Famous Early Books

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1070, 6 September 1930, Page 17

Famous Early Books

As mentioned above Auckland library is rich in treasures ot these early days of printing, more so than any other library in Australia or new Zealand. There are books from the first printers in Germany, Venice, Hol-

land, Italy, France, England: books bound in magnificent cases that have lasted centuries; books that have been popularly read aud books that were rigidly sin-pressed by kings and prelates. There is a work on

church government, printed 1474, titled “Alvarus Pelagius” about which Dibdin says: “A more splendid production of the 15th century, or a more beautiful specimen of typog-

rapby, it would be impossible to produce/' Mr. Percy Fitzgerald says of it in an article in tbe “The Book Fancier": “As these grand volumes are taken down and laid open reverently, we are struck by the beautiful proportions, tbe noble margins, tbe

dazzling brilliancy of the Gothic letters, tbe sobriety of the binding, the curious woodcut flourishes around the initial letters, delicately coloured by some unknown artist.” Another exquisite example of the 15th century art is “Boethius,” printed at Nuremburg by Coburger, who even at the early date of 1480 had 24 presses in operation. “Sumptuous” is tbe description that one book lover gave of this book with its red illuminated capitals and balanced pages.