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Wilhelm Schreiber Collection of 15th-18th Century Book Illustrations, 1400-1900, (bulk 1490-1690)
Call No.: LOT 15201 (FM -- A size, AA size, B size, C size) (MCE size)
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.
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.
The Wilhelm Schreiber Collection is arranged in 12 portfolios. The sheets are grouped in folders according to thematic categories. In general, the illustrations from a single published work have been kept together, which can be confirmed because the sheets have the same number written in a corner in small numerals. Many of the sheets are annotated with creator or publication information in longhand German and correspond to Schreiber's handwritten inventory which has been processed and digitized as LOT 15201 (Suppl. Archives). The finding aid is arranged by Portfolio number while the physical collection is arranged according to the four sizes of paper on which the prints are mounted. In the mid-1900s, the staff of the Library of Congress organized this collection to assist researchers with access by national origin and the subjects shown in the prints. The portfolio numbers represent the portfolio itself (a Roman numeral), the folder group within the portfolio (an Arabic number), and the quantity of prints mounted on the sheets. For example: "I-18-144" is Portfolio I, folder 18, with 144 prints, an indication of very small illustrations.
Portfolio I
BOX 6 FOLDER 1 Portfolio I-1-114
Creators: Georg Mack
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 411 (FM -- A size)
Extent: approximately 114 prints mounted in 1 bound volume
Portfolio Description: Clothing and dress
BOX 6 FOLDER 2 Portfolio I-2-204
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 412 to 413 (FM -- A size)
Extent: approximately 100 prints mounted in 1 bound volume and on 1 sheet
Portfolio Description: Titus Livius' Roman history Printed by Joh. Schoeffer, Mainz, 1510)
Note: The portfolio identification number indicates that this portfolio has 204 prints but only one volume was found in this folder. Volume 2 might be in Portfolio IX-16-132
BOX 7 FOLDER 1 Portfolio I-3-23
Creators: Johann Prüss, printer
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 415 to 417 (FM -- B size)
Extent: 23 prints mounted on 3 sheets
Portfolio Description: Religious subjects, illustrations from Leben der Heiligen Altvater
BOX 7 FOLDER 2 Portfolio I-4-2
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 418 to 419 (FM -- B size)
Extent: 2 prints mounted on 2 sheets
Portfolio Description: St. Anthony, armorial
BOX 7 FOLDER 3 Portfolio I-5-67
Creators: Peter Flötner
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 420 to 433 (FM -- B size)
Extent: approximately 67 prints mounted on 14 sheets
Portfolio Description: Ornamental borders
BOX 7 FOLDER 4 Portfolio I-6-15
Creators: Hans Burgkmair; Tobias Stimmer; Holl; Virgil Solis
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 435 to 445 (FM -- B size)
Extent: 15 prints mounted on 10 sheets
Portfolio Description: Portraits, landscapes, religious subjects
Note: Call number LOT 15201 no. 439 was not used.
BOX 6 FOLDER 3 Portfolio I-7-1
Creators: Hans Burgkmair
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 414 (FM -- A size)
Extent: 1 print mounted on 1 sheet
Portfolio Description: Cook disemboweling hare, from Granatapfel (1510)
BOX 7 FOLDER 5 Portfolio I-8-19
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 446 to 456 (FM -- B size)
Extent: 21 prints mounted on 11 sheets
Portfolio Description: Illustrations from Hieronymus Mercurialis' De arte Gymnastica (Venetiis, 1587); title page
BOX 1 FOLDER 1 Portfolio I-9-2
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 1 (FM -- AA size)
Extent: 2 prints mounted on 1 sheet
Portfolio Description: Religious (Adam and Eve)
BOX 1 FOLDER 2 Portfolio I-10-11
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 2 to 7 (FM -- AA size)
Extent: 11 prints mounted on 6 sheets
Portfolio Description: Military figures (standard bearers)
BOX 1 FOLDER 6 Portfolio I-11-146
Creators: Johann Teufel; Hans Lufft
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 16 (FM -- AA size)
Extent: approximately 146 prints mounted in 1 bound volume
Portfolio Description: Biblical (Old and New Testaments, Luther Bible) (colored) (1558)
BOX 7 FOLDER 6 Portfolio I-12-31
Creators: Albrecht Dürer; Tobias Stimmer; Daniel Hopfer; Jost Amman; Virgil Solis; Stefano Mulinari
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 457 to 476 (FM -- B size)
Extent: approximately 34 prints mounted on 20 sheets
Portfolio Description: Miscellaneous (St. Jerome; military scenes; maps; letters; portraits of popes; map of Alexandria, 1570)
BOX 7 FOLDER 7 Portfolio I-13-102
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 477 to 488 (FM -- B size)
Extent: approximately 102 prints mounted on 12 sheets
Portfolio Description: Illustrations from Brant's Ship of Fools
BOX 7 FOLDER 8 Portfolio I-14-58
Creators: Jost Amman
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 489 to 491 (FM -- B size)
Extent: approximately 58 prints mounted on 3 sheets
Portfolio Description: Animals, birds
BOX 7 FOLDER 9 Portfolio I-15-68
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 492 to 494 (FM -- B size)
Extent: approximately 68 prints mounted on 3 sheets
Portfolio Description: Animals, birds, fish
BOX 7 FOLDER 10 Portfolio I-16-60
Creators: Jost Amman
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 495 to 497 (FM -- B size)
Extent: approximately 60 prints mounted on 3 sheets
Portfolio Description: Occupations, artisans and craftsmen, etc.
BOX 7 FOLDER 11 Portfolio I-17-82
Creators: Jost Amman
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 498 to 519 (FM -- B size)
Extent: approximately 82 prints mounted on 22 sheets
Portfolio Description: Religious, biblical (Old and New Testaments), from Neuwe biblische Figuren, dess Alten und Neuwen Testaments
BOX 8 FOLDER 1 Portfolio I-18-144
Creators: Jost Amman
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 520 to 527 (FM -- B size)
Extent: approximately 145 prints mounted on 8 sheets
Portfolio Description: Religious
BOX 8 FOLDER 2 Portfolio I-19-2 (1 of 2)
Creators: Albrecht Dürer
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 528 (FM -- B size)
Extent: 1 print mounted on 1 sheet
Portfolio Description: Artist creating a portrait, from Underweysung der Messung)
BOX 31 FOLDER 1 Portfolio I-19-2 (2 of 2)
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 529 (MCE size)
Extent: 1 print
Portfolio Description: Religious (Christ on cross)
BOX 1 FOLDER 3 Portfolio I-20-10
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 8 (FM -- AA size)
Extent: 10 prints mounted in 1 bound volume
Portfolio Description: Genealogical chart of Jesus, Die Genealogie Jesu (1594)
BOX 8 FOLDER 3 Portfolio I-21-144
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 530 (FM -- B size)
Extent: approximately 144 prints mounted in 1 bound volume
Portfolio Description: Occupations, craftsmen, etc., from Orbis Sensualium Pictus (1745); some colored
BOX 8 FOLDER 4 Portfolio I-22-12
Creators: Jost Amman
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 531 to 532 (FM -- B size)
Extent: 15 prints mounted on 2 sheets
Portfolio Description: Religious
BOX 8 FOLDER 5 Portfolio I-23-12
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 533 to 540 (FM -- B size)
Extent: 11 prints mounted on 9 sheets
Portfolio Description: Portraits, Oldenburg, religious, architectural
Note: Two items numbered 533 are distinguished as 533a and 533b
BOX 8 FOLDER 6 Portfolio I-24-16
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 541 to 546 (FM -- B size)
Extent: 16 prints mounted on 6 sheets
Portfolio Description: Portraits of Martin Luther
BOX 8 FOLDER 7 Portfolio I-25-54
Creators: Jost Amman
Call No.: LOT 15201, no. 547 to 549 (FM -- B size)
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