Treasures of the British Library - Hardcover

Barker, Nicolas

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0712348905 ISBN 13: 9780712348904

Publisher: British Library, 2005

Synopsis

This is a revised edition of the indispensable guide to the great collections of the British Library. Illustrated throughout in colour, it is the perfect introduction to some of the world’s most magnificent books and manuscripts, from The Lindisfarne Gospels to Shakespeare’s First Folio, The Diamond Sutra, and The Gutenberg Bible. Some of the most famous of all documents, such as Magna Carta, have their own crucial place in history, while among the many thousands of manuscripts are to be found the earliest versions of the best-known works of English literature, from Beowulf to Alice’s Adventures Underground and Finnegan’s Wake. This handsome volume also covers some of the other items to be found within the collections, including papyri, historical maps, prints, photographs, sound recordings, and printed books from the earliest to the most recently produced. This is the definitive story of the collections, stunningly illustrated with over 40 colour and 190 black-and-white illustrations. Country Life says of Treasures of the British Library: "Beautifully illustrated, one could hardly have hoped for a better-conceived book."

About this title

About the Author:

Nicolas Barker was deputy keeper at the British Library for twenty years and has been editor of The Book Collector since 1965.

From Library Journal:

This is an outstanding chronicle of one of the world's great treasure houses. So vast are the British Library's collections and so splendidly are they presented here that this book would be an inspiring addition to any library. The library's 15 million items span almost 3000 years of human creativity. Many of the world's greatest written works are there, including a Magna Carta, a Gutenberg Bible, a First Folio of Shakespeare, the Diamond Dutra, and the earliest version of Beowulf. The book's 330 photos, including 140 color plates, make one linger over every page, and the text is expertly written by the Library's Deputy Keeper of Rare Books and the curatorial staff. This is an exciting addition to the other Abrams books on great libraries, such as Marshall B. Davidson's Treasures of the New York Public Library ( LJ 1/89).
- Daniel J. Lombardo, Jones Lib., Inc., Amherst, Mass.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: British Library
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0712348905
• ISBN 13: 9780712348904
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 270