“Gutenberg and After” at Princeton University Library
December 11, 2019 in Book & Exhibition Reviews, Events, Princeton University
Guided Tours 2019
Gutenberg & Friends
Among the events for our 2019 Anniversary Year (see below), the Research Group enjoys a set of Guided Tours by our Associate Eric White, Curator of Rare Books in Special Collections of Princeton University Libraries. He guided us through his co-curated Exhibition at Princeton University Library on Gutenberg and After: Europe’s First Printers 1450-1470 (12 September 2019 – 15 December 2019).
The Group Listens. Photograph by Mildred Budny.
These tours, which included members of the Princeton Bibliophiles and Book Collectors (a subgroup of the Friends of the Princeton University Libraries), took place on Monday, 18 November, and Friday 13 December. In appreciation, we took Eric for refreshments afterward nearby.
Eric White Explains the Choice for Display of the Opening of I Kings in the Gutenberg Bible of 1455 (Scheide Library copy). Photograph by Mildred Budny.
Armchair Exhibition
More information about the exhibition, its background, and its selected exhibits, is presented online. Enjoy!
Close Up & Personal
Accompanying the exhibition is an online series of 7 short, thematic essays focusing upon selected aspects of the materials and their evidence.
1. Authenticity
Princeton University Library. “La Grant Danse Macabre” (Lyons, 1499), one of two surviving copies. It contains the earliest depiction of a printing shop, albeit accompanied by animated cadavers.
2. Indulgences
Princeton University Library, Special Collections. Printed Cyprus Indulgence, 31 Lines. (Mainz: Johann Gutenberg, 1454).
3. Illumination
Princeton University Library, Scheide Library. Gutenberg Bible of 1455. Opening Page of I Kings.
4. Uniqueness
Princeton University Library, Scheide Library. CALIXTUS III, BULLA THURCORUM (Mainz: Gutenberg, late 1456), opening page.
Princeton University Library, Scheide Library. Turrecremata, “Meditations” (Albi: Johann Neumeister, 1481).
6. Fragments
Princeton University Library, Scheide Library. Donatus, “Ars minor” on vellum (Mainz: almost certainly Johann Gutenberg and Johann Fust, perhaps ca. 1453-54), fragment.
7. Survivals
Princeton University Library, Scheide Library. Mainz Psalter on vellum (Mainz: Johann Fust and Peter Schoeffer, 14 August 1457), folio 98.
Round-Up
These articles are stored here:
Inside Milberg Gallery “Gutenberg and After” .
An online exhibition displays detailed views: here . There, exploration is possible among the options of “Printer”, “Publisher”, “Subject”, “Language”. For example, seaching by “Printer” and selecting Gutenberg, Johann yields closer views and detailed descriptions of 7 exhibited items, with their digital facsimiles. Thus it is possible virtually to turn their pages, from
1. The 2-volume Gutenberg Bible of circa 1455 from Mainz in the Scheide Collection, with its original Erfurt binding and illuminations
to
7. A reused leaf from a Gutenberg Bible in the Princeton University Library, in its converted state as a vellum binding cover for a 1666 lawbook — seen here at the left in the exhibtion.
Princeton University Library. Gutenberg Bible Leaves Recycled as Binding Materials. Photograph by Mildred Budny.
Previews
2019 Symposium Booklet, Cover Page
2016 Symposium Program Booklet, Cover Page.
Eric White presented some of the discoveries which appear in the exhibition earlier for 2 of our Research Group Symposia at Princeton University, including our Symposium in this Anniversary Year.
- Words and Deeds (2016)
- The Roads Taken (2019)
The booklets for these Symposia (downloadable through those links) include the abstracts of Eric’s papers and some accompanying images — which present materials included in the current exhibition. His presentations and workshops for those events gave helpful preparation for viewing the exhibition and for learning more from Eric’s guided tours.
We thank him for teaching us more about these challenging, intriguing, and ground-breaking materials in the history of books. We look forward to learning more.
*****
Preparations are on course for a printed catalogue of the exhibition. More to discover!
Eric Answers Questions. Photograph by Mildred Budny.
*****
Anniversary Celebrations
These events in Princeton form part of our activities during 2019, a landmark Anniversary Year for the Research Group on Manuscript [and Other] Evidence. They include:
- Specially Guided Tours for the RGME at the the Princeton University Exhibition on Gutenberg and After (November and December)
- Permanent Panel at the Midwest Duality and Manuscript Evidence at the Midwest Modern Language Association 2019 Convention (November)
- 2019 International Congress on Medieval Studies (May)
- 2019 Anniversary Symposium on “The Roads Taken” (April)
Watch This Space
Building upon the momentum of events for our Anniversary Year, we plan more events for 2020. Among them are the activities for the 2020 International Congress on Medieval Studies in May.
Also a Symposium at Princeton University in the Spring. Perhaps with more news about the background and foreground of the Gutenberg and Beyond Exhibition? Hopeful.
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