Repository: Kent State University. Special Collections and Archives.

Title: Leaf Books and Leaves from Historical Books collection

Inclusive Dates: 1563-1735

Author: Finding aid prepared by Kyler Culver, September 22, 2003

Origination: Kent State University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and Archives

Extent: .5 cubic foot (2 oversized folders)

Physical Location: 11th floor; Filed in map case.

Languages of the Materials: English; Greek; Hebrew; Latin

Revisions: Updated November 2017; Extensively revised and updated May 2024

Descriptive Rules: DACS 2nd Edition

Abstract: This is a collection of leaf books and leaves from historical books that have been acquired from various sources by Kent State Special Collections and Archives.

History of Leaf Books: Leaf Books are sets of leaves (pages) of books or manuscripts that have been collected or compiled for the purpose of historical interest, antiquarian book collecting, or as a teaching tool for learning about the history of the book. The term "leaf book" is used to refer to such sets even when the leaves are not bound together physically as a book volume. The creation and collecting of leaf books and the collection of individual leaves from historical works is somewhat controversial, especially when it has involved the deliberate dismantling of complete texts or significant portions of texts. At the same time, the availability of individual leaves from historical books can make such works more accessible to a wider range of people than might otherwise be able to view original portions of important texts. Many rare book and special collections depositories have acquired or been gifted with historical book leaves and/or leaf books and often maintain them as part of their collections on the history of the book, printing, and publishing.

Scope and Content: This collection contains leaf books and individual leaves from historical books (not part of a larger set) collected by the Kent State University department of Special Collections & Archives.

Statement of Arrangement: The materials in this collection are arranged by date or earliest date found in a given set of leaves.

Preferred Citation: Leaf Books and Leaves from Historical Books collection. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

Related Material: The department of Special Collections & Archives houses a number of additional leaf books in its LC-classed book collection. See the KentLINK catalog for more examples available in the department.

Accruals: Materials will be added to this collection as they are acquired by the department.

Contents:

1. Leaf Book: Keepsakes from the antiquarian library of Mark A. Slotkin, 1563-1735
Scope and Content: Included is an original leaf or leaves from a historical work, mounted side by side with a reproduction of that work's title page and some historical information on the work in question. Leaves included in this set are:

• A table of all the publick and private statutes from the beginning of the reign of King George the Second to the present year 1734, page 45
• [Massorah Rabbinical Bible], 1610
• Buxtoni, Johannis. Tiberias sive commentarius. Basileae, 1665
• A. R. M. Ludovici M. Sinistrari Deameno strictioris observantiae, pages 377-378
• Prophetae priores, pages 485-6
• Philosophia scholae scotisticae reverendissimi patris crescentii Krispereu solida expositio librorum. Scoti doctoris & c Matt. Wolff, 1735 pages 201-202
• Hebraica, Chaldaea, Graecaque, & Latina nominauae in Bibliis utriusque Testamenti sparsa sunt, restituta. Antwerp: apud Martinum Caesarem, 1534,  page 227
• Alexandro, R. P. F. Natali. Theologia dogmatica et moralis Paris: Antonii Dezallier, 1703, pages 303-304
• Edward, Earl Clarendon. History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, begun in the year 1641. Oxford: the Theater, 1707 pages 213-214
• Abbatis Generalis. Antiphonale cisterciense juxta novum ordinis breviarum dispositum. Paris: Fredericus Leona, 1690
• Iusti Lipsi V. C. Opera omnia. Antwerp: ex officina Plantiniana Balthasaris Moreti, 1637
• Pliny. Secundi historiae mundi libri XXXVII. Lugduni: Ioannem Frellonium, 1563

2. Leaf from Historical Book: Francisci Willoughby Icthyographia ad amplissimum virum..., 1685
Scope and Content: Title page from London 1685 edition.