Rare Illustrated Books

Illustrations are a natural accompaniment to the written word. Ancient Egyptians illustrated the papyrus scrolls of the Book of the Dead that they would bury with mummies. Early in the 13th and 14th Centuries, monks dutifully reproduced holy books and often added elaborate pictures in ink and gold leaves. Similar to the history of bookbinding, the more modern tradition of book illustrations began with wood boards and block printing. As technology advanced and as Gutenberg introduced the world to typography and the printing press, illustrated books grew in number and popularity. In addition to wood boards, steel-engraving and lithography also became widely accepted methods for illustration. And of course, photography was introduced to the literary world in the 19th Century when photos could be reproduced in books.

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