[MOST IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF COSTUME BOOKS]. Katalog der Lipperheideschen Kostumbibliothek

Berlin: Verlag Gebr. Mann, 1965. Neubearbeitet. Hardcover. Very Good. Folio, 2 vols. Original blue cloth. Overall in excellent antiquarian condition. This is the indispensable second edition of the catalogue of the greatest Costume book collection ever formed: the text consists of more than 1,166 pages; the items are very well described; and the text is illustrated by 221 black and white illustrations.

In their day Franz Joseph and Frieda von Lipperheide were the foremost publishers of fashion journals in the world (e.g. "Die Modenwelt," "Die Dame," "Illustrierte Frauen-Zeitung"). At one point their fashion magazine empire required a staff of more than 400 workers. Franz Joseph von Lipperheide (1838-1906) begin forming his costume collection in about 1870, systematically acquiring primary sources and secondary literature about fashion and traditional costume; civil, professional and religious costumes; weapons and uniforms; masks, dance and theatrical costumes, and much more. He also collected books related to weaving and knitting, tailoring, embroidery and other crafts, fashion magazines and illustrated newspapers, almanacs, etc. In 1899 Lipperheide gave his very important library to the Prussian State Library where it resided in a large and beautifully appointed room, the stately bookcases surrounded by choice paintings and miniatures. Among Lipperheide's collection of ca. 5,560 costume books, 45 MSS, and 840 fashion Almanacs are numerous treasures and great rarities. To these we must also add approximately 2,750 drawings, 23,700 individual woodcuts, etchings, and lithographs, plus ca. 2,500 photographs. Lipperheide's 686 paintings and 200 portrait miniatures are now in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

¶ B.H. Breslauer copy, with his long inscription on front flyleaf concerning the first edition of the Katalog. Purchased by us at the sale of the famed Bibliotheca Bibliographica Breslaueriana (Christie's NY 6/27/2005).

REFERENCES: Besterman 1504; Colas 1880; Hiler p. 547. NDB.