12th & High What makes a book rare? “We generally regard American imprints published around 1850 or earlier as rare, and we make special efforts to preserve these older books for future users. Things become rarer the farther back you go,” Johnson said. “Part of the value of rare books is that they have survived for so long.” Remarkably, books published before 1850 are sometimes in better shape than later publications printed on acid-based paper, which disintegrates more rapidly. An Influential Librarian Ervin H. Pollack, professor of law, was director of the Moritz Law Library from 1947 to 1972. He acquired many of the volumes in the rare book collection. “There was a period after World War II when you could buy rare law books from Europe inexpensively, and he cast a fairly wide net,” Johnson said. The library continues to purchase rare books, but much more selectively. Artifacts from Confederate States Other than age and scarcity, a number of variables may influence whether a book is deemed “rare.” Autographs or inscriptions by famous authors or former owners, unique bindings or illustrations and associations with historical events all add distinction. For instance, the library’s collection of older state session laws and statutes includes some Confederate imprints. Leviathan The library’s 1680 reprinting of the first edition of Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth of Ecclesiastical and Civil, originally published in 1651, covers the structure of society and government and is considered one of the earliest examples of social contract theory. Notable early American patent One of the most interesting items preserved by the Moritz Law Library is the fourth patent granted by the United States government. Issued to Philadelphia printer Francis Bailey on Jan. 29, 1791 for inventing new methods of >>
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