Gunst Collection

The History of the Book, Book Arts, and Printing

The Morgan A. and Aline D. Gunst Memorial Library is comprised of the Gunsts' own books (generously donated) and other books relating to the book arts, many acquired through the Gunst Memorial Library endowed fund. Other holdings in the department complement the Gunst library's; together, the department's holdings in the history of the book and the book arts are extensive, and range from books printed in the 15th century to artists' books of the 21st century to ephemera documenting the history of typography, printing, and calligraphy.

The early history of the printed book is represented by some 180 incunables, or books printed through the end of the year 1500, the end of the first century in which printing with movable type was practiced in Europe. Renaissance printers include the Aldine, Estienne, Giunta, Plantin, and Elzevir presses, among many others. Eighteenth-century fine printing is well-represented by the Baskerville, Foulis, Strawberry Hill, Bodoni, and Didot presses.

The modern presses and the leaders of the Book Arts Revival are represented as well, with rich holdings in the Kelmscott, Doves, Vale, Ashendene, and Cranach presses. The tradition of fine printing in the Bay Area is likewise represented, with strong holdings in John Henry Nash, the Grabhorns, Lewis and Dorothy Allen, and Andrew Hoyem, among others.

One of the Gunsts' special interests was the French book and the collection boasts a fine group of 20th-century French bindings and livres d'artiste. Many other fine bindings are included in the collection, including several bindings by T.J. Cobden-Sanderson.