The Colorado State University Special Collections Highlights features just a few of the interesting and rare items in our holdings.
Visit the
Special Collections Department to view exhibits and other items in our collection.
“for the abundance of good books which, we hope, will finally put to flight all ignorance” Aldus Manutius.
(Aldus and his Dream Book / by Helen Barolini)
Seneca, Lucius Annaeus, ca. 4 BCE - 65 CE
L. Annei Senecae Naturalium Quaestriunum libri VII. Matthaei Fortunati in eosdem libros annotationes. Venetiis : in aedibus Aldi et Andrae Asulani, 1522.
A scholar and humanist Aldus Manutius was perhaps the greatest printer and publisher of the Italian Renaissance. He published Greek and Latin classical works, was the first to use an italic type, and designed a smaller portable book format. Aldus died in 1516. His printing business was continued by his wife and father-in-law and later his son and grandson. This piece, printed in italic, has the famous Aldine anchor and dolphin printers' device.
Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728
India Christiana : a discourse, delivered unto the commissioners, for the propagation of the gospel among the American Indians, which is accompanied with several instruments relating to the glorious design of propagating our holy religion, in the Eastern as well as the Western Indies. Boston : Printed by B. Green, 1721.
Several generations of the Green family were printers during the American colonial period. Isaiah Thomas, in his book “History of Printing in America,” notes of Bartholomew Green “He was the most distinguished printer of that period in this country and did more business than any other of the profession.” This book by Cotton Mather and printed by Green is the earliest book published during the American colonial period that CSU Libraries owns.
Drury, Dru, 1725-1803
Illustrations of Natural History. London : Printed for the author and sold by B. White, 1770-1782.
3 volumes
Drury, a British entomologist, was well known for his exotic insect collection. He served as President of the Society of Entomologist of London from 1780-1782. This three volume set includes 150 beautiful hand-colored engraved plates of insects.
Pike, Zebulon Montgomery, 1779-1813
An Account of Expeditions to the Sources of the Mississippi, and through the Western Parts of Louisiana, to the sources of the Arkansaw, Kans, La Platte, and Pierre Jaun Rivers; performed by order of the government of the United States during the years 1805, 1806, and 1807. And a tour through the interior parts of New Spain, when conducted through these provinces, by order of the captain-general, in the year 1807. Philadelphia : Published by C. & A. Conrad, 1810.
This is the first edition of the first government exploration of the Southwest. With twenty-two men, Zebulon Pike set out from Fort Bellefontaine (St. Louis, MO) on July 15, 1806. During his exploration of the southwest portion of the Louisiana Purchase, Pike was captured by Spanish troops near what is now the town of Alamosa, Colorado. Since his notes were confiscated by the Spanish, he wrote this edition from memory.
(Electronic version - American Journeys)
Wilde, Oscar, 1854 – 1900
Salome, a tragedy in one act. With 16 drawings by Aubrey Beardsley. London : J. Lane, The Bodley Head; New York : J. Lane Co., 1907.
The cover design and illustrations are by Aubrey
Beardsley. This is the 2nd Beardsley edition, which includes the complete
set of 16 illustrations that Beardsley originally designed for the book. Two
of the illustrations were suppressed in the first edition, John and Salome,
and the second plate of the Toilette of Salome. Our copy also has the
original title page which was altered in the 1894 edition.
(Electronic version, 1894 1st ed. - U. of Virginia)
Newton, Isaac, Sir, 1642-1727
Optice : sive de reflexionibus, refractionibus, inflexionibus & coloribus lucis libri tres. Londini : impensis s. Smith & B. Walford, 1706.
Isaac Newton developed his theory of light around 1666
and presented it to the Royal Society in the 1670’s. Due to criticism from
Robert Hooke, the Royal Society curator of experiments, and others, Newton did not publish
the first edition of his work until 1704. To reach a wider audience he published this Latin edition in 1706.
Our copy has marginalia and what seems to be edit marks
throughout. Could these be notes and marks by Isaac Newton?
Special Collections staff have done some research. Experts do not
believe it is Newton's handwriting, but
believe it may have been written by a contemporary. What do you think?
Sample of Newton’s handwriting
Newton Project