Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - February - 2009 Issue
Old and Rare Books About Books from Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books
An acrostic advertisement from Pidding's of London.
This is not your typical book about books, but it does pertain to libraries: Rapport adresse a M. Le minister De L'Instruction Publique Sur Le Chauffage Des Salles de La Bibliotheque Royale Destinees a l'Etude. Jean-Antoine Letronne's 1840 work pertains to heating of the Royal Library in Paris. It had been newly installed in 1840, which gives you an idea of how comfortable even the best libraries must have been in winter in years prior. Finished just two weeks after heating was installed, the book discusses the heating system and working conditions before and after the addition of warmth. One visitor notes that it will now be like summer all of the time in the library. Item 56. €250 (US $321).
Item 1 is an acrostic advertising broadside for a London stationer and lottery seller circa 1820. For those struggling to recall the meaning of "acrostic," one look at this piece will explain. It's one of those items where the first letter of every line spells out something. In this case, 26 lines form the alphabet, while another series spells out "Pidding," not surprisingly, the name of the shopkeeper. In a particularly artful addition, the last letters of the alphabet and Pidding overlap, so what you see is:
Run to Pidding's, take your Chance,
So your Income you'll advance
Try your Doom, and don't despair,
Urge Dame Fortune, buy a share
Whose Increase, and vast Amount,
X, oft Number'd. source will count;
Yonder Go then, don't you see?
Zounds 'tis plain as A.B.C.
Don't ask me what happened to "V." Maybe they didn't use it back then. Priced at €150 (US $196).
Frits Knuf Antiquarian Books may be reached at 0033 (0) 254 722 656 (France) or info@fritsknuf.com. Their website is located at www.fritsknuf.com.
