[Rarebooks] FS: 1850 American / International Literature Exchange
Joslin Hall Rare Books
office at joslinhall.com
Wed Jul 13 08:16:49 EDT 2016
Vattemare, Alexandre. "First Annual Report on International Literary
Exchanges made to His Excellency, The Governor of the State of
Connecticut"
Printed in New Haven by Osborn and Baldwin, "State Printers", in 1850.
A report on the effort to facilitate the exchange of scientific and
other non-fiction books and reference materials between counties, this
one specifically outlining a recent exchange made with France, which
netted books (listed here) not only the for the state Library, but for
Yale University. A Second Report was issued later in 1850 and a Third
Report in 1852.
"Nicolas Marie Alexandre Vattemare (Paris, 1796–1864), also known under
the stage name Monsieur Alexandre, was a French ventriloquist and
philanthropist who created the first international system for the
exchange of items among libraries and museums. He trained as a surgeon,
but was refused a diploma after making cadavers seem to speak during
surgical exercises. His [ventriloquist] career lasted from 1815 to 1835,
during which he visited over 550 cities and performed before royalty
including the Tsar of Russia and Queen Victoria. He gained acclaim and
wealth through his ventriloquism, while becoming friends with famous
writers and artists including Goethe, Lamartine, Pushkin, and Sir Walter
Scott.
After becoming famous and wealthy as a ventriloquist, Vattemare retired
and spent the next 25 years as a philanthropist promoting free public
libraries and the universal dissemination of culture. He developed a new
system of cultural exchanges of items between libraries and museums,
which he promoted energetically for decades. He inspired the founding of
the Boston Public Library [and] first proposed the unification of
Boston's major social libraries and a committee to investigate this idea
appointed by mayor, Josiah Quincy. In 1853, the system of exchange was
expanded considerably with the participation of 130 libraries around the
world, including the Boston Public Library. He created the American
Library of Paris, which in 1860 contained 14,000 volumes from the early
United States. Although Vattemare's exchange system ran out of money and
collapsed after Vattemare's death, the international book exchanges
organized by Vattemare had accomplished the exchange of thousands of
volumes. Vattemare is credited with inspiring the expansion of the
library system in the United States, and his exchange system is regarded
as a forerunner of later cultural exchange systems, including UNESCO".
Uncommon- OCLC locates only one copy (at Yale). String-sewn pamphlet.
5.5"x9", 15 pages. Some soil, light wear, string beginning to loosen.
[41972] $100
A Picture ->
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images417/th-41972-cover.jpg>
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