American Fine Printing

During May and June the library will display in the Gunlocke Special Collections Room a selection of more than a hundred printed books representing the development of fine printing in America from 1883 to 1981. The exhibit will focus on changing tastes in typographic design and the impact of the private press on trade publishing. Work by major designers such as Bruce Rogers, W.A. Diggins, D.B. Updike and Barry Moser will be included. On display will be books from the library's collections, recent donations from Patricia B. England and Mrs. William Zimmerman, and material borrowed from Washington area collectors. A catalog of the exhibit will be printed and Associates can receive a free copy by writing to the Special Collections Librarian.

Zimmerman Gift of Fine Printing

Mrs. William Zimmerman recently gave to the library the final portion of the collection of modern literature and fine printing assembled by her late husband. This most recent gift includes a presentation copy of Irving's Sketch Book, a group of E.M. Forster first editions, and a collection of press books, printed ephemera, and manuscripts. Among the material from English presses are Golden Cockerel books and a fine group of Ashendene and Doves trial pages, proofs and flyers. On the American side, there are Bruce Rogers rarities and good examples from Goudy's Village Press, the Blue Sky Press, and others. The gift also includes a variety of materials related to bookplates, including the original drawing for one from the 18th century, and a small group of manuscript and related items including curricula for D.B. Updike's printing course at Harvard 1910-11, a group of autograph letters by Samuel Butler, and a photogravure proof of a portrait of G.B. Shaw by Mary Langdon Coburn.