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Articles - April - 2018 Issue

Law Books Bright and Beautiful on Display at the Yale Law Library

- by Michael Stillman

Law Books Bright and Beautiful.

Law Books Bright and Beautiful.

The common wisdom is that law books are long and boring plain texts. I don't know whether this exhibit will fix the long and boring part of that reputation, but it will make you reconsider the assumption that they are plain, unattractive texts. These law books are anything but that. Beauty can be found in unexpected places.

 

The Yale Law Library is currently hosting an exhibition of Law Books Bright and Beautiful: Examples from the Yale Law Library Collection. Rare Book Librarian Mike Widener has selected the books for their typography, decoration, or overall design. The exhibitor explains, "the volumes range from a 13th-century illuminated manuscript to modern fine press books on famous American trials. Other volumes include the mining laws of New Spain (1783), the statutes of Verona (1475), and a stunning book of French customary law (1540) printed on parchment with initials in gold leaf. Three of the books were chosen for their colorful endpapers.

 

"Law Books Bright and Beautiful is the latest in a series of exhibitions aimed at promoting the study of law books as objects. It follows two exhibitions dedicated to illustrations in law books. Bindings will be showcased in an upcoming exhibition."

 

The exhibition will be continuing in the Rare Book Exhibition Gallery, Level 2, of the Yale Law School in New Haven through June 1, 2018. If you are not able to make it to New Haven, you can view images of some of the books on the library's Flickr site - www.flickr.com/photos/yalelawlibrary/albums/72157690955092822

Rare Book Monthly

  • <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 11. Blaeu's Superb World Map on a Polar Projection (1695) Est. $5,500 - $7,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 36. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $14,000 - $17,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 49. One of the First Lunar Globes to Show the Far Side of the Moon (1963) Est. $1,000 - $1,300 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 5. The First World Map with Lavish Allegorical Vignettes of the Continents (1594) Est. $15,000 - $17,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 55. Anti-British Propaganda Map with Churchill as an Octopus (1942) Est. $2,000 - $2,300 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 197. One of the Most Influential Maps of Westward Expansion (1846) Est. $9,500 - $12,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 10. Scarce Pitt Edition of Carte-a-Figures Map of the World (1680) Est. $9,500 - $11,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 220. A Fine, Early Rendering of San Francisco (1874) Est. $2,200 - $2,500 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 707. Hand-Colored Image of the Presentation of Jesus with Gilt Highlights (1450) Est. $1,600 - $1,900 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 80. One of the Most Important Maps Perpetuating the Myth of the Island of California (1680) Est. $3,250 - $4,000 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 725. Homann's Atlas Featuring 26 Folio-Sized Maps in Original Color (1715) Est. $4,500 - $5,500 <b>Old World Auctions (Feb 11):</b><br>Lot 169. One of the Earliest Maps to Show Philadelphia (1695) Est. $4,750 - $6,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 11. Blaeu's Superb World Map on a Polar Projection (1695) Est. $5,500 - $7,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 36. Schedel's Ancient World Map with Humanoid Creatures (1493) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 49. One of the First Lunar Globes to Show the Far Side of the Moon (1963) Est. $1,000 - $1,300
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 5. The First World Map with Lavish Allegorical Vignettes of the Continents (1594) Est. $15,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 55. Anti-British Propaganda Map with Churchill as an Octopus (1942) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 197. One of the Most Influential Maps of Westward Expansion (1846) Est. $9,500 - $12,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 10. Scarce Pitt Edition of Carte-a-Figures Map of the World (1680) Est. $9,500 - $11,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 220. A Fine, Early Rendering of San Francisco (1874) Est. $2,200 - $2,500
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 707. Hand-Colored Image of the Presentation of Jesus with Gilt Highlights (1450) Est. $1,600 - $1,900
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 80. One of the Most Important Maps Perpetuating the Myth of the Island of California (1680) Est. $3,250 - $4,000
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 725. Homann's Atlas Featuring 26 Folio-Sized Maps in Original Color (1715) Est. $4,500 - $5,500
    Old World Auctions (Feb 11):
    Lot 169. One of the Earliest Maps to Show Philadelphia (1695) Est. $4,750 - $6,000

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