[Rarebooks] FS: 1850 American / International Literature Exchange

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

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".

String-sewn pamphlet. 5.5"x9", 15 pages. Some soil, light wear, string 
beginning to loosen.  [41972]  $100 net.

A Picture ->
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images417/th-41972-cover.jpg>


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