The Bibliophile

A Library’s Treasures

The criteria by which a library “treasure” or “rarity” may be defined are variable. Of the several applicable definitions, the most common determines the degree of rarity of a book by taking into account demand and supply issues, and other specific content and edition features that make it unique and/or unusual. Therefore, for numerous reasons, a book may become rare and valuable despite having been perfectly ordinary at the time it was published.

The collection of books gathered by Calouste Gulbenkian comprises a considerable number of works that may be classified as “rarities” or “treasures”, as they possess specific and peculiar features. There are many different examples. Some of these books were dedicated to Calouste Gulbenkian by a vast array of personalities belonging to political, literary, artistic and business milieus: Saint-John Perse, the pseudonym of poet Alexis Léger; Maurice Sandoz, writer, composer and art collector, and André Breuil, pre-historic art specialist, just to name a few.

The “rare” set of books, also comprises works that had limited editions, like the magnificent Le livre d’heures de Louis Legrand (1898), copy number 124 out of an edition of 160, or The holy carpet of the Mosque at Ardebil, which contains five watercolours prints and two photolithographs, and was copy number 2 out of an edition limited to only 50 impressions. In addition, some copies were purposely printed for Calouste Gulbenkian. Les grands châteaux en France (1907), for example, had an edition of 600 copies, of which number 2 was especially printed for the Collector. Included in the “rare” or “precious” set of books are also old items dating back to different centuries. Amongst these, it is worth mentioning Les quatres premiers livres des navigations et peregrinations orientales, published in Lyon, in 1568; The travels of Sir John Chardin into Persia and the East Indies, published in London, in 1686; and Elements d’orfévrerie, published in Paris, in 1748.

Also belonging to this section is a significant number of books that have unique bindings, ex libris and/or coat of arms of their previous owners. Purchased from other personal libraries by Calouste Gulbenkian, these books include: Voyage pittoresque de Constantinople et des rives du Bósphore (1807?), which belonged to the Library of the Duchess of Berry; Symbolica Dianae Ephesiae statua a Caludio Menetreio Ceimeliothecae Barberinae praefecto exposita (1688), which shows the ex libris of the Duke of Bedford; and Hints on ornamental gardening, acquired at Thomas Hope’s library auction sale, in 1917, and showing Hope’s coat of arms in the front cover.

This section on library “treasures” would not be complete if one would not include all the works that contain Calouste Gulbenkian’s handwritten notes and those that show visible traces of having been extensively handled or attentively read by the Collector. Their importance lies in the way they provide valuable clues about the Collector’s research and study methods, as well as his interests and preferences. These library “treasures” are to be found in the all the thematic sections that make up the whole library, thus evidencing Calouste Gulbenkian’s eclecticism, his several interests, and most importantly, his commitment and need to pursue knowledge.

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Collection highlights

[Livre d'ornement ] / par G. Charmeton. - [Paris : s.n., 1670?].

[Recueil de divers griffonemens, têtes, animaux, frises, marines...]. - [Paris : s. n., 17--?].

Annales littéraires : publication collective des bibliophiles contemporains pour ... / [prop.] Académie des Beaux-Livres ; [dir.] Octave Uzanne. - Paris : Académie des Beaux-Livres, 1890-[1894].

Bibliotheque orientale, ou dictionnaire universel, contenant généralement tout ce qui regard la connoiffance des peuples de l'Orient... par D'Herbelot. - Maestricht : J.E. Dufour & Ph. Roux, Imprimeurs & Libraires, Associés, 1776.

Un cas de jalousie / illustrée par A. Lunois. - Paris : L. Conquet, 1896.

Catalogue d'aquarelles et dessins par Hervier / [ed. lit.] Hôtel Drouot. - Paris : Hôtel Drouot, 1876.

Elements d'orfevrerie : divisés en deux parties de cinquante feuilles chacune / composé par Pierre Germain. - Paris : L'Orfevrerie du Roy, 1748.

L' éventail / par Octave Uzanne ; ill. de Paul Avril. - Paris : A. Quantin, 1882.

Fragments on the theory and practice of landscape gardening : including some remarks on Grecian and Gothic architecture, collected from various manuscripts, in the possession of the different noblemen and gentlemen, for whose use they were originally written : the whole tending to establish fixed principles in the respective arts / by H. Repton... Assisted by his son, J. Adey Repton,.... - London : Printed by T. Bensleyand son... for J. Taylor..., 1816.

Les grands chateaux en France / par M. Marcel Fouquier ; préface par M. Pierre de Nolhac. - Paris : [s.n.], 1907.

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