Albion College Stockwell-Mudd Libraries

Autographed letter, signed by Anna Howard Shaw.
The contents of this letter relate to her life’s work for the liberation of women in America. Donated by Miss Lida Stokes Adams of Philadelphia, who fought valiantly and for many years for women’s rights, shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Shaw.

Rolewinck. Fasciculus Temporum. Printed by Erhardus Ratdolt, Venice, 1485.
Example of incunabula or "cradle books," called so because they were printed during the infancy of printing in Europe, from the middle to the end of the fifteenth century. This example contains many of the best examples of 15th century woodcuts, which were used by early printers as book illustrations. Donated by Dr. Abraham S.W. Rosenbach, Philadelphia antiquarian bookseller.

Warren, Mercy Otis. History of the rise, progress, and termination of the American Revolution. Interspersed with biographical, political and moral observations. Boston: Printed by Manning and Loring, For E. Larkin, No.47, Cornhill, 1805.
Mercy Otis Warren was sister of the patriot leader, James Otis, and wife of a revolutionary leader in Massachusetts, James Warren. She was also a poet and historian. John Adams responded to this book with great criticism, not believing it to be within the province of women to write history, especially not history in which he himself was a part. Later critics have agreed that there are things about the American Revolution that Warren knew better than Adams. Donated by Alexander Davidson, Jr., American dealer from New York.

Atherton, William. Narrative of the suffering and defeat of the north-western army, under General Winchester: Massacre of the prisoners, sixteen months imprisonment of the writer and others with the Indians and British. Frankfort, Kentucky: Printed for the author by A.G. Hodges, 1842.
Donated by Lathrop C. Harper of New York, antiquarian bookseller and specialist in early printed books. Harper was responsible for helping to build up the collection at the John Carter Brown Library in Rhode Island and the Huntington Library in California.

Hull, William. Memoirs of the campaign of the North Western Army of the United States, A.D. 1812: in a series of letters addressed to the citizens of the United States, with an appendix, containing a brief sketch of the revolutionary services of the author. Boston: True & Greene, 1824.
This book documents the story of General William Hull, Lewis Cass, and the struggle of Detroit during the War of 1812. This particular copy was in the green-blue wrappers in which it was issued form the publisher and bore the name of Edward Everett, American orator, from whose library this copy came. Donated in memory of Tracy W. McGregor of Detroit.

Carver, Jonathan. Travels through the interior parts of North America, in the years 1766, 1767, and 1798, 2nd ed. London, Printed for the author, by W. Richardson, 1779.
Donated by Charles E. Goodspeed of Boston.

Michener, B., ed. The Enquirer for Truth: A periodical publication. Canton, OH: Michener, 1827-28.
At the time of this donation, only 2 other sets of this periodical were known to exist: one in the library of Ohio State University and the other in the Library of Congress. Donated by Charles Everett.

Michigan Manual. Lansing: State of Michigan, 1875.
This volume, bound in red Moroccan leather, contains autographs of every member of the state legislature for the session of 1875-76 in the back. Donated by Forest H. Sweet, Battle Creek.

Vega, Garcilaso de la. Histoire de la conquéte de la Floride, ou, Relation de ce qui s'est passé dans la découverte de ce pays par Ferdinand de Soto. Composée en espagnol par l'Inca Garcilasso de la Vega, & traduit en françois par P. Richelet. Paris, G. Nyon, 1709.
Donated by Henry Schuman, Detroit. Schuman also donated a map of the state of Michigan by H.S. Tanner from 1836, showing the state as it was at the time of Albion College's founding.

Quad, M. Goaks and Tears. Boston, H.L. Shepard & Co., 1875.
"M. Quad" was otherwise known as Charles B. Lewis and in American history as "The Detroit Free Press Man." This copy is a first edition in its original paper wrappers. Donated by Howard Mott, a New York dealer who specialized in American humor.

Evans, Estwick. A pedestrious tour: of four thousand miles, through the western states and territories, during the winter and spring of 1818. Interspersed with brief reflections upon a great variety of topics: religious, moral, political, sentimental, etc., etc. Concord, N.H., Printed by Joseph C. Spear, 1819.
This is one of the first travel books to ever mention the University of Michigan, and it also gave the name of the first President, John Monteith. Donated by Edward Eberstadt, New York.

Daboll, Nathan. Arithmetic. Utica, NY, 1831.
Donated by Professor Louis C. Karpinski, expert in the history of mathematics at the University of Michigan. The Professor believed this to be a copy of the edition that Louisa Peabody Stockwell would have used.

The following items were all donated by Randolph G. Adams:

Manuzio, Aldo. Epitome orthographiae / Aldi, Manvtii, Pavlli. F. Aldi. N; Ex libris antiquis, grammaticis, etymologia, graeca consuetudine, nummis ueteribus, tabulis aereis, lapidibus. Venetiis: apud Aldum, 1575.
In the history of printing in the 16th century, there was no printing and publishing house better known than that of Aldus of Venice. This item was from a book used to standardize the spelling of well-known words in printing offices, as practiced by the elder Aldus, and compiled and printed by his son.

Several "points" make it an important item:

It was printed in Aldine Press in Venice (Goldschmid, No.694)
Title vignette is the well-known portrait of Aldus Manutius
Verso of the title shows the "Aldine Anchor," the trademark which was copied by other printers for 400 years.
The book is encased in the original limp vellum binding
It has the characteristic markings of "Aldi Manut Epitome Orthog" on the back and "Compend Orthog Manut" on the bottom edge of the leaves.

Bernardi della Mirandulo, Antonio de'. In logicam universam institutio Antonii Bernardi Mirandulani / nuper ab ipso emendata, & aucta. Romae: Apud Paulum Manutium, Aldi F., 1562.
The title page of this book shows the "Aldine Anchor" in its most artistic form.

Grotius, Hugo. Hugo Grotius De mari libero et P. Merula De maribus. Lvgd. Batavorum [i.e., Leiden]: Ex Officina Elzeviriana, 1633.
This is Grotius' work denying the English claim to control the fisheries around the British Isles and in the North Sea.

Selden, John. Ioannis Seldeni Mare clausum seu De dominio maris libri duo. Primo, mare, ex jure naturæ seu gentium, omnium hominum non esse commune, sed dominii privati seu proprietatis capax, pariter ac tellerum, esse demonstratur. Secundo, Serenissimum Magnæ Britanniæ regem maris circumflui, ut individuæ atque perpetuæ imperii britannici appendicis, dominum esse, asseritur. Londoni, excudebat W. Stanesbeius, pro R. Meighen, 1635.
This book, together with the Grotius, formed the foundation of the doctrine of the freedom of the seas, from which was derived much of the principles of neutrality that the U.S. exhibited at the time.

Varano, Alfonso. Agnese, martire del Giappone; Tragedia. Parma, Dalla stamperia reale, 1783.
The type, typography, ink, paper and clever use of tiny copper plates to print the initial letters make this book a work of art by one of the greatest printers of his time, Giambattista Bodoni.