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sets of some of them. It will be an object of the first care, to complete 

 this department. The use which has already been made of those which 

 we possess, and the frequent calls for others, fully demonstrate that the 

 plan of collecting here entire series of the transactions of all foreiG:n 

 aciulemies, and of the ablest scientific journals of every nation, was 

 wisely formetl to meet a real and wide-1'elt want. 



The collection of engravings and woi-ks upon the history of art, has 

 attracted much interest; not from undiscriminating idlers, but from men 

 of taste, and particularly from artists. This collection, though not the 

 largest in the country, is believed to be the choicest. It was made by an 

 American gentleman, distinguished as a scholar no less than as a states- 

 man, with the special design of illustrating the progress and resources of 

 the art of engraving in all its branches, from its early masters to tlie 

 present time. It was the work of many years to gather specimens, so 

 rare and beautiful. It required an educated eye, a cultivated taste, an 

 earnest study of the history of art, much diligent search, and the aid of 

 many friends and correspondents, to bring together so many of the most 

 valiiable prints which have ever been executed. The acquisition of this 

 collection has saved to the Institution all expenditure, either of time or 

 money, for skill and labor thus bestowed. The saving of money cannot 

 but seem important to any one who weighs our means against our want,s, 

 and the gain in time gives a longer period of public benefits. 



This collection contains some of the best works of nearly every en- 

 graver of much celebrity. There is one portfolio of the works of Albert 

 Durer, containing twenty engravings on copper and two on iron; by his 

 own hand, — and among them, most of his best and rarest works; about 

 sixty fine copies on copper, including the famous seventeen by Man- 

 Antonio ; thirteen different portraits of Durer, and a large number of 

 wood cuts engraved by hiin or under his inspection. Another portfolio 

 contains a large collection of the etchings of Ileinbrandt, including some 

 of his most beautiful pieces, particularly the "Christ Healing the Sick, " 

 an early and fine impression. There is a portfolio of two hundred en- 

 gravings and etchings, by Claude Lorraine, Hollar, and Eega ; a portfolio 

 of superb portraits by Nanteuil, Wille, Edelink, and others, among them, 

 a first impression of the "Louis XIV in armor," by Nanteuil; a port- 

 folio of prints from the old Italian masters, comprising many that are 

 extremely rare ; and another from the old German masters, containing 

 about one hundred prints, many of them scarce and of great beauty. 

 There are besides, live portfolios of sheet engravings, including very 

 choice prints. Among them are thirty-one which are valued by Longhi, 

 at fifteen hundred dollars. 



Among the galleries and published collections, are the "Muscc Royal," 

 in two volumes folio, proofs before the letter, a superb copy ; Denon's 

 •" Monumens des Arts du ])essin, " in lour volumes folio, of which only 

 two hundred and fifty co})ies were publisbed; Baillie's Works, one hundred 

 plates, folio; Thorwaldsen's Works, four volumes, folio; Hogarth's 

 Works, folio, and the (xerman edition in quarto ; The Boydell Gallery, 

 two volumes, folio; IJoydell's "Shakspeare Gallery," a remarkably good 

 copy, containing many proofs before the letter, numerous etchings ami 

 several progressive plates; Claude's "Liber Veritatis," an original copy, 

 three volumes, folio; The Houghton Gallery, two volumes, folio; Chan>- 

 berlain's Drawings in the Royal Collection, one volume, folio ; lieiitr 



