Universal Classic Manuscripts: From the Original Documents in the Department of Manuscripts, British Museum, and Other Sources
Published by M. Walter Dunne, Washington, D.C., [c.1901]. Two large folio volumes (each approx. 18.5 x 11 inches). Unpaginated. Loose-leaf sheets printed in facsimile (resembling photolithography), housed in original blue cloth portfolio bindings with ribbon ties. Gilt titles and decorative emblems to covers and spines.
An extraordinary production reproducing, in high-quality facsimile, significant historical manuscripts—sourced largely from the British Museum and notable European and American collections. Each page is presented as a full-size reproduction of the original handwritten document, with many including transcriptions or printed notes.
Condition: Very Good overall. Pages are complete and clean, though show mild edge wear. Cloth portfolios show light shelfwear and rubbing, and some ribbon ties are present but fragile in places. The structure is sound for such a large-format set, though the loose-leaf format necessitates careful handling.
Rarity: Scarce in the complete two-volume form and seldom encountered with both volumes intact and all plates present. This Washington, D.C. edition was likely issued in a very limited run around 1901 and intended for libraries or private collectors of manuscript history and autography.
A highly visual and substantial artifact, offering insight into paleography, diplomatic history, and classical penmanship, suitable for collectors of manuscript facsimiles, historical documents, or turn-of-the-century deluxe folio productions.
