REPORT ON THE DIVISION OF GRAPHIC ARTS. 

 By R. P. ToLMAN, Assistant Curator. 



The annual report of this division of the U. S. National Museum 

 this year must consist largely of an offering of thanks to the many 

 individuals, organizations and firms, who have shown an increasing 

 interest in the work the Museum is doing for the graphic arts. Ir. 

 this brief report it will be possible to mention only a few of the 169 

 accessions, but whether mentioned or not the cooperation of all is 

 greatly appreciated and to them is due the credit for the progress 

 that has been made during the year. Specimens covering a wide 

 range have been received. A leaf of the Gutenberg Bible, which is n 

 sample of the first use of movable type, and the Monotype system of 

 'jasting justified lines of single type are almost the beginnings and 

 the end of type composition. Other accessions include letter press 

 printing, making of a newspaper, printing bases, quoins, shooting 

 sticks, printing for the blind, book binding, marbled paper, Baxter 

 color prints, etching, aquatint, dry point, soft-ground, wood-block 

 prints and lithographs, as well as photo-mechanical prints in relief, 

 intaglio and planographic. 



The section of photography received pictorial and color-photo- 

 graphs, a color camera, photographs sent hj wireless, but one of the 

 most important accessions was the Latham motion picture machine of 

 1895. 



Seven loan exhibits of pictorial photography, etching, lithography, 

 and wood-block printing were held during the year. Two traveling 

 exhibits of graphic arts have been arranged this year and have been 

 shown in various cities throughout the country. They are both very 

 similar, covering technically the important processes of this subject. 



The total number of specimens receiA-ed was 1.815; 669 loans were 

 returned, leaving an addition to the collections of 1.146 specimens, 

 being 132 more than last year. These specimens were received 

 through 169 accessions, an increase over last year of 81. Nine hun- 

 dred and ninety-six specimens were gifts, 44 were transferred from 

 other government departments, 24 were made in the Museum, 16 

 were purchased and 735 were received as loans. The division loaned 

 for study 431 specimens, and gave 21 specimens to the Art Museum 

 at Harriman. Tenn., leaving a total of 22,936 specimens on June 



30, 1923. 



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