History of the Book and Illustrations collection

Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]Philadelphia, PA, 19103

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Call Number:: RBD.BOOK
Repository:: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department
Extent:: 1.46 linear feet
Language:: English
Preferred Citation:: [Description and date of item], [Box and folder number], History of the Book an Illustrations collection, circa 1250-2000, Free Library of Philadelphia, Rare Book Department.
Date:: circa 1250-2000 (inclusive)
Creator:: Free Library of Philadelphia.
Form:: Correspondence, Drawings (visual works), Illustrations, Manuscripts, and Sketches
Abstract:: This collection contains material that shows the history of the book. The majority of the examples of manuscripts are illustrations but there are a few letters and other documents. The printed material in this collection spans the 13th to the late 16th centuries and contains examples of different printing techniques.

This is a collection of illustrations, manuscripts, and printed material obtained by the Free Library of Philadelphia from various donations. A majority of the collection was from two Philadelphia book collectors, Richard A. Gimbel and William McIntire Elkins. The collection was assembled as a teaching collection to show the history of the book and illustrations with examples of various printing methods and illustration techniques.

This collection contains material that shows the history of the book. The majority of the examples of manuscripts are illustrations but there are a few letters and other documents. The printed material in this collection spans the 13th to the late 16th centuries and contains examples of different printing techniques. Although the majority of the artists are represented with only one piece of artwork, three artists are better represented. These artists are: the American artist and etcher Joseph Pennell (1857-1926), the American illustrator and graphic artist Arthur Burdett Frost (1851-1928), and the British caricaturist George Cruikshank (1792-1878).

This collection is divided into two series: 1. Examples of manuscript material and 2. Examples of printed material. Materials in the first series are arranged in alphabetical order by author, and then by chronological order, whereas materials in the second series and arranged by chronological order.

This collection includes materials donated by Richard A. Gimbel and William McIntire Elkins, among others.

This finding aid was entered into AT by Garrett Boos from legacy data compiled by the Rare Book Department. Each item was examined and description enhanced and standardized where necessary.

People

Organization

Free Library of Philadelphia.

Subject

Publisher

Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department

Finding Aid Author

Finding aid prepared by Garrett Boos

Sponsor

The processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources’ “Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives” Project.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open to researchers by appointment. Please contact the Curator for information on access.

Use Restrictions

The right of access to material does not imply the right of publication. Permission for reprinting, reproduction, or extensive quotation from the rare books, manuscripts, prints, or drawings must be obtained through written application, stating the use to be made of the material. The reader bears the responsibility for any possible infringement of copyright laws in the publication of such material. A reproduction fee will be charged if the material is to be reproduced in a commercial publication.

Some of the materials in this collection may be too fragile for use without the Curator’s supervision.

Collection Inventory

Baskin, Leonard, 1922-. Autograph note signed to Howell J. Heaney. Lurley Manor, Lurley, near Tiverton, Devon, England, 1 page with envelope, 1982 April 27.