America Pictured to the Life: Illustrated Works from the Paul Mellon Bequest

by Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, William S. Reese

Better known as an art collector, Paul Mellon was also one of America's premier book collectors of the late 20th century.America Pictured to the Life: Illustrated Works from the Paul Mellon Bequest explores the extraordinary range of American illustrated books that Mr. Mellon's estate gave to Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. The catalog ranges from 16th-century accounts of early European exploration through late 19th-century American children's literature. Works depicting American cities and historical events are accompanied by illustrated trade literature, art and architectural manuals, and works of entertainment. Illustrated in full color, the catalog includes commentary on more than 100 items from the Mellon bequest.

152 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2002

About the author

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (BRBL) was a 1963 gift of the Beinecke family to Yale University. It is the largest building in the world reserved exclusively for the preservation of rare books and manuscripts.

It not only has one of the 48 extant copies of the Gutenberg Bible, but original material from a diversity of authors including Dickens, Goethe, Joyce, Mann, Rilke, Tocqueville and Wharton.

Reviews

[Jason W Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this - had some great themes that are suggested, and some stunning illustrations.