"The Smithsonian Book Of Books" was written by Michal Olmert and published by The Smithsonian Institution, copyright 1992. This stated first edition art book contains more than 300 glorious illustrations from library collections around the globe as well as a wealth of book lore. You will gain a new appreciation for the role of books in human society, from our earliest attempts at writing and recording information to the newest electronic books; from sumptuous illuminated and bejeweled medieval manuscripts to Gutenberg and the invention of movable type. Also included are the diverse arts and crafts of bookmaking and the building of magnificent libraries for housing treasured volumes. History of books from the ancient epic of Gilgamesh to the plays of Shakespeare, the tales of Beatrix Potter, the earliest illustrated books and revolutionary science texts are all included.

Throughout the book are beautifully reproduced illustrations and photographs of some of the most important books in history, the making of an illuminated manuscript, the machines invented for reproducing books and so much more. This stunning 319 page book has white cloth and one quarter red leatherette covers. It comes in a matching cloth slipcase with an illustrated paste-down frontispiece. It is in excellent, unread condition. There is some very minor scuffing on the top of the slip case, probably from storage, and a couple of very minor dark spots on the back of the slip case. The book is clean with bright pages and a tight binding

A fabulous book of books that would be the dream of any bibliophile.

(B2)