Title Page | Collection Summary | Biographical/Organizational Note | Scope and Content | Arrangement
Collection Summary
| Title | Wilhelm Schreiber Collection of 15th-18th century book illustrations |
|---|---|
| Inclusive Dates | 1400-1900 |
| Bulk Dates | 1490-1690 |
| Call No. | LOT 15201 (FM -- AA size, A size, B size, C size) (MCE size) |
| Creator | Schreiber, Wilhelm Ludwig, 1855-1932, collector |
| Extent | 20,398 prints : chiefly woodcuts and wood engravings on 2,667 mounts or bound in 24 volumes ; mounts 49 x 34 cm. or smaller, prints 46 x 31 cm. or smaller, volumes 49 x 34 cm. |
| Language | Collection material in German, Latin, French, English, Italian, and Polish |
| Location | Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. |
| Finding Aid Permalink | Cite or bookmark this finding aid as: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/eadpnp.pp021029 |
| LCCN Permalink | LC Catalog record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2010631352 |
| Summary | Collection comprises original woodcuts and wood engravings, mainly illustrations from European books of the 15th to 18th centuries. Dr. Wilhelm Ludwig Schreiber (1855-1932) assembled this extensive study collection for early printed book illustration. In addition to an estimated 375 woodcuts from incunabula, the most extensive part of the collection dates from the 16th century and features borders, title pages, initials, and ornaments as well as identified portraits and religious illustrations. Woodcuts from books published in Germany, the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, Poland, France, Spain, and Italy are included, and most of the prominent artists of the period are represented. There are a few aquatints and chiaroscuro woodcuts. The collection was formed for the study of artists and printing history and for the study of subjects. The woodcuts are from works on military history, natural history, trades and industries, physiognomy, medicine, hunting, and other special fields as well as from Bibles, fables, and editions of the classics. (Source: Vanderbilt guide, No. 645). Researchers interested in incunabula and early modern book illustrations are encouraged to consult copies of the books held by the Rare Book and Special Collections Division of the Library or other institutions. The Schreiber prints have been trimmed to show only images and can be better understood in their original contexts. |
| Online Content | To see already digitized images from this collection, search our Online Catalog by call number or descriptive words. |