The Library Inventory Catalogue of Samuel Petit across the Channel.

The private library inventory catalogue of Samuel Petit (1594-1643), published in Paris in 1645, is one of the earliest printed inventory catalogues produced in France. According to Pollard and Ehrman, it was preceded only by the library inventories of Thomas Blaise (1641) and Jean des Cordes (1643). Petit was a French Huguenot priest, orientalist, classical …

Maison Charavay

Maison Charavay was founded by Antoine Charavay, who came to bookselling late in life. After fighting under Napoleon in Egypt, he spent 30 years selling silk stockings like his father and grandfather before him. But after the workers' revolts in 1831 and the death of his wife, he opened his first bookshop in Lyon on …

Holiday Closure

Please note: The Grolier Club will be closed on Monday, October 8th, for the Columbus Day holiday. We will re-open at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 9th.

Temporary Building Closure

Please note: the Grolier clubhouse will be closing at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 28th and remain closed through Saturday, September 29th to complete necessary construction work. We will re-open at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 1st. Our apologies for any inconvenience.

“The Noble Art and Mystery of Printing”: John Brampton’s Book Label and Print Shop Keepsake

While rummaging around the Grolier Club Library’s Spencer Van B. Nichols Bookplate Collection, I noticed a rather imposing book label. Printed for John Brampton on 29 December 1745, the label is surrounded by a running quote relating to the invention of printing: “The Noble Art and Mystery of Printing was first invented and practiced by …

2018 Grolier Club Library William H. Helfand Fellowship

After a year’s hiatus due to renovations, The Grolier Club Library is pleased to announce the resumption of its annual fellowship offering in the art and history of the book, named in honor of Grolier Club benefactor and former president William H. Helfand. Awards of up to $3,000 are available for research in the Library's …

A 17th century Embroidered Binding

A few months ago, a box of miniature bookbindings was rediscovered in our archives.  The box proved to be a veritable treasure trove of fine bindings donated to the Grolier Club in April of 1918 by none other than Samuel P. Avery, one of the Club’s greatest benefactors. Among them a book of fables in …