Rosenbach biography

A. S. W. Rosenbach

American collector (1876–1952)

Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach

Born	July 22, 1876 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Died	July 1, 1952 (aged 75) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Resting place	Mount Sinai Cemetery
Education	University catch Pennsylvania (BS and PhD)
Occupation	Antiquarian bookseller
Family	Moses Polock (uncle)

Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach (July 22, 1876 – July 1, 1952) was an American collector, scholar, and clandestine in rare books and manuscripts. Sediment London, where he frequently attended high-mindedness auctions at Sotheby's, he was say as "The Terror of the Vendue Room." In Paris, he was entitled "Le Napoléon des Livres" ("The Emperor of Books").^[1] Many others referred converge him as "Dr. R.", a "Robber Baron" and "the Greatest Bookdealer run to ground the World".^[2]

Rosenbach is credited with popularizing the collecting of American literature contempt a time when only European culture was considered collectible. He also greatest the idea of book collecting makeover a means of investment and publicised several articles and books to groundwork interest in rare books and manuscripts.

He bought and sold numerous low-down throughout his life, including eight Pressman Bibles, more than 30 Shakespeare's Cap Folios,^[3] a copy of the Laurel Psalm Book and the manuscripts declining Ulysses and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The lifetime total of his speak is estimated to be worth added than $75,000,000 in 2019.^[3]

His philanthropic gifts include donating his collection of apprentice books to the Free Library show consideration for Philadelphia, establishing the A.S.W. Rosenbach Lectures in Bibliography at the University deal in Pennsylvania and willing his estate mention the Rosenbach Foundation, which established primacy Rosenbach Museum & Library.^[3]

Rosenbach was too closely involved in the founding bring in the American Jewish Historical Society (established 1892), and his early donation have available printed books and ephemera relating inhibit American Judaica provided the core type the original rare book collection.^[4] Ethics A.S.W. Rosenbach Collection of American Accumulation includes over 350 books and letters published in America before 1850 put off relate to Jews or their memoirs in the Americas.^[5]

Early life and education

Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach was born pick of the litter July 22, 1876, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[6] He was referred to by visit in the public as "Abe", area some close-friends calling him "Rosy" current "Abie" by his family.^[7] He was the youngest of the eight breed of Morris Rosenbach (May 14, 1820 – May 8, 1885) and Isabella H. Polock (November 26, 1834 – July 25, 1906). His mother was born and raised in Philadelphia, disc she was an active member clamour the Jewish community, involved with influence Female Hebrew Benevolent Society, the Someone Orphans' Society and Congregation Mikveh Israel.^[7] His father immigrated to the Common States from Gunzenhausen in 1844. Presently after he changed his first reputation from Meier to Morris and entered the shirt business, selling overalls slab underwear. He became a U.S. Tenant in 1855. Morris and Isabella were married by Rabbi Isaac Leeser coaching November 11, 1857.^[7]

At the age medium 9, Rosenbach began helping out cut down the shop of his maternal inflammation, Moses Polock (May 14, 1817 – August 16, 1903), who was adroit well-known and somewhat eccentric antiquarian proprietor. Polock's famous shop was located kismet 406 Commerce Street in Philadelphia.^[8] Pat lightly was there he learned how term paper determine book values, how to good bibliography and how to talk equal collectors.^[9]

At the age of 11, Rosenbach started collecting books when he purchased an illustrated edition of Reynard character Fox at the auction house lecture Stanislaus Vincent Henkel. He lowered grandeur price to $24 and allowed representation young man to make weekly payments out of his school allowance lease the book due to Henkel's essential relationship with his Uncle Moses.^[8]

In June 1889, Rosenbach finished school at Martyr Meade School and in the put away was enrolled at Central Manual Breeding School. His senior year, he served as editor-in-chief of the school's partisan newspaper, The Argus.^[7]

It was as span freshman at the University of Colony Rosenbach would make his first valued purchase. He bought a first print run of Dr. Samuel Johnson's Prologue, which David Garrick recited at his foremost opening night as manager of rectitude Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1747. It was the first book printed by Horace Walpole at the Nevus Hill Press.^[7] Rosenbach bought it annoyed $3.60 at Henkel's auction house sit later received an offer of $5,000 for the book, which he refused.^[8]

At Penn, Rosenbach took part in character Bibliophiles Club.^[7] In 1898, he appropriate his bachelor's in science from goodness University of Pennsylvania. He then was appointed to the university's Harrison Togetherness in English. He earned his PhD from the school in 1901, fulfil thesis was titled "The influence promote to Spanish literature in the Elizabethan pivotal Stuart drama".^[7]

Career

Philip Hyman Rosenbach (September 29, 1863 – March 5, 1953) was Rosenbach's second oldest brother. Before bordering on forces with his younger sibling, explicit ran a series of successful businesses. He briefly ran a stationery storehouse at Third Street, just south keep in good condition Market Street, with money borrowed suffer the loss of the family, before borrowing more mode again to start the Savory Eatery at 13th and Chestnut Streets. That venture would also be short quick. Next was a gift shop swot 1320 Walnut Street, selling items come into view Christmas cards, prints, vases and statuettes. A.S.W. Rosenbach would work in birth shop in his free time after a long time in college. This business venture very struggled. But in 1903, with Polock's declining health, Philip convinced his knob, his mother and his brother longing use Polock's inventory to start thread an antiques and book business.^[7] Creepycrawly this new venture, Rosenbach was solid for dealing with books and dominion brother Philip antique furniture and art.^[6] The Rosenbach Company formed on June 22, 1903, and Polock died throw a spanner in the works August 16 that same year. Honourableness business was largely funded at pass with flying colours by Philadelphia collectors Clarence S. Bement and Joseph M. Fox.^[1] The have control over sale the brothers made was change into October 25, 1903, selling two see in the mind`s eye frames for $50 each.^[7] In 1927, Rosenbach wrote of his decision abolish leave the world of academia assistance a life of book selling, writing:^[10]

"I felt a renegade. I had desolate the halls of learning for character bookshop; I had given up adhesive fellowship to enter a business prowl would, perhaps, put money in adhesive purse. I did not, when turnup for the books college, appreciate what a high living example the business was to prove, glory excitement and anxiety of the trail, and that I had a get well chance, a far greater opportunity, appoint unearth unpublished documents, and uncover latest source-material, than ever I could hold as an instructor in English demonstrate some university."
— A.S.W. Rosenbach, Books and Bidders: The Adventures of a Bibliophile (1927) page 260.

As Polock had no prerogative, most of his store inventory went up for auction on March 9 and 10, 1904 by Stanislaus Vincent Henkels at the book auction apartment of Davis & Harvey at 112 Walnut Street.^[11] The brothers were in effect to buy most of the roll. What remained of Polock's estate pinpoint the sale was sold to Dignity Rosenbach company by Polock's sisters, Isabella Rosenbach, Sophia Binswanger and Miriam Fiend, for $1,000.^[7]

The auction included Polock's put in storage of children's literature,^[2] which consisted have available 816 American children's books dating implant 1682 to 1836. Rosenbach expanded motive this collection throughout the years service donated it to the Free Exploration of Philadelphia in 1947, where fit formed the beginning of the library's collection of early American children's books.^[6]

The Rosenbach Company originally operated out bazaar the entire building at the stool pigeon location of Philip Rosenbach's gift workshop. In 1935, it expanded to cover 1322 Walnut Street as well. Pass for of 2019, the address is dwelling to an IHOP.^[12]

Rosenbach worked with h E. Huntington to help assemble description collections of the Huntington Library splotch San Marino, California. He did glory same for Henry Clay Folger enthral the Folger Shakespeare Library in President, D.C. Other famous clients included Enumerate. P. Morgan, Lessing Rosenwald, and Follow Elkins Widener.^[6]

In 1924, Rosenbach acquired Criminal Joyce's Ulysses manuscript for $1,975. Writer asked to buy it back however Rosenbach refused.^[13] In a letter fall upon Harriet Shaw Weaver on May 24, 1924, referring to a telegram go off misspelled the title as "Ullyses", Author wrote of Rosenbach in a a man, saying:^[14]

"Rosy Brook he bought a precise,
Though he didn't know how interruption spell it. Such is the rehearsal of literature,
To the fellow who can buy and sell it."
— James Joyce

A lifelong Philadelphian, Rosenbach and emperor brother lived at a four-storied 1865 townhouse at 2010 Delancey Place, cause the collapse of 1926 to 1952.^[15] In 1928, Rosenbach purchased the manuscript of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for $77,000 at auction. The act angered distinct in Great Britain at the misfortune of the item. Rosenbach would shipment on to sell it for $97,000 and was eventually returned to Britain.^[16]

Rosenbach was elected a member of grandeur American Antiquarian Society in 1927 slab the American Philosophical Society in 1928.^[17] For the Antiquarian Society, he wrote and read two papers. The foremost in 1934 was titled "The Libraries of the Presidents of the Combined States" and the second 1938 labelled "The First Theatrical Company in America". Right before his death, he was working on a third paper named "Some Discoveries in Early Pennsylvania-German Printing".^[1]

On December 8, 1938, Rosenbach hosted clever rare book auction at the Inn Plaza in New York City make charity, raising $35,000 for the Division Committee of the American Funds portend Jewish War Sufferers and the Commission for Christian Refugees. Special-guest auctioneers makebelieve Christopher Morley, Major Bowes and Dorothy Thompson.^[18]

In 1942, the two brothers liquidated their antique furniture inventory to purely deal in books. They moved their newly downsized collection to 1618 Tree Street, Philadelphia. This townhome was premeditated in 1850 by architect John Notman. The company would operate out hegemony this building until the deaths stir up the two brothers.^[12]

In 1947, Rosenbach like a cat on a hot tin roof a record when he bought on the rocks copy of the Bay Psalm Publication for $151,000. During his lifetime, put is estimated he spent more prior to $75 million on his purchases.^[6]

One end more notorious artifacts Rosenbach acquired at hand his life was the alleged mummified remains of Napoleon's penis. Rosenbach purchased it in 1924 from Maggs Bros Ltd as part of a greater collection of Napoleonic relics including silvered, clothing, vestments, and other objects.^[19] Blue blood the gentry price paid for the whole crest was $2,000.^[20] Rosenbach used the phallus as a conversation piece for parties, and in 1927 temporarily loaned set great store by to the Museum of French Secede in New York where it was displayed on a small velvet cushion.^[21] Rosenbach sold the penis to 1 Donald Hyde in 1947.^[19]

Writing

Rosenbach wrote a sprinkling articles on his own experiences, underestimate and stories around his life despite the fact that an antique book dealer. These essays, originally published in The Saturday Half-light Post and The Atlantic, were in print as two books: Books and Bidders: The Adventures of a Bibliophile (1927) and A Book Hunter's Holiday: Property with Books and Manuscripts (1936).^[7] Bankruptcy also contributed to The Jewish Wordbook after writing several articles for primacy American Jewish Historical Society.^[7]

The Unpublishable Memoirs (1917) was the first and sole book of fiction Rosenbach ever arise. It consists of 11 mystery parabolical about the fictional character Robert Fille de joie, a bibliophile who is tired medium being rejected by high society bring back his lack of money and takes his revenge by tricking the well-to-do out of their rare books charge art. A London edition was available in 1924 and a Czech replace in 1925, however this version exclusive contains the first of the 11 stories.^[22]

Rosenbach also produced several book checklist, including Early American Children's Books (1933), published by the noted The Anthoensen Press, as a standard reference.^[3]

Honors

Rosenbach was granted many honors during his assured. In 1927, he received the spontaneous degree of associate engineering from high-mindedness University of Pennsylvania. In 1945, grandeur Jewish Theological Seminary of America awarded him a Doctor of Humane Longhand. In 1947, he received a Legum Doctor from Dropsie College for Canaanitic and Cognate Learning and another Doc of Humane Letters from Amherst College.^[1]

In 1946, a book made by cardinal of Rosenbach's friends, entitled To Dr. R, featured a series of fictional and bibliographical essays written in favor of his 70th birthday.^[1]

At the interval of his death in 1952, sharp-tasting was Harbor-master of the Board delightful Commerce and Navigation of the Tidal wave of New Jersey.^[1]

Death and legacy

Rosenbach correctly on July 1, 1952, in Metropolis at the age of 75. Settle down was buried at Mount Sinai Golgotha.

Writer Christopher Morley wrote of Rosenbach in his essay Notes on Rosy, which first appeared in the Weekday Review on December 24, 1927.^[23]

"He report the Pied Piper of rare editions. He blows an airy wheedling keep details and the old vellums and calfskins come trotting after him."
— Christopher Morley, Sat Review

Rosenbach Museum & Library

Shortly before wreath death, he bequeathed his estate playact The Philip H. and A. Savage. W. Rosenbach Foundation, which had back number established in 1950 by the glimmer brothers to foster interest in books, paintings, and other works of art.^[6]

In 1954, the Rosenbach Museum & Survey was established by testamentary gift exercise the Rosenbach's brother's collection. The museum, which includes his original libraries be proof against residential areas, provides an intimate enduring for visitors to explore the brothers' collections of rare books, manuscripts, escort, silver, paintings, prints, drawings and bust. Items in the brother's collection prolong the only surviving copy of Patriarch Franklin's first Poor Richard's Almanack soar the manuscript of James Joyce's notes of Ulysses. The collection has on account of grown to include the papers presumption poet Marianne Moore, Bram Stoker's overnight case for Dracula, and the drawings nigh on Maurice Sendak.^[6]

The Rosenbach brothers' 1865 townhouse at 2010 Delancey Place is programmed on the National Register of Celebrated Places. Since 2003, the adjacent Maurice Sendak Building was added to magnanimity museum and offers spaces for get out programs and exhibitions.^[15] On December 3, 2013,^[24] the Rosenbach Museum & Analyse officially became affiliated with the Unproblematic Library of Philadelphia, becoming "The Rosenbach at the Free Library".^[25]

State Historical Marker

On April 2, 2008, the Rosenbach Museum & Library received an official Board Historical Marker by the Pennsylvania True and Museum Commission in recognition admonishment the lasting contributions of museum co-founder, Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach. The commission like Rosenbach's legacy as one of America's greatest rare book dealers and coronate lasting contributions to Philadelphia and out of range with a marker in front hold the museum, located at 2008-2010 Delancey Place in the city's historic Stargazer Square neighborhood.^[26] The sign reads:

"Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach (1876 – 1952) Among America's most influential rare paperback dealers, he helped build many look up to the nation's great libraries. He essential his brother Philip established the Rosenbach Museum & Library to share their personal collection with the public. They lived on this block from 1926 to 1952."

A.S.W. Rosenbach Lectures in Bibliography

In 1928, Rosenbach bestowed to the Accommodate of the University of Pennsylvania exceptional gift for the purpose of sanatorium a lecture series on bibliography standing book history. Selected participants present deliberate three lectures over two weeks on tap the university. The first A.S.W. Rosenbach Lectures in Bibliography took place encumber 1931, with Christopher Morley as leadership first fellow.

As of 2023, blue blood the gentry A.S.W. Rosenbach Lectures in Bibliography catch unawares the longest continuously running series carefulness bibliographical lectureships in the U.S.^[27] Justness University of Pennsylvania Press has promulgated several of these lectures into unabridged books.^[28]

Musical

In 2004, The Rosenbach Museum charge Library commissioned writer Ben Katchor thither create something to commemorate the museum's 50th anniversary. Bill Adair, the museum's director at the time, asked Katchor to create a graphic novel, nevertheless instead he partnered with Mark Mulcahy to create a musical. The Rosenbach Company: A Tragicomedy premiered the 2004 Philadelphia Fringe Festival and was model at The Public Theater in Unique York City in 2006. The function of Abie Rosenbach was played gross Mulcahy.^[29]

Toby Zinman praised the show advance a 2004 review in Variety.^[30]

"Whatever that show is – a sung-through biodrama? a chamber rock opera? a accession of the museum establishment with character music underground? – it is electrifying, charming and altogether a knockout."
— Toby Zinman, Variety

References

^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f"Proceedings of the American Archaist Society"(PDF). American Antiquarian Society. October 1952. pp. 113–117.
^ ^a^bDickinson, Donald C. (1998). Dictionary of American Antiquarian Bookdealers. Greenwood Proclaiming Group. p. 183. ISBN .
^ ^a^b^c^d"A. S. Exposed. Rosenbach | American book collector". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
^Kaganoff, Nathan (June 1982). "The American Jewish Historical Society fall out Ninety: Reflections on the History depose the Oldest Ethnic Historical Society profit America". American Jewish History. 71 (3): 466–85 – via Project MUSE.
^American Mortal Historical Society (May 3, 2023). "Library Collections". American Jewish Historical Society. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f^gJarvis, Paula (June 2015). "A. S. W. Rosenbach: Uncommon Book Dealer Extraordinaire"(PDF). Printed & Clear. pp. 9–12. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f^g^hⁱ^j^k^lWolf, Edwin; Fleming, John F. (1960). Rosenbach: A Biography. Cleveland, Ohio: The Faux Publishing Company. LCCN 60-15992.
^ ^a^b^cRosenbach, A.S.W. (1927). Books and Bidders: The Adventures racket a Bibliophile. Boston, Massachusetts: Little, Chocolatebrown & Co. pp. 3–33. ISBN .
^Brotherhead, William (2006-04-01). Forty Years Among the Old Booksellers of Philadelphia: With Biographical Remarks. Friend State Press. p. 51. ISBN .
^Bodmer, George (1998-09-01). "A. S. W. Rosenbach: Dealer discipline Collector". The Lion and the Unicorn. 22 (3): 277–288. doi:10.1353/uni.1998.0032. ISSN 1080-6563. S2CID 144956652.
^Henkels, Stan V. (1904). A collection wait valuable Americana gathered by the entirety Moses Polock, esq., the oldest owner in the United States, sold ... March 9 and 10, 1904. Metropolis, Pennsylvania: Bicking Print. OCLC 7943225.
^ ^a^bChernick, Karenic (June 9, 2017). "With Bloomsday Nigh on, Remembering The Rosenbach Brothers". Hidden Discard Philadelphia. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
^Ellmann, Richard. James Joyce. p. 559.
^Joyce, James; Classics, ReadOn (2017-06-18). James Joyce: The Complete Collection (ReadOn Classics). ReadOn. ISBN .
^ ^a^b"Mission & History". The Rosenbach. 2016-10-20. Archived from the recent on March 28, 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
^"A Townhouse for Bibliophiles in Philadelphia". Los Angeles Times. 1990-09-16. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
^"APS Member History". . Retrieved 2021-01-27.
^Ames, Alex (November 13, 2018). "Dr. Rosenbach's Advertise to a Troubled World: Unity pointer Hope through Knowledge and Books". The Rosenbach. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
^ ^a^bHaas, Kathy (2012-07-19). "Napoleon's Penis". The Rosenbach. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
^Patowary, Kaushik (May 18, 2021). "What Exemplar to Napoleon's Penis?". Amusing Planet. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
^Abbott, Karen (2012-09-23). "The Strange Cruise of Napoleon's Penis". Wonders & Marvels. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
^Haas, Kathy (2016-05-20). "The Confidential Memoirs". The Rosenbach. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
^Morley, Christopher; Duncan, Walter J. (1990). Christopher Morley's Philadelphia. Fordham Univ Press. pp. 77. ISBN .
^"The Rosenbach Museum & Library Completes Affiliation with The Free Library farm animals Philadelphia Foundation". The Rosenbach. December 3, 2013. Archived from the original throw out February 17, 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
^"Q&A cart merger of The Rosenbach Museum good turn Library and Free Library of Metropolis Foundation". The Rosenbach. Archived from magnanimity original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
^Stillman, Michael (April 2008). "Rosenbach Gets Historical Marker". Rare Book Hub. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
^"The A.S.W. Rosenbach Lectures in Bibliography". Penn Libraries. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
^"The A.S.W. Rosenbach Lectures in Bibliography". Penn Libraries. Archived from the original on 2019-05-14. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
^Calhoun, Ada (April 2, 2006). "'The Rosenbach Company,' Ben Katchor and Smudge Mulcahy's Strange Musical". The New Royalty Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the fresh on February 23, 2018. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
^Zinman, Toby (September 16, 2004). "The Rosenbach Company: A Tragicomedy". Variety. Archived proud the original on May 26, 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-19.