Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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E CAMPUS Rare Books In Library By R. M. KgNNZDY (Continued from last week) RoyCroft Editions We have at least six splendid-exam ples of the work of Thomas Roy croft (-1677), one of the most schol arly and distinguished makers of fine books that Great Britain has produced, who was "Printer in Oriental Lan guages" to Charles II. 1. Burton's "Commentary of An tonious his Itinerary of Journies of the Romane empire, so far as it concern eth Great Britain," London, 1658, 4o. This volume has, on front and back covers, stamped in gold, the coat of arms of King George I. Evidently it once adorned the shelves of his library. 2, 3. The Ogilby translations of the Iliad (1660) and the Odyssey (1663), both folio, London. Updike mentions these as fine examples of Roycroft's skill. . 4. "Chronicus Can. Aegypticus, Eb raicus, Graecus," London, 1672. 5. Walton's great Polyglot Bible, in nine languages, 6 volumes, folio, London, 1653-57. 6. Castell's "Lexicon Heptaglotton Hebraicum, Chaldaicum, Syriacum, Samaritanum, Aethiopicum, Arabi cum, et Persicum," 4 vols., London, 1669. These last two treasures I discover ed. with great delight, among the hundreds of great old folios in the gallery, which are listed in the Walker catalog of the libracy, but which, for various reasons, are only now being indexed in our modern card catalog. Of the Walton-Roycroft Polyglot, Updike says it was "the greatest typo graphical achievement of the century, printed entirely from types cut by English hands." Brunet says of it: "This Polyglot, to which necessarily belongs Castell's "Lexicon Heptaglotton," is the most sought after, because it is more com plete and correct than the others and because it contains nine different lan guages. The examples to which is not joined the Castell Lexicon lose nearly half their valus." Watt says of it that it is chiefly grounded on the Paris polyglot of Le Jay (described under onather head), 'to which it is much inferior in typo graphical execution," though more useful because of its "superior accura cy and the improvements it was en abled to make on the ormer work": "further that it was the first book ever published by subscription in Eng land. Hc also speaks of the Castell's Lexicon as "a very necessary supple nment" to it. Elbert Hubbard has sought to per petuate the fame of the famous pub. lisher in his "Roycrofters," a colony of several hundred artisans and artists, at East Aurora, New York, who make a specialty of, fine editions of books, in no wise comparable, however, to the productions of the great master. Up dike considers this modern institution "of dubious typographical value." The Moydell Editions of Shakespeare and Milton Certainly among the most beautiful and generally interesting volumes that we own are the edlitions of Shake speare and Milton, gotten out by the eminent 18th century British publish ers and engravers, John and Josiah Boydell. The poetical works of Milton are in three folio volumes, with 28 beautiful plates and four portraits and were is sued in London, 1794. The plays of Shakespeare arc in nine folio volumes with 96 plates and two portraits and were published in Lon don, 1802. As a companion volume to the latter, the Bpydells produced the magnificient volumes entitled : "A collection of prints, from pictures painted for the~ purpose of illustrating the dramatic works of Shakespears. by the artists FEATURE Antiq.ue Invitations Received By Library "Bids" Over Century Old Pr sented By Edwin G. Seibels Valuable antiques continue to be added to the University Library Mu seum room. Recently Mr. Edwin G. .Seibles, a citizen of Columbia presented to this department two very interesting invi tations to social functions held in Co. lumbia in the early years of the last century. Each are over a centry old but duration of time has altered their of Great Britian. London, J. and J. Boydell. 1803. Two volumes, F6." The genesis of this splendid under taking was at a supper at Josiah Boy dell's in 1787, at which were present Benjamin West, Romney and other artists. The suggestion was made that there should be a great "National Edi tion" of Shakespeare, comparable to the superb editions that other nations had gotten out of the works of their great authors. The Boydells were urged, and agreed to attempt, the stupendeous enterprise. John Bodell (1719-1804), and his nephew, Josiah, had long established their reputation as the foremost en gravers of Great Britian. Their prints had practically run foreign en gravers out of the British market, in which they had long been supreme. John Instituted the "School of En graving in England," and he had been honored by election, first as Alder man, later as Lord Mayor, of London. In pursuance of their plan of getting lut this great edition of Shakespeare, they set themselves to establish an "English School of Historical Paint ing." The foremost artists of the per iod, and many of the lesser lights, were asked to contribute paintnigs il lustrating the works of the immortal "Bard of Avon." These paintings were collected by the Boydells in their "Shakespeare Gallery." They had, ac -ording to the account in the Inter national Encyclopedia, 170 pictures oainted at a cost of 30,000 pounds. As John Boydell seems to have owned the collection (see preface to the prints), I take it that the artists were paid from the proceeds of the sale of the prints. Josiah Boydell (in the Preface) says that "some single prints cost upwards of 1,500 guineas." Among the painters that contributed to the work were Romney, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Benjamin West, Opie, Hop pner, and a host of less famous paint ers, such as William Hamilton, North cote, Angelica Kaufman and others. The exquisite steel engravings were made by Ryder, Playter, Ogburne, Ramon and others. They are all mounted on linen and, almost without exception, are masterpieces of art. Josiah Boydell contributed several paintings, but I cannot find his or John's names as engravers on any of the pictures. John and Josiah directed and pub lished the stupendous work, assuming artistic and financial responsibility. They also appear to have selected the subjects; under each engraving is the quotation illustrated. It is sal to relate that the French Revolution and the Napoleonic regime caused the Boydells to' lose their large continental patronage, so that they had to dispose, in 1804, of all of their "artistic property" by lottery. It would be interesting to know what became of their copper plates and of the "Shakespeare Gallery." Sir Joshua Reynolds, at a Royal Academy dinner in 1789, toasted John Boydell as "the commercial Maecenas of England." Nicol, in the preface to the text, of which he was an associate publisher with the Boydells, states that, owing to the low state of printing in Eng land when the work was started, it was necessary for them to establish their own printing house, a foundry for the casting of type and even a manufactorv an individuali family in any age or in any country." (Continued next week) STORIES appearance very little, as they are still in perfect condition. One of theni reads: "At the Junior Teaparty, Green's Hotel, Tuesday' evening next, seven o'clock, the honor of Mr. Seible's and Lady's company is solicited. Signed by: Charles Martin, J. J. Chappell and U. J. Goodwin, managers. 10 of June, 1803. The other invitation reads: "Columbia Commencement-Ball. The pleasure of Miss Seibles' Company is solicited in the Senate Room, at 6 o'clock P. M. on Tuesday the 4th of December, 1810." Signers: William Butler, Christ. B. Pegues, Joseph V. Shanklin, "Samuel G. Earle, Joseph Pyatt, Wyatt W. Starke. The most remarkable thing about these invitations is that they are print ed ons the back of ordinary playing cards. The back of one is the three of hearts and the other, the nine of diamonds. These inviations have been framed by the librarian in such away that both the front and back are visable. They may be seen in one of the dis play cases of the museum room of the library. Uwe Little Willie-Yah, I saw you kiss my sister. Cadet (hurriedly)-Ah..er-here's a quarter. Little Willie-And here's ten cents change. One price to all, that's the way I do business. STAY ON T SOMEWHERE between there's a smoke-spot who feel that in'ard hi pull a cool cloud of Camel smoke. Tobacco science ha Turkish and Domes aroma of a cloud ? ni' Oi928 R . .J. R EY N OLD.n 'l CAROLINA STUDENTS! A Good Place to Eat MRS. L. K. BEST 1012 Marion Street One - Half Block From Campus MOT)R CGACH SERVICE Colunbia to Greenville Lv Co.umbia : 7 :30 aim. 9:30 am ,1 :30 am. 2 pm. 3:30 pm, 5 pm Lv.Gr ma:e.S m Tie HAYES Bus LINES (Incorbrittd) 1800 Main St. Phone 8788 For Fruit Drinks -- - VISIT - HAMPTON'S Home-Made Candies 1218 Main St. Columbia, S. C. Recepriens Purmshed Only Place of Its Kisd is the City 7 HE FAIRWAY: STICK T your collar-button and the bott4 -seeking "fill-fulnment." The va ankerin' have discovered what joy away down into it--and si s produced in Camel a superb ble ~ic tobaccos. Just revel once in the < If Camel smoke. We'll bet a caddi dick you'll never get off that fairway ' OB AC CO C OM P A NY, Wri.1 SLAND BROS. JELELERS AND DIAMOND MERCHANTS -Most complete stock of sterling ,ilver prize cups in the CarolinasI Class rings and pins of the better kind, made up to suit your own ideas. Come in and let's get acquainted. 1500 Main St. Columbia, S. C. .TkH Heut of Qua.lity" EtaMished in 144 The R. L. BRYAN COMPANY Binding, O:c Furniture and Specialties Columbia, South Carolina Books, Stationery, Printing, CAPITAL CrrY LAUNDRY Specialists in DRESS SHIRTS & COLLARS (One Day Service) 1119 Gervais St. Phone 9711 IJ4S.4 4q-, 0 CAMELS! >m of your ph:2fours st miajority of job)bies o do abouit it. TLhey owly exhale fragrant ad of the choicest' elicious, quiJ lveri ng 3to a left-handed I So n .S9maen, N. C.s