Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - October - 2004 Issue
More from the Library of H.P. Kraus<br>At Oak Knoll Books
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At least Lichtenberger gave Gutenberg credit for inventing the printing press. Jan Hessels claimed otherwise. His 1887 book's title says it all: Haarlem, the Birth-Place of Printing, Not Mentz. Not. Hessels attacked the conclusions of Antonius van der Linde concerning the origin of printing, conclusions which, of course, have since proven correct. However, this incorrect book comes with an inscription from its mistaken author plus a bookplate indicating it came from the Kraus Library. Item 902. $125.
Margaret Stillwell discusses this controversy in Beginning of the World of Books 1450 to 1470... published by the Bibliographical Society of America in 1972. She notes occasional references to printing in manuscripts between 1420 and the settling of Gutenberg's estate in 1468, which she does not find conclusive, but also recognizes acknowledgements of Gutenberg's role by his contemporaries and successors in the period from 1470-1499. This book also contains a bibliography of 215 items printed by 1470. Item 1284. $17.50.
Item 857 is a complete 71-volume run from 1926-2000 of the periodical Gutenberg Jahrbuch. This periodical covered the history of printing and other related topics, with an average of over 300 pages per volume of articles in many languages. $6,000.
Item 858 is a publication released to commemorate the opening of the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz. The museum was opened, and this item printed, in 1901. The title is Gutenberg - Fest zu Mainz im Jahre 1900...and it tells of the opening events, includes a program, contains a commemorative photo, and several letters from invitees, including Mark Twain. $55.
Oak Knoll Books is located on the internet at www.oakknoll.com and can be reached by phone at 302-328-7232. For a review of Part I of this catalogue, go to www.americanaexchange.com/NewAE/aemonthly/review_1.asp?id=78&page=1.
