The E-Sylum:  Volume 4, Number 33, August 12, 2001, Article 3

NUMISMATICS IN THE AGE OF GROLIER 

   "Founded in 1884, the Grolier Club of New York is America's 
   oldest and largest society for bibliophiles and enthusiasts in the 
   graphic arts. Named for Jean Grolier, the Renaissance collector 
   renowned for sharing his library with friends, the Club's 
   objective is to foster "the literary study and promotion of the 
   arts pertaining to the production of books." -from the club's 
   website,  http://www.grolierclub.org/ 

   An upcoming exhibition at the Grolier Club will feature 
   numismatic literature.  "Numismatics in the Age of Grolier 
   open September 12, 2001.  For more information, see 
   http://www.grolierclub.org/ExNumismatics.htm 

   From the exhibition press release:  "Numismatic literature was 
   among the most elegant and fascinating expressions of the 
   printer’s art during the European Renaissance.  A wide selection 
   of these works, as well as Renaissance medals and the Greek 
   and Roman coins which inspired them, will be on view at the 
   Grolier Club September 12 through November 17, 2001. 

    "Jean Grolier, the famous French book collector for whom 
   the Club is named, was recognized by contemporaries for his 
   collection of ancient coins as well as for his numismatic books, 
   which formed a significant portion of his library.  Items from 
   Grolier’s collection will be on view in the forthcoming show. 
  Among the highlights are many “firsts:” 

   •  The first numismatic book – the 1514 Paris edition of Budé’s 
       De Asse et partibus, published by Josse Bude. 
   •  Andrea Fulvio’s Illustrium Imagines (Rome, 1517), the first 
       illustrated numismatic book in its possibly unique first issue. 
   •  An unfinished 1565 manuscript of Enea Vico will be displayed 
       for the first time, along with all his published works. Vico is 
       generally considered the first scientific numismatist. 
   •  Grolier’s copy of Vico’s first book, Le imagini, published in 
      1548. 
   •  Grolier’s leather bound coin trays from the Bibliothèque 
       Inguimbertine in Carpentras will be on view for the first time 
       in America along with cases belonging to Nicolas-Claude 
       Fabri de Peiresc from the same collection 

   A symposium, co-sponsored by the American Numismatic 
   Society, will be held in conjunction with the Grolier Club 
   exhibition October 27, 2001,  10 am – 3 pm. Speakers 
   will include: 

   Professor John Cunnally, co-curator of the exhibition and 
   author of  "Images of the Illustrious, the Numismatic Presence 
   in the Renaissance" (Princeton, 1999). 

   Dr. C. E. Dekesel, author of monographs on Hubert Goltzius 
   and Charles Patin and the new standard bibliography of 16th 
   century numismatic books, Bibliotheca Nummaria (Crestline 
   1997). 

   Jean-Baptiste Giard, Conservateur émerité of the Cabinet des 
   Médailles of the Bibliothèque nationale (Paris), author of the 
   standard catalogues of the Roman coins in the Bibliothèque 
   nationale and of the mint of Lyons, as well as numerous 
   articles on the history of numismatics. 

   Dr. Stephen K. Scher, co-curator of the exhibition, former 
   chairman of the Art Department of Brown University, 
   organizer of the Frick exhibition and editor of the catalogue 
   The Currency of Fame, Portrait Medals of the Renaissance 
   (New York, 1994). 

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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