Imprimerie Nationale, 1900 - 1914. 25 volumes. First edition, printed for the occasion of the Exposition Universelle Internationale of 1900. Considered "the finest book on printing that has ever been printed" (D.B. Updike). Concentrating on the ateliers of Paris and Lyon, Claudin traces the origins and development of typography in France during the 15th and 16th centuries. Through stunning reproductions, he presents the most precious and often least-known examples of French typography, woodcuts, metal cuts, title pages, illuminations and decorative initials. Complete in all four portfolios. T.M. Cleland's copy with his bookplates on each of the four pastedowns. This Michel Topie and Jacques Heremberck edition represented the first time copper plate engraving was tried in France. Table of contents and index to illustrations in each volume. Overall a well-preserved set of this extremely scarce publication.
Frances Battaile Fisk, 1928. First edition. Scarce in this condition. Printed double column, preface, illustrated, plates, index of proper names and leading topics. Author gives research on the history and development of art in Texas including the early period in San Antonio, painters and 100s of other biographies of little known artists who have all but disappeared, to those who have become well-known and highly prized Texas artists, working and exhibiting prior to 1928. Information on many of these artists is difficult to find much less in this highly readable and detailed work. Most of the new books focus only on the most well-known and prominent. Fisk still remains after 92 years, an interesting and well written history of these early artists both men and women inspired by the beauty and grandeur of a vast land multi-cultural and much of it unchanged.
The Anderson Auction Co., 1911-1912. Eight volumes bound in four. One of the finest collections of books sold in America, the Hoe sale realized almost two million dollars which was larger than the previous four largest book sales added together. Included was a copy of the Gutenberg Bible that Huntington bought for 50 thousand dollars. Hoe had an excellent collection of bindings and had many of his own books bound by the famous binders of the day. Of the total of 120 plates in the eight volume set, 37 are of bindings. Also helpful is the index to binders and bindings that appears at the end of each part. Some of the volumes are price in pencil in the margins of Part one, L-Z. Spines of cloth bindings are faded, with some minor shelfwear. Original paper wrappers are in absolute fine condition. 


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