I, king of Great Britain - Reliquise sacrae Carolinae... (Hague, 1649?)
Lady Jane Douglas - Letters...with several other important pieces of private
correspondence. (London, 1767.)
Thomas Fitzherbert - A defence of the Catholyke cavse.... (St Omer. 1602)
Nicholas French, bp. of Ferns - The vnkinde desertor of loyall men and true
frinds. (n.p. 1676)
Stubbe, John - The discoverie of a gaping gvlf vvhereinto England is to be swallovved
by another French mariage...(London, 1579.)
AMERICAN HISTORY
Samuel J. Bayard - Collection of his letters and manuscripts.
Aaron Burr - Autograph letter signed. May 10, 1755.
Thomas Jefferson - Observations sur la Virginie... (Paris, 1786.)
Christoph Heinrich Korn - Geschichte der krieg in und ausser Europa, vom anfange des aufstandes der Brittischen kolonien in Nordamerika an. (Nurnberg, 1776-1784) 3 volumes.
Joseph Jerome le Francaise de Lalande - Astronomie. (Paris, 1771-81) 2nd edition. 4 volumes. (Volume 1 contains a letter to Mr. Rittenhouse from Thomas Jefferson.)
New Jersey. A collection of manuscripts of New Jersey interest.
Thomas Pownall - A topographical description of such parts of North America
as are contained in the (annexed) map of the middle British colonies, &
c. in North America. (London, 1776.)
William Redmond Ryan - Personal adventures in Upper and Lower California in
1848-9... London, 1850. 2 volumes.
AMERICAN LITERATURE
James Fenimore Cooper - England. (London, 1837) First English edition. The
last of the Mohicans. (Philadelphia, 1826.) First edition. The oak openings.
(New York, 1848.) First edition.
Sketches of Switzerland...part second. (Philadelphia, 1836.) First edition.
Wyandott‚. (Philadelphia, 1843.) First edition.
Emily Dickinson - Poems. (Boston, 1890.) First edition
Edward Everett Hale - The man without a country. (Boston, 1865.) First separate edition.
Archibald MacLeish - Collection of first editions, manuscripts, and autograph letters signed.
Robert Rogers - Pontsach: or The savages of America. (London, 1766.) First edition.
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Sir Francis Bacon - The wisdome of the antients. (London, 1619.) First edition in English.
Blessington Letters - Seventy items, (1837-1855) mostly letters and notes concerning Lady Blessington and her friends.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge - The plot discovered. (Bristol, 1795) First edition.
Thomas Drue - The life of the Dvtches of Suffolke. (London, 1631.)
Thomas Gent - Serious reflections during the life and surprising adventures
of Robinson Crusoe... (London, 1720) First edition.
Thomas Heywood - An apology for actors. (London 1612.)
Leigh Hunt - Dalby-DeWilde correspondence. Two hundred and ninety letters, concerned
mainly with Leigh Hunt and his work.
John Locke - An essay concerning humane understanding... (London, 1690) First edition.
Thomas More - T. Crofton Croker correspondence. Eighty-three items 1827-1855.
Sir Thomas More - The debellacyon of Salem and Bizance. (London, 1533) First edition. A dialogve of cumfort against tribulation...which he wrote in the Tower of London... (Antverpiae, 1573) A dialogve...wherein he treatyd dyuers maters... (London, 1530) A fruteful and pleasaunt worke...of the newe yle called Utopia... (London, 1551.) First edition in English. A fruteful, pleasaunt & wittie worke...of the newe yle, called Utopia... (London, 1556.) Second edition in English. A most pleasant, fruitfull and wittie worke...of the newe yle called Utopia... (London, 1597.) Third edition in English. La description de l'isle d'Vtopia... (Paris, 1550.) First edition in French. Omnia quae hucusque ad manus nostras peruenerunt, latina opera... (Lovanii, 1566.)
Nathaniel Ward - The simple cobler of Aggavvamm in America... (London, 1647) Fourth edition.
Woodrow Wilson - Five autograph letters signed
to Frank I. Cobb, 1922.
to William Winter, 1910.
to Jefferson Winter, 1916.
to Dr. Thornton Whaling, 1918.
to W.L. Chambers, 1913.
Typescript (fourteen pages) of an article Hide and Seek Politics, with thirty seven autograph corrections, twice signed by Wilson.
THEATER
Charles Hervey - Miscellanies in prose and verse...(London, 1842?-92) (Scrapbooks compiled by Hervey, containing articles by him on the theater, portraits of actors and actresses, playbills, views and autograph letters signed.)
Playbills - A collection of 18th and 19th century playbills. Collection of English and American Playbills.
ROMANCE LANGUAGES
..nteo Alam n - The Rogve...(London, 1623.) 2 volumes in 1.
Giovanni Boccaccio - (Il decamerone) The modell of wit, mirth, eloquence and
conversation...(London, 1620-25.) 2 volumes in 1(volume 2 with title The Decameron,
is first edition, 1620.)
De casibus virorum illustratium (Strassburg, 1475?)
The novels and tales of the...first refiner of Italian prose. (London, 1684.) Fifth edition.
A treatise of excellent and compedious showing and declaring...the falles of sondry most notable preince and princesses. . .translated...by Dan John Lidgate. (London, 1554.)
...del Encina - Los psalmos de david; metrificados en lengua castellana...(Antwerp? 1606.)
SCIENCE
...thius - Arithmetica boetij. (Augsburg, 1488) first edition.
Christiaan Huygens - Kosmotheoros, sive de terris coelestibus...(The Hague, 1698.) First edition.
Hans van Schooten - ...Exercitationum mathematicarum libri quinque...(Lugduni Batavorum, 1656-57) 5 parts in 1 volume.
Francois ViŠte - Opera mathematica. (Lugduni Batavorum, 1646.)
MUSIC
Franchino Gaffurio - ...De harmonia musciorum instrumentorum opus... (Milan, 1518.)
Library of Carl Engal - (183 volumes on music.)
CARTOONS
Collection of thirteen miscellaneous original cartoons.
Collection of cartoons of Napier, Nast, etc.
Currier and Ives lithograph of Old Testament Parsonage.
Nast - Original wash drawing - Young negro soldier.
Russian posters (about 450 dealing with economic and political subjects.)
PRINCETONIANA
John Witherspoon - five autograph letters signed.
Various autograph letters signed, etc. (twenty-seven items of Princeton interest.)
PERIODICALS
Annals of Sporting and Fancy Gazette. Complete set of thirteen volumes. (London, 1822-28.)
Athen‚e Louisianais. New Orleans. Thirty-eight volumes.
Communist International. Two hundred and forty-five volumes.
Diplomatic Review. (1856-65). Two volumes.
Liberty. (1881-1908) Complete set of seventeen volumes.
Spirit of the Times. Various runs of numbers of this 18th century periodical.
MISCELLANEOUS
Apuleius Barbarus - The herbal...from the early 12th century manuscript...(Ms. Bodley 130)...(Oxford, 1925.) (The Roxburghe Club Facsimile.)
Athenian society. London - One young student's library. (London, 1692.)
Bell's North country collection of broadsides.
Pierre Boaistuau - Theatrum mundi. (London, 1581)
Etienne Dolet - Dialogus, De imitatione ciceroniana, aduersus Desiderium Erasmum, (Lugduni, 1535.)
Desiderius Erasmus - ...Ecclesiastae sive de ratione concionandi libri quatuor. (Basle, 1535.) First edition.
June 1945-July 1946:
The Library has been enriched by several notable acquisitions. The Orlando C. Weber Library of about 3,000 titles, devoted chiefly to the field of political economy in the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, was presented by the heirs of Mr. Weber. The splendid collection of Western Americana formed by Mr. and Mrs. Philip Ashton Rollins, presented to the University some years ago, was formally transferred to the Library during the year. The Sinclair Hamilton collection of several hundred books illustrated by American wood engravers and the Charles S. Scribner collection of rare Charles Lamb titles were acquired by gifts and have been described in the Library Chronicle. Mr. Henry N. Paul presented about 3,000 volumes of American and English editions of Shakespeare. The names of donors, regularly recorded in the quarterly issues of The Chronicle, are too numerous to repeat here, but the following outstanding gifts are worthy of mention: from Blanchard W. Bates '41, a group of Italian newspapers including virtually all of the dailies that were approved by the Fascist Italian Socialist Republic in Northern Italy for 1944-45; from Robert K. Black '28, several Scott Fitzgerald first editions and Coleridge's translation of Schiller's The Piccolomini (London, 1800); from John N. Brooks '06, 25 eighteenth century pamphlets relating to American history and about 150 volumes of history and literature; from Mrs. Eric Brown of Ottawa, manuscripts and books by Philip James Bailey; from A Guyot Cameron '86, photographic albums, song books, and portraits pertaining to members of the Class of '86; from Bennett Cerf, several hundred letters relating to the Ezra Pound controversy; from Lieutenant R.H. Chapman '41, propaganda material obtained in North Africa; from Editions for the Armed Services, Inc., some 1500 volumes published for the American forces overseas, as well as the official archives of the Council on Books in Wartime; from Mrs Childs Frick, four Charles II chairs; from Robert Garrett ' 97, thirty-five letters by Woodrow Wilson; from Dean Christian Gauss, 173 volumes of literature and history; from Professor Gordon H. Gerould, 125 miscellaneous volumes of English and French literature, biography and fiction, including Letters Of Junius (2 volumes, London, 1770); from Arthur A. Houghton, Jr., Anne Bradstreet's The Tenth Muse (London, 1650), an exceedingly rare and perfect copy of an outstanding piece of Americana; from Donald L. Kemmerer '27, 39 volumes form the library of Edwin W. Kemmerer; from C. Otto v. Kienbusch '06, a manuscript by Arnold Bennett, some twenty letters by Joseph Henry, 3 Latin choir leaves, and a letter from Woodrow Wilson to Edward Sheldon; from Wheaton J. Lane '25, an autograph letter of General Frank P. Blair; from Denver Lindley '26, William M Thackeray's copy of Hume's The History of England (8 volumes, London, 1770) and other works; from Breckinridge Long, '03, several hundred volumes of history, law, and literature, including the Oxford, 1765, edition of Blackstone's Commentaries and the 1741 edition of Daniel Coxe's Carolana; from Professor Kenneth McKenzie, manuscript letters by Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, Charles E. Norton, and others, together with various additions to the McKenzie fable collection; from J.V.A. Mac Murray '02, 80 miscellaneous volumes of literature, biography, and history; from M. Daniel Maggin, various first editions of Alexander Pope, together with documents by John Witherspoon, Sir William D'Avenant's The Platonick Lovers (London, 1636.) and John Lyly's Euphues (London, 1636); from Professor Frank J. Mather, Jr., a large collection of books of literature and history; from Dean Mathey '12, Ackermann's History of Oxford University (2 volumes, London, 1814), History of Cambridge University (2 volumes, London, 1815), and history of College of England (1 volume, 1816), all in splendid condition; from Mrs. Ira Nelson Morris a bronze bust of Woodrow Wilson executed by Jo Davidson; from Howard S. Mott various first editions of English literature; from E. Swift Newton, more than 800 volumes of history, travel, belles lettres, and topography from the library of the distinguished collector A. Edward Newton; from Mrs. Josephine Leaming Whitney Nixon, through the kindness of Boyd Nixon, '05, various New Jersey manuscripts and broadsides, together with several volumes of New Jersey laws, including Leaming and Spicer's Grants, Concessions and Original Constitutions of the Province of New Jersey (Philadelphia, William Bradford, 1756); from Mrs. Seth Low Pierrepont, a manuscript letter from Nathaniel Chauncey to Jonathan Belcher, 1717; from J. Duncan Pitney '43, a perfect copy of Paris, 1922, limited edition of James Joyce's Ulysses; from David A. Randall, correspondence and miscellaneous Princetoniana from the files of Robert Bridges '79; from David A. Reed '00, a fine calligraphic specimen of the sixteenth century, a servicebook for the chapal of Phillip II of Spain, Evangelia Dominica, 1566, together with 28 volumes entitled Summary of Operations prepared by the American Battle Monuments Commission, 1944; from Kenneth H. Rockey, '16, 43 volumes principally devoted to nautical and maritime history; from Roger Sessions, a group of his own manuscript compositions, including Sonata for Violin and Piano (May 1916) and Symphony in D Major (December 1917); from Frederick J. H. Sutton '98, 46 volumes pertaining to the history and manufacture of pewter; from Henry B. Thompson, Jr., '20, correspondence between Woodrow Wilson and Henry B. Thompson; from Mrs. McIlwain Thompson, an autograph letter by Jonathan Edwards, January 21, 1742; from Alexander J.B. Wainwright '39, Villaret's Antipamela (London, 1742), and various other works, including 13 autograph letters of Grover Cleveland, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Sir Walter Scott, James McCosh, and others; from John S. Williams, '24, one very important addition to the fine group of Audubon materials that he has been contributing to the Library in recent years - an oil painting of the white breasted, black capped Nut Hatch by Audubon.
NOTABLE ACQUISITIONS
AMERICAN LITERATURE
The Fugitive. A complete set of volumes.
Tichard Watson Gilder. A collection of A.L.S. to Miss Maria Lansdale.
ENGLISH LITERATURE
William Basse (supposed author) - A helpe to disccurse: or, More merriment mixt
with serious matters...12th edition, London, 1636.
Richard Brome - The Antipodes: A comedie...London, 1640. First edition.
John Chalkhill - Thealma and Clearchus. A pastoral history...London, 1683.
John Dryden - The tempest; or, The enchanted island. London, 1870. First edition.
Ben Jonson - The new inne, or the light heart...London, 1631. First edition.
Lucianus Samosatensis - Luciani Erasmo interprete Dialogi & alia emuncta...a Thoma Mora latina facta... Paris, 1514.
The mirour for Magistrates...Newly imprinted, and with the addition of divers Tragedies enlarged. London, 1587.
Mughouse diversion, or A collection of local prolouges and songs...London, 1717.
John Taylor - All the workers...cor., revised and newly imprinted...London, 1630.
William Butler Yeats - The player queen. Typescript with author's autograph notes, from the library of Mrs. Patrick Campbell.
HISTORY
Raphael Holinshed - The chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland. London, 1587. 3 volumes.
Carel Jung - A nation in distress; five years of Dutch history depicted by the well known cartoonist, and printed secretly in a limited edition.) The Hague, 1945.
The remembrancer, or Impartial repository of public events. London, 1775-84. A complete set.
AMERICAN HISTORY
Israel Aerekius - Beskrifning om de swenska forsamlingars forna och narwarende tilstand, uti det sa kallade Nye Swerige sedan Nya Nederland, men nu for tiden Pensylvanien...Stockholm, 1759.
The Argus, or Greenleaf's new daily advertiser. New York, 1795-96. 416 numbers.
Corpus codicum americanorum medii aevi...Copenhagen, 1942-45. 2 volumes.
James Iredell - Manuscript dated June, 1776.
Nachrichten von den Vereingten deutchen evangelisch-lutherischen gemeinen in Nord America, absonderlich im Pensylvanien. Halle, 1787.
ROMANCE LANGUAGES
Giordano Bruno - De umbris idearum, implicantibus artem quaerendi, inueniendi, indicanadi & applicandi. Paris, 1582.
Baldassare Castiglione - The courtier...done into English by Thomas Hobby. London, 1588.
Voltaire - Lettres ‚crites par l'auteur, qui contiennent la critique de l'Oedyse de Sophocle, de celui de Corneille et du sien. Paris, 1719. Bound with eight other pamphlets published in the same year.
ORIENTAL
Collection of films and photoprints of early manuscripts dealing with the Arabian horse.
MUSIC
Collection of limited editions of famous composers published by the Lyre Bird Press in Paris.
PRINCETONIANA
Elias Boudinot - Six autograph letters signed.
THEATRE
James Murdoch - Collection of 700 playbills and about 300 letters covering the whole career of this American actor from 1829-1889.
June 1946- July 1947:
The list of donors during the bicentennial year is gratifyingly long, but it
is impossible to record fully in this report. Individual acknowledgements are
made for all donations and a detailed record of gifts appears in each issue
of The Library Chronicle. The following donations of the past year are worthy
of particular mention: from Marshall R. Anspach '19, volumes IV to VIII of Now
and Then, a valuable local historical publication issued at Muncy, Pennsylvania;
from Robert W. Anthony '02, various diaries, reports and publications concerning
religious activities in Italy, 1943-45, together with class notes taken of lectures
given by Woodrow Wilson; from Samuel E.Q. Ashley, 230 theater and concert programs;
from Mrs. Charles A. Askren, 78 papyrus fragments in Greek, Latin and Arabic;
from Edward Duff Balken '97, an important collection of early Pittsburgh imprints,
including Patrick Gass' Journal (1807) and the Pittsburgh Business Directory,
1837; from Mrs. Peter Ballantine, some 350 volumes of the works of various literary
and historical figures, including Irving, Thackeray, Henry Clay, Franklin, Jefferson,
and Prescott; from Gordon Barbour '32, a copy of the rare Arte de la lengua
Aymara (Lima, 1616), for which Mr. Barbour thoughtfully provided a microfilm
copy of the book; from C.D. Batchelor, 319 original drawings of his cartoons;
from Jacob Beam '96, 120 pocket editions of German classics; from Paul Bedford
'97, a scrapbook containing complete press clippings of the meeting of the American
Bar Association in London 1924; from August P. Biermann, a group of sixteenth
and seventeenth century Cambridge imprints, including His Majesties Answer to
the Declaration of Both Houses of Parliament (1642), together with seven manuscript
letters from John Ruskin to his publisher, George Allen (1872-1875); from John
Biggs, Jr. '18, 31 original cartoons, among them drawings of Nast, Dalrymple,
Opper, Cushing and others; from Mrs. C.M. Bradford, 32 volumes of music; from
Mrs. Malcolm G. Buchanan, 457 programs for the Seymour Theatre collection; from
Alfred G. Carton '05, 102 volumes pertaining to World War I; from Henry J. Cochran
'00, six interesting letters written by James McCosh to Mr. Cochran's grandfather,
Robert Carter; from Louis H. Cohn, various first editions of Booth Tarkington
and a scrapbook of clippings concerning H.L. Menoken; from Mrs. V. Lansing Collins,
a collection of manuscripts, typescripts, and annotated copies of the publications
concerning Princeton history written by the amiable and indefatigable student
of Princeton lore, V. Lansing Collins once a member of the library staff; from
Percy Crosby, autographed copies of 16 books by him; from Mrs. Ulria Dahlgren,
a collection of books, pamphlets, letters and manuscripts of the late Professor
Ulric Dahlgren '94; from Arthur T. Dear '03, five seventeenth and eighteenth
century editions of Cicero and other classical authors; from Allison Delarue
'28, a collection of programs, manuscript letters, and interesting notes by
Eugene Berman, together with a letter written by Henry van Dyke; from John C.
Dielhenn '34, Rameau's Demonstration du Principe de l'Harmonie (1749); from
G. Vinton Duffield, an eight page pamphlet entitled Automatic Telephone Exchange
of Princeton New Jersey, 1895, probably the first telephone directory issued
for this community; from Mrs. Winthrop Dwight, A Practical Grammar of the Latin
Tongue (London, 1729) including a letter written by Cotton Mather, 1717; from
Amos Eno '32, a first issue of the first edition of hawthorne's The Scarlet
Letter (Boston, 1850); from Miss Louisa Eyre, various sketches, plans and blueprints
for buildings designed by Wilson Eyre; from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the
manuscript of the bicentennial sermon delivered by him to the University on
Sunday, September 22, 1946; from Miss Kate Friend, various volumes of sermons
and addresses, together with a Catalogue of the College of New Jersey, 1848-49,
and an autograph album of William R. Friend of the class of 1851; from Robert
Garrett '97, forty original letters written by Woodrow Wilson to Mr. Garrett
between 1904 and 1916; from Charles Garside '23, a manuscript entitled "Answer
to Queries that were sent by the Right Honorable the Lords of Trade and Plantations
to the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland" (1792), together with three Italian
works of the sixteenth century and one of the eighteenth; from Frank T. Gorman
'41, a collection of French novels and plays; from the executors of the estate
of Professor George N. Priest '94, approximately 1500 volumes, chiefly in the
field of German literature, together with seven boxes of manuscripts of lectures
and writings bequeathed by him; from Mrs. Bayard Henry, the typescript of a
diary written by Miss Kate Forrester Robertson entitled, "Robot Bombing
over Surrey, England, June to October, 1944"; from J.G.E. Hopkins, a copy
of the London Morning Post, September 12, 1809, of special interest because
of the advertisement of books by Charles Lamb; from Thomas W. Hotchkiss '89,
a pastel portrait of Charles Dickens and a large collection of clippings and
Princetoniana items; from Arthur A. Houghton Jr., a presentation copy from Robert
Fulton to Lord Grenville of Fulton's extremely rare Letters...on Sub-marine
Navigation and Attack and the Effect which such inventions may have on the Commerce,
Fleets and Independence of Great Britain (London, 1806); from Andrew C. Imbrie,
'95, 30 original cartoons and drawings by Harold Imbrie '00; from B.J. Kelleher,
an important group of volumes dealing chiefly with European painting, many of
them issued during World War II; from C.O. v. Kienbusch '06, nine letters from
John Witherspoon to Benjamin Rush, 1767-1768, a manuscript by Thomas Jefferson
outlining a method for making nails, and miscellaneous letters by Boothe Tarkington,
Richard Stockton, and Henry van Dyke; from Christopher la Farge, a very important
collection of pencil renderings, blueprints, photographs and original drawings
by C. Grant la Farge, including the rendering of the original scheme for the
exterior of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and three renderings if the
interior of St. Matthew's Church, together with a collection of books on architecture
and related subjects and several boxes of miscellaneous photographs of subjects
of architectural interest; from Wheaton J. Lane '25,
two autograph letters written by James McCosh; from John Adrian Larkin '13,
an important volume of lecture notes on moral philosophy taken by John E. Calhoun
of the class of 1774 under President John Witherspoon, together with other volumes
of Princeton interest and an incunable, Donatus' Ars Minor, printed at Cologne
by Heinrich Quentell, about 1495; from Harold J. Laski, the manuscript of a
part of Sir Henry Maine's Popular Government; from Miss A.E. Lloyd, 44 eighteenth
and early nineteenth century theater programs for Drury Lane and other theaters;
from Helio Lobo of Rio de Janeiro, 163 pamphlets and books of Brazilian literature;
from Mrs. Charles W. McAlpin, twenty-nine letters written by Woodrow Wilson
to Mr. McAlpin between 1912 and 1923; from Robert W. McKnight '19, an important
collection of literary and historical works with particular emphasis on the
writings of Robert Louis Stevenson, including two volumes from Stevenson's own
library, The National Intelligencer from 1813-1828, The Democratic Free Press
from 1814-1828, and the letters, business papers, and pamphlets of Samuel J.
Wilson and Robert D. Wilson; from Mrs. Helen McLaury, of the Princeton University
Library staff, about 75 miscellaneous volumes; from M. Daniel Maggin, George
Chapman's The Whole Works of Homer (London, 1616), a fourteenth century document
(1385) in Latin on vellum with the great seal of England attached, and various
classical works of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries; from Secretary of
State George C. Marshall, the typescript of his speech delivered at Princeton
on February 22, 1947; From professor Frank J. Mather Jr., a fifteenth century
manuscript leaf, decorated with two miniatures and with the text of the dedication
of a chapel in the Tyrolian mountains, dated July 4, 1482; from Herman C. Mergenthaler,
The Tribune Book of Open-Air Sports (New York, 1887), the first book composed
on the Mergenthal or Linotype machine; from Mrs. Van Santvoord Merle-Smith,
135 posters of World War I, and 55 Australian posters of World War II; from
Professor R. Morey, various pamphlets and books of Italian origin, chiefly concerned
with studies of art by Italian scholars; from Sterling Morton '06, a collection
of periodicals and pamphlets on current economic and political conditions; from
Edward Naumburg Jr. '24, nine letters
written by H.L. Mencken to Mrs. Ernest Boyd, 1924-1930, a manuscript essay on
Thomas Hardy by Arnold Bennett, and a pamphlet sermon by John Witherspoon, preached
May 17, 1776 (Philadelphia, 1777); from Charles T. Olcott '11, a collection
of photographs, programs, and other items of Princetoniana; from Professor Charles
G. Osgood, some 350 reprints and other Princetoniana items; from Mrs. Thomas
M. Parrott, a manuscript containing the sermon headings and notes of the Reverend
John Anderson, who died in 1712; from George Houston Pearson '50 and Robert
Edward Pearson '50, a collection of nineteenth and twentieth century works dealing
chiefly with chemistry and other branches of science; from Dr. Frank H. Pinckney,
162 volumes consisting principally of works of history and literature; from
Professor Walter M. Rankin, about 100 volumes, chiefly biology; from David A.
Reed '00, two important vellum manuscripts: an 11th or 12th century copy of
The Miracles of the Virgin Mary, containing also dialogues between Alouin and
Charlemagne, and several other tracts, with portraits of Alouin and Charlemagne,
initials in red, and a cuir-cisel‚ binding of the fifteenth century made
for a monastic library in Austria; and an excellent illuminated manuscript of
the 12th century The Apocalypse of St. John, originating in southwestern Germany
or Switzerland, bound in modern blind stamped Morocco; from Thomas E. Rhodes
'26, 57 miscellaneous volumes, including a group on art and big game hunting,
together with a collection of European coins; from Mrs. Chalfont Robinson, some
40 volumes pertaining to literature and the social sciences; from Walter Rothschild
'13, six manuscript letters written by Charles Hodge from the class of 1850;
from Michael Sadleir, for the Morris L. Parrish collection, a first edition
of Charles Kingsley; Brave Words for Brave Soldiers and Sailors (London, 1855);
from Pennington Satterwaithe '93, a collection of architectural works for the
Marquand Library and for the Drafting Room; from the Senator H. Alexander Smith
'01, three volumes of notes taken by him in Woodrow Wilson's course in The Common
Law; from Lloyd W. Smith, three rare items concerning the early history of the
College of New Jersey, particularly appropriate for the bicentennial year: A
General Account of the Rise and State of the College Lately Established in the
Province of New-Jersey in America (Edinburgh, 1754), The Petition of Gilbert
Tennent and Samuel Davies of the Infant College of New-Jersey (Edinburgh, 1754),
and a printed circular letter dated 1790 and signed by Samuel Stanhope Smith
appealing for contributions of funds for the purchase of a "philosophical
apparatus"; from Professor W. Frederick Stohlman '09, a number of volumes
concerned chiefly with art and art criticism published in Italy, together with
a group of Italian posters; from Frederick J.H. Sutton and other descendants
of Levi Holden, a manuscript muster roll of the Commander-in-Chief's Guard,
1782, given in memory of John O. Stoddard '45; from Mrs. Harry B. Van Deventer,
124 titles from the library of Professor Van Deventer, handsomely bound and
chiefly concerned with classical authors; from Alexander D. Wainwright '39,
a letter written by H.L. Mencken to Howard L. Spohn, February 3, 1930; from
Professor Roy D. Welch, six scrapbooks of musical programs at Princeton from
1919-1944; from Dr. Louis C. West, a number of volumes of critical studies of
Galen, Greek physician and medical writer, most of them published in the late
19th and early 20th century; through Howell N. White, Secretary to the class
of 1901, five medals presented to Claude Silbert Hudson '01, in recognition
of his outstanding accomplishments in the field of chemical research; and from
Mr. Carl H Zeiss '07, a number of books concerning North American game, migratory
birds, and other wild life to be added to the books given in memory of Henry
Matthews Zeiss '40.
The foregoing indicates in summary form but by no means exhaust the list of donations made to the library through the generosity if alumni, Friends of the Library, and others. Many of these gifts are described and appraised more adequately in the pages of the Library Chronicle. Nor does the list include a number of highly interesting purchases made during the year. Among the latter are the following: 230 manuscript letters of Sir Paul Rycaut 1692-1699, giving detailed political and diplomatic information from Hamburg and the Hanse Towns to the Secretary-at-War in England; some 10,000 letters and documents covering the years 1900-1920 from the personal correspondence files of Arthur von Briesen, the leader of German-American organizations and activities preceding and during World War I; about 1250 manuscripts, letters, and documents, in part acquired by gift and in part by purchase, from the late Maria Lansdale, including letters of Hilaire Belloc, Richard Watson Gilder, and W.B. Blaikie. Additional purchases of important published works are listed in the appendix. Among the deposits made during the year was a collection of documents and manuscript writings or Parke Godwin of the class of 1834, deposited by Mrs. Harold Godwin. One of the gratifying donations made during the year was that of some 50 titles, all published by the Yale University Press in memory of the late Max Farrand '92. Though this important tribute to an admired and beloved scholar was anonymously made, a special bookplate bears the seals of both Princeton and Yale and carries the following inscription: "A Gift in Memory of Max Farrand, Graduate of Princeton in the Class of 1892, Professor of American History in YAle University, 1908-1925".
Books, manuscripts, prints, drawings and all of the other forms of recorded knowledge that have come to us in such generous quantity from the supporters of the library do not complete the list. In addition to the bequests of various chairs, desks, rugs, and other furnishings by Morris Parrish for the proper fitting out of his incomparable library, other gifts of furniture have been received. Mrs. Walter L. Whittlesey contributed a mahogany table of some historic interest which will be most appropriate for the Staff Conference Room in the new library. Mrs Dan Fellows Platt contributed to the Museum of Historic Art two fine Renaissance tables. These, with Mrs. Platt's permission, have been designated for use in the Conference or Exhibition Rooms of the new library. Such gifts, which will do much to enhance the comfort and attractiveness of the new library, are particularly appropriate at this time when costs of construction and of furnishings are rising.
Appendix D : Notable Acquisitions by Purchase
ART
Serlio, Sebastiano - Il Primo (-quinto) libro d'architettura. Venice, 1551.
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Ford, John - The fancies, chast and noble. London, 1638. 1st edition.
More, Sir Thomas - Utopia. London, 1624.
Rowley, Samuel - The noble souldier. London, 1634. 1st edition
Stuart Merrill - Rudmose Brown correspondence. A collection of A.L.S. complete for the period covered.
The tragedy of Nero, newly written. London, 1624.
White, James - Original letters &c. of Sir John Falstaff. 2nd edition. London, 1797.
PARRISH
Carroll, Lewis - Ms. Poem.
Rare circulars:
"American telegrams" circular.
"Stranger" circular.
Circular asking for appointments for friends.
Collins, Wilkie - The woman in white, proof copy of probably the 2nd edition with many autograph notes.
Twenty-eight pages of autograph notes on material gathered for use in writing The Moonstone.
Cruikshank - Ainsworth correspondence. A collection of A.L.S. addressed to the English publisher, Bentley.
Thackeray, William Makepeace - A brief ms. and A.L.S.
Note: For the Parrish collection, several other items including editions not in the collection and autograph letters of the Parrish authors have been added, but only the outstanding items are here listed.
HISTORY
Emili, Paolo - H¡storici clarissimi de rebus gestis francorum libri X. Paris, 1555.
Naud‚, Gabriel - Ivgement de tovt ce qui a est‚ imprim‚ contrele cardinal Mazarin. 2nd edition. Paris, 1650.
Rycaut - Blathwayt correspondence; a collection of A.L.S. from Sir Paul Rycaud to William Blathwayt. 1692-2699.
Tolstoi, F.A. - Obstoiatel'noe opisanie slavianorossiiskikh rukopisei. Moscow, 1825 (catalogue of old Slavic and Russian mss. in his collection).
AMERICAN HISTORY
von Briesen, Arthur - Ms. papers comprising about 10,000 pieces.
Collection of ms. material of New Jersey interest.
A short state of the proceedings of the proprietors of East and West Jersey. New York, 1775.
PRINCETONIANA
Mather, Cotton - Ratio disciplinae fratum Nov-Anglorum. Boston, 1726. Presentation copy from the author to Jonathan Belcher.
PERIODICALS
The Carbon Democrat. Vol. 1-5, 1847-52.
Naturalist's Poclet Magazine. Complete set of 7 volumes. London, 1798-1802.
The Sonnet. Complete set of 26 numbers.
THEATER
James Renton collection of playbills and other theatrical material.
MISCELLANEOUS
BŠze, Th‚odore de - Icones, id est verae imagines virorum doctrina simul et pietate illustrium...Geneva, 1580.
Comines, Philippe de - The History...London, 1674. _Charles Lamb's copy with his and Coleridge's autograph notes.
Guazzo, Stefano - The civile conversation...translated out of the French by G. Pettie. London, 1586.
Naud‚, Gabriel -Instrution … la France sur la verit‚ de l'histoire de freres de la Roza-Croix. Paris, 1630.
Le Marfore on discours contre les libelles. Paris, 1620. 1st edition.
June 1947-July 1948:
To describe with any degree of adequacy Mrs. Marshall Ludington Brown's magnificent gift to the library of over 450 of the choicest books and manuscripts from the library of the late Cyrus H. McCormick '79 is beyond the scope of an annual report. The editors of the Chronicle are planning an issue to be devoted largely to this extraordinarily rich and varied collection. It is difficult indeed to single out for mention here merely a few among so many exceptionally fine items, for every one of them is an important addition to the Library's shelves.
The most notable, perhaps, is the second Plannck edition of Epistola...de Insulis Indie supra Gangem nuper inuetis of Christopher Columbus, printed in Rome in 1493, which is being exhibited on the Freedom Train as showing the very beginnings of American history. The 75 items on Virginia are all of greatest interest, but some are fairly breath-taking. There is James Rosier's A True Relation of the most prosperous voyage made this present yeere 1605, by Captain George Weymouth, in the Discouery of the land of Virginia, London, 1605; there is the Beckford-Kalbfleisch-Hoe copy of John Smith's The Generall Historie of Virginian New England, and the Summer Islae, London, 1624, known as the "dedication copy", in the original binding, with the arms of James I and the Duchess of Richmond; and there is the rare "second impression" of the narrative of John Brereton, A Briefe and true Relation of the Discourie of the North part of Virginia, London, 1602. Here are incomparable riches for the Library's resources in American history--and they are only a few selected as being fairly representative of Virginia items.
As for English literature, the range is from Shakespeare to the Victorians, the McCormick collection containing the first two Shakespeare quartos acquired by the Library, A Midsommer nights dreame, the second edition falsely dated 1600, and Poems, London, 1640, and Browning's excessively rare Pauline, London, 1833; Milton's Paradise Lost, London, 1667, the 1st edition with the second title page, and Dickens's The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby, London, 1839, a presentation copy to Mrs. George Cattermole with an autograph letter from Dickens to Mrs. Cattermole tipped in. To Princeton's list of the 100 Great English Books, so familiar by now to the Friends of the Princeton Library, three more 1st editions have been added: Goldsmith's The Vicar of Wakefield, Salisbury, 1766, Gray's An Elegy Wrote in a country church yard, London, 1751, and Spenser's The Faerie Queene, London, 1590-96.
Three more titles will serve to demonstrate the diversity of Mr. McCormick's interest and the collection's inestimable value to Princeton: a superlatively handsome copy of De claris mulieribus by Jacobus Philippus Bergomensis, printed in Ferrara in 1497; the Hoe copy of Homer's Opera, the edito princeps printed in Florence in 1488; and the Ives-Hoe copy of Hakluyt's The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English nation, London, 1599-1600, with a copy of the Wright-Molyneux map in the first state.
A quite different gift has come from Edward Plaut '12, a fine collection of books from his own library---among them many autographed presentation copies, volumes with letters from authors laid in, and first editions. Both English and American authors are represented. There are presentation copies of Matthew Arnold's A French Eton, London, 1864; Dumas' Th‚ƒtre Complet, in four volumes, Paris, 1868-70; Holmes' leaflet In Memory of Fitz-Greene Halleck with an autograph letter of Halleck laid in; Victor Hugo's Quatrevingt-Treiza, Paris, 1874; and Joaquin Miller's Songs of the Sierras, Boston, 1880, a copy sent to Oscar Wilde whose autograph initials appear on the title page. A copy of The Ingoldsby Legends, London, 1840-47, has a pencil sketch and an autograph letter of George Cruikshank laid in; Elizabeth Bisland's The life and letters of Lafcadio Hearn, Boston, 1906, has a page of a Hearn manuscript; and W.S. Gilbert's Original Plays, London, 1895, bears on the half title, a quotation from Ruddigore in the hand of the author. There are several of Mark Twain's works autographed, and one with an autograph letter to his editor concerning A Tramp Abroad. Henry James' The Aspern Papers, London, 1888, is inscribed "I must work in the garden--I must work in the garden" - an inscription which seems to uncover a new aspect of James. The Woodrow Wilson Collection will be enhanced by three volumes bearing signed inscriptions, and one with a typed letter signed by Wilson tipped in. The original manuscripts of John Burrough's Matthew Arnold's Criticism and F. Hopkinson Smith's Kennedy Square (incomplete) are notable additions to the Library's American literature resources. These are highlights of Mr. Plaut's very handsome gift.
The valuable collection of United States stamps of the late Edgar Palmer '03 was presented by Mrs. Palmer. It enriches the stamp collections already in the library and is of special interest at this time as the new building, where the Philatelic Collection will at least be adequately housed, is so nearly ready for occupancy. According to William H. Tower '94, the Palmer Collection closely approaches completion up to about 1936 in stamps for postal service, containing, in addition, many of the Fiscals, or revenue stamps. It abounds in rarities, among which may be mentioned most of those on blue paper, a block of twelve showing two of the five-cent error, the 1869 pictorial issue complete, the official department stamps (notably those of the Executive, Justice and State Departments), and three Pan-American Inverts, and the highly valued stamps of the second issue of the Internal Revenue Department. A decidedly interesting section of the collection consists of postmarked stamps on covers. Among them is the James M. Buchanan five-cent Postmaster's Provisional, in addition to a number of the more desirable of the early locals, some of them used in combination with the government's regular issue. The Edgar Palmer Collection will be a source of delight to the philatelist.
Through the generosity of Messrs. Thomas H. Eddy, Jr. '26 and Donald Simpson Eddy '37, and their father Thomas Eddy, of Evanston, nephews and brother respectively of the late George Simpson Eddy of New York, the Library received the splendid research collection on Benjamin Franklin. A lawyer by profession, Mr. George Simpson Eddy had spent some forty years investigating and studying the career of Benjamin Franklin. His collection, though it contained some rare and unique items, was primarily a scholar's rather than a collector's collection. Mr. Eddy was known to all Franklin experts as the last court of appeal on any disputed point in the versatile life of Benjamin Franklin. If his elaborate notes, photostats, and other data, aided by Mr. Eddy's wide and exact knowledge, could not answer the question raised, it was unlikely that any other scholar could expect to do so. Mr. Eddy was articulately impatient with slovenliness or easy generalizations: he was stimulated by any reasonable hypothesis, but he never voiced a categorical opinion until the documentary evidence had been overwhelmingly adduced. In consequence, his collection of notes, books, photostats of manuscripts, and miscellaneous will prove of immense value to students of Benjamin Franklin and his times. Among the interesting things in the 3,000 or so volumes and the various filing cabinets of carefully docketed notes is a bound volume of photostats of the manuscript of Franklin's autobiography in the Huntington Library, presented to Mr. Eddy by his good friend the late Max Farrand of the class of 1892.
Among other notable gifts are the following:
Justinian's Digest. Executed on vellum, the work of a copyist of North Italy. Late 13th or early 14th century. Gift of David A. Reed '00.
Manuscripts of: a review of Tennyson's The Holy Grail by Bret Harte, which appeared in The Overland Monthly, March 1870; of Mark Twain's A Curious Experience, published in The Century, November, 1881; of William Dean Howell's Edward Bellamy, printed in the Atlantic Monthly August, 1898. Gift of Edward Plaut '12.
Abraham Lincoln. A.L.S. to James Gordon Bennett, editor of The New York Herald, dated May 21, 1862, in which he defends Secretary of War Stanton in the matter of General Hunter's freeing of all slaves in his department in the South. Gift of Sidney J. Weinberg.
Woodrow Wilson. 2 A.L.S. to Richard Watson Gilder of The Century, Princeton, March 15, 1898, and to Miss Hillard, Princeton, October 2, 1900. Gift of Carl Otto v. Kienbusch '06.
Jacob Green. Circa 50 pieces including 12 A.L.S. from Ashbel Green to Jacon Green written between the years 1818 and 1823 and throwing light on the reasons for his leaving Princeton. Gift of Mrs. Phillip Waddell Smith.
Jean Le F‚ron. A. Ms. De la primitive institution des roys heraultz et poursuivans d'armes. May 1, 1533. Dedicated to Jacques Gourdon de Genouilhac, maitre d'artillerie de France. Gift of Carl Otto v. Kienbusch '06.
Sir Walter Scott. A.L.S. to Guthrie Wright, August 14, 1807, concerning business arrangements for sale of farm. Gift of Mrs. Walter Edge.
William Patterson. A group of seven documents and letters including a signed letter by George Washington, February 20, 1793. Gift of Dean Mathey '12.
Israel Putnam. Letter, said to be in the autograph of Aaron Burr, to Brig-Gen'l Rodney, Princeton, January 19, 1777. Framed with engravings of Aaron Burr and Israel Putnam. Gift of Mr. Reeve Schley.
Charles Lee. A.L.S. to Robert Morris. Cambridge, July 4, 1775. Gift of Mr. M. Daniel Maggin.
Twenty-eight letters by Woodrow Wilson were added to the Woodrow Wilson Collection. Of these two are in his autograph, three are signed by him, one has a rubber stamp signature, and twenty-two are photostatic copies. Typed copies of 150 pieces of Wilson's correspondence with Louis Wiley were added also, as well as lecture notes on his course in "Constitutional Government". Mr. Maurice Lyone, former secretary of William F. McCombs, gave a number of his shorthand notebooks which contain considerable information and data on the presidential nomination in 1911. Gift of C.D. Batchelor.
Fourteen letters by Charles Dickens and one by Anthony Trollope were added to the Parrish Collection. Gift of C.D. Batchelor.
200 original cartoons 1947-1948. Gift of C.D. Batchelor.
Thirty-four books by Rudyard Kipling including Just So Stories (London, 1902). Gift of Gordon A. Block, Jr.
Thomas Williamson - Oriental Field Sports; Being a Complete, Detailed and Accurate Description of the East. (London, 1807). Gift of Harry I. Caesar.
"The Trail of the Shod Horse." Oil painting by Frederic Remington. Gift of Francis Earle.
Thomas Hariot - A briefe and true report of the new found land of Virginia (Frankfort, 1590). The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos-Sir Thomas Phillipps copy. Gift of Arthur A. Houghton, Jr.
The Nuremberg Chronicle, 1493 and Historia...De Omnibus Gothorum (Rome, 1554) by Joannes Magnus. Gift of Henry N. Paul.
NOTABLE ACQUISITIONS
CLASSICS
Vergilius Maro, Publius - Bucolica. Paris, 1498?
Opera. Rome, 1473.
AMERICAN LITERATURE
Fitzgerald, F. Scott - Collection of autograph letters, signed, to Mrs. Richard Taylor.
Howells, William Dean - 42 autograph letters signed.
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Browne, Sir Thomas - Hydrotaphia. London, 1658. (Browne's own copy with his corrections and unique errata slip of 24 lines.)
Cowley, Abraham - The Guardian. London, 1650. 1st edition.
Dryden, John - The Medall. London, 1682. (1st issue of 1st edition.)
Goldsmith, Oliver - The haunch of venison. London, 1776. (Bound with 17 other volumes.)
Harrington, James - The censure of the Rota upon Milton's book entitled, The ready and easy way to establish a free commonwealth. London, 1660. 1st edition.
Locke, John - An essay concerning humane understanding. London, 1690. Thomas Gray's copy.
Lucanus, Marcus Annaeus - ...Pharsalia...English edition by Thomas May. London, 1627. 1st edition of May's translation.
More, Sir Thomas - Utopia. Paris, 1517.
Raleigh, Sir Walter - The Prince. London, 1642. 1st edition.
Yeats, Jack Butler - Letters and miscellaneous papers (typescripts, mss., A.L.S.'s, many with sketches by him.)
PARRISH
Eliot, George - Romola. London, 1863. Anthony Trollope's copy.
Dickens, Charles - The lamplighter's story; Hunted down, The detective police; and other nouvellettes. Philadelphia, c1861. (1st edition of Hunted Down.)
Dickens, Charles - 13 autograph letters signed to Peter Cunningham April - October 1848.
Hardy, Thomas - G.M., a reminiscence. London, 1927. (1 of 12 copies.)
FRENCH LITERATURE
Balzac, Honor‚ de - A complete collection of his 1st editions of his various works with the Brussels imprint.
AMERICAN HISTORY
Allinson - Gloucester county docket (ms.)
Chastellux, Francois, Jean ("Cives", pseud.) - The following publication, which shews the rancorous disposition of the American Republicans...New York, 1783.
Ms. bill in chancery, 1735. New Jersey.
La Rochefoucauld Liancourt, F.A.F. duc de - Travels through the United States of North America...in the years 1795, 1796 and 1797...London, 1799.
Lawrence, John - Ms. journal.
Rusling, James - Mss. journal (in the hand of an amanuensis) on which he based his Across America.
Savannah River Baptist Ass'n - Minutes. Ms.
Sorsby, William - Commonplace book. Mss. 1754. (A very early example of Fraktur.)
Stockton, Richard - A.L.S. to his wife, dated Philadelphia, November 30, 1778.
Wytfliet, Corneille - Descriptionis Ptolemaicae augmentum...Lovanii, 1598. (Containing early maps of North America.)
HISTORY
D'Estaing - Relation de la campagne...navale...en Amerique 1778.
Les Lignies des roys de France, 15th century illuminated ms.
France. Tribunal revolutionnaire. Bulletin 17-73 (the issues dealing with the
trial of Charlotte Corday.)
ECONOMICS AND POLITICS
Tucker, Josiah - 19 tracts -18th century.
PRINCETONIANA
Green, Ashbel - A collection of autograph letters signed.
Jaeger, Benjamin - A collection of mss. 1830-1850.
A collection of mss. of Princeton interest.
MISCELLANEOUS
Egan, Pierce - Boxiana. London, 1823-1829. 3 volumes.
Gordon, John - ...A supplement to the mathematical traverse table...Philadelphia, 1758. (Completing this excessively rare book.)
Gordon, John - New York Coach-maker's Magazine. v.2-v.11 (1860-1870)
Scot, Thomas - Philomythie. London, 1616. 2 volumes in 1.
Williamson, Thomas - Oriental field sports. London, 1819. 2nd edition.
July 1948-June 1949:
During the year, Dr. Howard C. Rice Jr., formerly Director of the United States Library of Information in Paris, was appointed head of the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. He brings to the Library not only an appreciation of rare books as objects to be cherished but also an understanding of their value in research. As a scholar familiar with the problems of research, he assumed charge of a newly organized department which embraces the rare books collections, manuscripts, maps, Princetoniana, and such other related special groups as the Gest Oriental Library, the William Seymour Theatre Collection, the Graphic Arts Collection, etc. In addition to Dr. Rice, the personnel of this Department is composed of Miss Julie Hudson and Mr. Alexander Wainwright, Curators of Rare Books; Mr. Alexander Clark, Curator of Manuscripts, (who assumed his duties at the close of the year and who occupies the position left vacant by the resignation of Mrs. Caroline Dixon); Dr. Henry L. Savage, Archivist; Mr. Elmer Adler, Research Associate in the Graphic Arts; Mrs. Marguerite L. McAneny, Curator of the William Seymour Theatre Collection; and a secretary and a clerical assistant to the curator of Manuscripts.
The rooms prepared for the Department were not available for occupancy until January. The first task of the Department was that of installing the various collections of rare volumes -- the Morris L. Parrish Collection of Victorian Novelists, The Rollins Collection of Western Americana, the Grenville Kane and Cyrus McCormick Collections, the Princetoniana Collection, and the books from the libraries of Jonathan Belcher, Jonathan Edwards and John Witherspoon, all of which occupy a suite of rooms extending along the south side of the main floor. The staff also installed in the bookcases along the south side of the Exhibition Gallery the Morgan Collection of editions of Virgil, the Patterson Collection of editions of Horace, the Le Brun Collection of Montaigne, the Scribner Collection of Charles Lamb, the Meirs Collection, and the Rowlandson Collection. Though the position of Curator of Manuscripts was vacant from December until June, the distinguished Garrett Collection of Arabic and Western European Manuscripts, and the John Hinsdale Scheide Collection of Medieval Documents were installed in the Manuscripts Room. These various collections represent only a part of the important collections of rare books and manuscripts under the custody of the Department. The principal stack area for both rare books and manuscripts is situated on Floor A and is accessible only by an inside stairway from the departmental offices and reading rooms on the main floor.
The greatly improved facilities for the use or display of rare books and manuscripts have resulted in an increased demand upon the facilities of this Department. Naturally, the chief users of rare books and manuscripts collections have been graduate students, faculty members, and visiting research scholars from outside Princeton. Many seniors, however, have also had occasion to use the collections in connection with their senior theses. It is inevitable that, with the very large number of visitors to the Library during the year, attention should have been centered upon an area which, both in its furnishings and in its priceless treasures, aroused the interest of everyone. This had the same effect elsewhere in this report -- an interruption of normal work and increased difficulties for a small staff bent on its primary task of serving readers. The interruptions were suffered gladly, but they nevertheless presented difficulties.
This Department, by its very nature, also acts as a center in attracting numerous requests by mail for historical, bibliographical, and other information -- requests originating in all parts of the United States and from several European countries. It is also to be expected that this Department should be the recipient of many requests from scholars and other institutions for photostats, microfilms, or photographs of materials in our collections. The proper preparation of materials for photographing and their arrangement and verification has entailed a considerable amount of the time of this department.
The William Seymour Theatre Collection has been installed in its new rooms on the second floor, under the direction of its part-time curator, Mrs. Marguerite L. McAneny, aided by student assistants. The new equipment has provided adequate space for the storage and arrangement of such material as posters, playbills, programs, photographs, etc., so that considerable progress has been made in the proper classification of this material, on which Mrs. McAneny has drawn for interesting temporary exhibits.
The Numismatics Collection has been installed in a room on the third floor where it is under supervision of an honorary curator, Dr. Louis C. West.
The Woodrow Wilson Collection has been moved into its special room on the second floor, with the aid of its curator, Miss Laura S. Turnbull. As Miss Turnbull is fully occupied during the day in another part of the building, it has not been possible to have the room open during regular hours. The
curators have, upon occasion, made the material available for consultation in the Rare Book reading room.
Thanks to the interest and voluntary efforts of the Rev. William H. Tower, '94, assisted by Mr. A.S. Arnold, a beginning has been made during the spring months in the organization of the Stamp Collection now housed in the Philately Room on the second floor. Rev. Tower and Mr. Arnold prepared an interesting exhibit, from their personal collections, upon the occasion of the formal dedication of the Library.
The Graphic Arts Room on the second floor will not be used for this division until 1951; meanwhile, the activities of the Graphic Arts division have continued to be centralized at 36 University Place, where the collection remains for the present.
The Map division has unfortunately remained completely suspended during the past year, as no trained personnel has been available for the tremendous labor of checking, arranging, and cataloguing the Library's map collections. However, thanks to the voluntary assistance of Mrs. Fantova of the Catalogue Division, a preliminary survey of the map collections and problems raised thereby has been inaugurated.
These "related collections: raise a difficult practical question: they are located in separate and widely-separated rooms which cannot be thrown open to general use like the open stacks. Although the curators of rare books have willingly attempted to supervise these rooms within the limits of their other responsibilities, they are not able to provide adequate service. Without attendants in these areas at fixed times, such rooms risk becoming -- what they are not intended to be -- locked storage areas.
The Exhibition Gallery on the main floor was ready for use in February 1949, and exhibits have been on display there since that time. The preparation of these exhibits has entailed considerable experimentation with the new equipment. Much has been learned about their possibilities and limitations, which will be applied to future exhibits. The following exhibits have been arranged in the Exhibition Gallery:
February 15-March 15, 1949:
Selected books, manuscripts, and drawings from the A.E. Gallatin collection of Aubrey Beardsley's work. Upon this occasion, Mr. Gallatinwas the guest of the Library at a luncheon at the time of the opening of the exhibit.
March 21-April 8, 1949:
Printing designed by P.J. Conkwright, Jr., typographer, at the Princeton University Press, from 1939-1949. This exhibit, to honor Mr. Conkwright's ten years of work at the University Press, was arranged with the cooperation of Mrs. Helen Van Zandt and Mrs. Harriet Anderson, assistants to Mr. Conkwright. The exhibit formally opened in the Gallery in the presence of the staff of the Princeton University Press and other invited guests. Mr. Carl P. Rollins of the Yale University Press, Mr. J. P. Boyd, and Mr. Conkwright, himself, spoke briefly upon this occasion.
April 8-April 29, 1949:
Manuscripts from the Library's collection, exhibited in connection with the second annual meeting of the National Society of Autograph Collectors held in Princeton, April 11 and 12. Notable manuscripts, ranging from the Middle Ages through the Twentieth Century, selected to give an idea of the variety and wealth of the Library manuscript collections, were brought to the attention of the members of the NSAC. During the two days of the Society's meeting, certain display cases were devoted to member's exhibits.
April 29-August 15, 1949:
Panorama of America, 1492-1800. This exhibit, representing our most ambitious attempt, was prepared for the formal dedication of the Firestone Memorial Library on April 29 and 30. The exhibit presented an exhibit of books illustrating the development of America from 1492-1800, including many if the Library's rare and notable Americana. The resources of the Grenville Kane Collection were generously exploited for this exhibit. A brief four-page explanatory leaflet was printed for guests at the dedication ceremonies, and has been available to all visitors since that time.
July 1949-June 1950:
From Imbrie de Vegh, the Library received an exceptionally interesting group of over 60 books, mainly early books dealing with law, science, and economics. It would not be possible here to enumerate all the noteworthy items in this important gift, but brief mention may be made of the following: the 1st edition of the famous "Book of Sports", published in London in 1618; the 1st edition of Niccolo Tartaglia's Nova Scientia, Venice, 1537, the earliest printed work on the theory and practice of gunnery; the 1st edition of the most celebrated medieval work on falconry, De arte venandi cum auibus, Augsburg, 1596, the major literary production of the Emperor Frederick II; and the 1st edition of Gabriel Naude's classic Advis pour dresser une Bibliotheque, Paris, 1627.
A notable addition to the Library's material relating to foreign finance was made in the gift of Mrs. Edwin W. Kemmerer and Donald L. Kemmerer '27 of the papers and reports of the late Professor Edwin W. Kemmerer. Professor Kemmerer, who died in 1945, was the first Walker Professor of International Finance at Princeton, and the organizer and first director of the International Finance Section of the University.
Among the larger groups of manuscripts added during the year is the gift of Mrs. Harriet Hyatt Mayer, consisting of approximately 800 items, being mainly letters received by Alpheus Hyatt (1838-1902), Alfred G. Mayer (1868-1922), and Alfred M. Mayer (1836-1897) during their respective careers in science.
As the gift of the family of Cleveland Dodge '79, Princeton acquired from his Library approximately 1,100 volumes, together with a group of 145 letters, most of which are from Woodrow Wilson to Mr. Dodge. The papers of Bernard Flexner came to the Library as the gift of Miss Caroline Flexner, Mrs. Hortense Flexner King, and Mrs. Jean Flexner Lewinson.
Notable among recent additions to personal and family papers in the Princeton Library are the papers of Lindley Miller Garrison (1864-1932), Vice-Chancellor of New Jersey, 1904-1913, and the Secretary of War, in the first Wilson administration. The gift of Merritt Lane, Jr. '41, the Garrison papers include personal correspondence from the 1890's to 1916, newspaper clippings for the period of Mr. Garrison's service as Secretary of War, and family documents. The Mexican border controversy, the opening of the Panama Canal, the Ohio River flood of 1913, and the Preparedness question of 1914-1916 are among the topics covered by the correspondence.
Mrs. George McLean Harper presented to the Library papers and books belonging to her late husband, a distinguished member of the Princeton faculty from 1889 until his retirement in 1932. The papers include letters to Professor Harper from Gordon Wordsworth, grandson of the poet and from Professor Emile Legouis and others dealing with the preparation of successive editions of Professor Harpers's William Wordsworth, his life, works, and influence.
A donation from Robert H. Taylor '30, supplemented by an allocation from the Friends of the Book Fund, enabled the Library to purchase for the Parrish Collection a group of 95 letters written by Charles Kingsley to his wife. Being dated from 1844-1874, the letters cover virtually the entire span of Kingsley's married life. Included in the group are six letters written on his trip to Germany in 1851 and 24 written during his American lecture tour in 1874.
Important additions were made to the Library's John Davidson Collection. The manuscript of the Testament of John Davidson was purchased with the assistance of J. Harlin O'Connell '14, Bernhard K. Shaefer '20, William Thorp, and J. Benjamin Townsend '40, and approximately 75 letters were acquired on the Theodore W. Hunt and Francis H. Payne Funds, together with telegrams and other documents, mainly dating from the period following that day in March, 1909, when Davidson disappeared from his home in Penzance. The correspondence is for the most part that of Mrs. Davidson and her sons with Grant Richards, Davidson's publisher and literary executor, and reflect the progress of the long search for the missing man. The nearly complete manuscript of Fleet Street and Other Poems and one of the two autograph copies of Davidson's will are also included.
Allen Tate presented his correspondence for the years 1845-1949, as well as the manuscripts, galleys, etc., of several of his books. A series of 123 letters from John Butler Yeats to Mrs. Martha F. Bellinger was acquired with a donation from Oscar M. Kilby '19, supplemented by an allocation from the Friends Book Fund. The Library also acquired microfilm copies of 49 letters from John Butler Yeats to Van Wyck Brooks, through the courtesy of Mr. Brooks, and microfilm copies of 122 letters from John Butler Yeats to Mrs. Caughey, through the courtesy of the latter's daughter, Mrs. George H. Guest.
The generosity of Laurence R. Carton '07 enabled the Library to purchase a copy of the first edition of Alexander Pope's An Essay on Criticism, London 1711. A collection of over 50 letters on the 19th century English actor William Charles Macready, the larger part of which are addressed to Sir William Pollock, one of Macready's executors, was published on the Friends Book Fund. Henry N. Paul '84 continued to increase our resources in English literature by presenting over 50 early editions of 17th and 18th century plays.
A copy of the 1st edition of Boothe Tarkington's first published novel, The Gentleman from Indiana, New York, 1899, containing many annotations and markings by Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson, as well as an inscription in Mr. Tarkington's hand, was given by Miss Elizabeth Trotter.
The Sinclair Hamilton Collection, exemplifying the work of American book illustrators and wood engravers from 1670-1870, continued to grow in scope and comprehensiveness, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Hamilton. John S. Williams '24, who has given many Audubon items to the Library, presented four drawings of birds by John Woodhouse Audubon. The Library received from Mrs. Laurence R. Carton and her son, William P. Carton '43, for the Jim Bridger Room, a watercolor sketch by Alfred J. Miller of the Scottish traveller Captain William Drummond Stewart at Wind River.
Five important items of Princetoniana interest came to the Library during the year: a handsome silver gilt pitcher presented to President McCosh on his 80