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More Than Just Old and Rare Bibliography from Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books Old and Rare Bibliography 2006 from Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books. By Michael Stillman The most recent catalogue from Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books has just arrived in the New World. Knuf is a Vendome, France, bookselling firm that specializes in antiquarian books (with an occasional more recent title thrown in). Thankfully, for this reviewer, they offer catalogues in English. Many of their offerings are books in English, though various continental languages are present as well, notably, because of the age of many works, Latin. The subject and title of this latest collection is Old and Rare Bibliography 2006. While the general topic is bibliography, that term may imply a more restrictive group of offerings than are actually presented. This is not just a catalogue of standard type bibliographies. There are numerous auction catalogues, lists of books banned by the Church in prior centuries, library catalogues, items on printing, type, and bindings, and even a treatise on paper-eating insects. This catalogue is definitely more expansive than the term "bibliography" might imply. Here are a few samples. It is appropriate to begin with a classic book on bibliography and the book arts,The Bibliographical Decameron by Thomas Frognall Dibdin. Dibdin was that early 19th century book enthusiast whose passion for the field set the tone for generations of obsessive collectors to come. In this 1817 first and only edition, he espouses on various topics relating to the book through a course of discussions by imaginary persons. The three volumes include numerous fine illustrations. A few days after publication, Dibdin got a group of friends together and burned the engraved blocks he had used. His explanation was that he wanted to assure that the copies published would always retain their value. Item 23. €1,600 (or US equivalent of approximately $2,102). Item 4 is the Indenture of Apprenticeship of 19th century publisher George Bentley. Bentley signed on to a seven-year apprenticeship with his father's firm (the document is signed by both Bentleys) at the age of 14. George would go on to run the firm in his adulthood, but after his death, his son sold the company to Macmillan's. In his commitment, Bentley agrees to the terms of the indenture, including "shall not commit Fornication, or contract Matrimony within said Term," nor "play at Cards, Dice, Tables, or any other unlawful Games," nor "haunt Taverns, or Play-houses." Evidently young Bentley, really, really wanted to be a publisher. Either that or these things were more honored in the breach than in reality. €1,150 (US $1,511).
More Than Just Old and Rare Bibliography from Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books Philip Rusher's new type kept all letters above the line. Item 57 proves the old idiom not to believe everything you read. The book is De Vera Typographia Origine Paraenensis...by Jacques Mentel. Published in 1650, it is an attempt to "prove" that printing was invented by 15th century Strassbourg printer Johann Mentel, whom the author claimed as an ancestor. The younger Mentel used forgeries to establish the false claim that the senior Mentel himself never made. Item 57. €900 (US $1,182). For another inaccurate, though perhaps not deliberately dishonest, attempt to claim credit for another for Gutenberg's invention, item 92 is Vier-honderdjarig Jubelfeest Van De Uitvinding Der Boekdrukkunst Door Laurens Janszoon Koster... In this 1823 work, author J. Sulkowski attributes the invention of printing to Laurens Janszoon Koster. Poor Gutenberg suffered the same fate as Shakespeare -- people constantly trying to credit his creations to another. Item 92. €75 (US ($98.) Item 29 is an uncommon Ben Franklin item. When he lived in London in 1725-26, he worked for a printer. Over a century later, the old press on which he had worked was discovered and put on exhibition in London for a few weeks, and then shipped to a U.S. buyer. While on display, visitors were able to watch the press in action as it printed off broadsides, of which this is one. It includes a poem by Franklin and twelve rules for personal self-government Franklin created in his youth. Among the twelve were "Temperance -- Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation," and "Chastity -- Avoid injuring your own peace or another's reputation." As far as I know, he lived up to the other ten, and ten out of twelve ain't bad. €1,500 (US $1,971). Item 43 is an unusual printing sample: New Mode of Printing. Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, by Samuel Johnson. You can ignore the Prince and Sam Johnson. What makes this interesting is the "new mode of printing." Philip Rusher devised a typeface that eliminated letters descending below the line, essentially squeezing and raising them. Pick up any recent book and you will discover that this concept never caught on. This book was published in 1804, and the type was apparently used only one other time, for a book about beekeeping half a century later. The book displays both the old and "new" type styles. You can compare them in the illustration on this page. €950 (US $1,248). Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books is located online at www.fritsknuf.com, telephone +33 (0)254 72 26 56.

More Than Just Old and Rare Bibliography from Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books

Old and Rare Bibliography 2006 from Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books.

By Michael Stillman

The most recent catalogue from Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books has just arrived in the New World. Knuf is a Vendome, France, bookselling firm that specializes in antiquarian books (with an occasional more recent title thrown in). Thankfully, for this reviewer, they offer catalogues in English. Many of their offerings are books in English, though various continental languages are present as well, notably, because of the age of many works, Latin. The subject and title of this latest collection is Old and Rare Bibliography 2006.

While the general topic is bibliography, that term may imply a more restrictive group of offerings than are actually presented. This is not just a catalogue of standard type bibliographies. There are numerous auction catalogues, lists of books banned by the Church in prior centuries, library catalogues, items on printing, type, and bindings, and even a treatise on paper-eating insects. This catalogue is definitely more expansive than the term "bibliography" might imply. Here are a few samples.

It is appropriate to begin with a classic book on bibliography and the book arts,The Bibliographical Decameron by Thomas Frognall Dibdin. Dibdin was that early 19th century book enthusiast whose passion for the field set the tone for generations of obsessive collectors to come. In this 1817 first and only edition, he espouses on various topics relating to the book through a course of discussions by imaginary persons. The three volumes include numerous fine illustrations. A few days after publication, Dibdin got a group of friends together and burned the engraved blocks he had used. His explanation was that he wanted to assure that the copies published would always retain their value. Item 23. €1,600 (or US equivalent of approximately $2,102).

Item 4 is the Indenture of Apprenticeship of 19th century publisher George Bentley. Bentley signed on to a seven-year apprenticeship with his father's firm (the document is signed by both Bentleys) at the age of 14. George would go on to run the firm in his adulthood, but after his death, his son sold the company to Macmillan's. In his commitment, Bentley agrees to the terms of the indenture, including "shall not commit Fornication, or contract Matrimony within said Term," nor "play at Cards, Dice, Tables, or any other unlawful Games," nor "haunt Taverns, or Play-houses." Evidently young Bentley, really, really wanted to be a publisher. Either that or these things were more honored in the breach than in reality. €1,150 (US $1,511).

More Than Just Old and Rare Bibliography from Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books

Philip Rusher's new type kept all letters above the line.

Item 57 proves the old idiom not to believe everything you read. The book is De Vera Typographia Origine Paraenensis...by Jacques Mentel. Published in 1650, it is an attempt to "prove" that printing was invented by 15th century Strassbourg printer Johann Mentel, whom the author claimed as an ancestor. The younger Mentel used forgeries to establish the false claim that the senior Mentel himself never made. Item 57. €900 (US $1,182). For another inaccurate, though perhaps not deliberately dishonest, attempt to claim credit for another for Gutenberg's invention, item 92 is Vier-honderdjarig Jubelfeest Van De Uitvinding Der Boekdrukkunst Door Laurens Janszoon Koster... In this 1823 work, author J. Sulkowski attributes the invention of printing to Laurens Janszoon Koster. Poor Gutenberg suffered the same fate as Shakespeare -- people constantly trying to credit his creations to another. Item 92. €75 (US ($98.)

Item 29 is an uncommon Ben Franklin item. When he lived in London in 1725-26, he worked for a printer. Over a century later, the old press on which he had worked was discovered and put on exhibition in London for a few weeks, and then shipped to a U.S. buyer. While on display, visitors were able to watch the press in action as it printed off broadsides, of which this is one. It includes a poem by Franklin and twelve rules for personal self-government Franklin created in his youth. Among the twelve were "Temperance -- Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation," and "Chastity -- Avoid injuring your own peace or another's reputation." As far as I know, he lived up to the other ten, and ten out of twelve ain't bad. €1,500 (US $1,971).

Item 43 is an unusual printing sample: New Mode of Printing. Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, by Samuel Johnson. You can ignore the Prince and Sam Johnson. What makes this interesting is the "new mode of printing." Philip Rusher devised a typeface that eliminated letters descending below the line, essentially squeezing and raising them. Pick up any recent book and you will discover that this concept never caught on. This book was published in 1804, and the type was apparently used only one other time, for a book about beekeeping half a century later. The book displays both the old and "new" type styles. You can compare them in the illustration on this page. €950 (US $1,248).

Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books is located online at www.fritsknuf.com, telephone +33 (0)254 72 26 56.