GIFTS: Prints. A. Morel et Cie. 1875-77. 2 vols.; Eugène E. Viollet-Le-Duc: The collection of prints has been increased by the purchase of examples of the work of the following American and foreign artists: Frank W. Benson, Kerr Eby, C. Storm van 's Gravesande, Alfred Hutty, Gustave Leheutre, Bror J. O. Nordfeldt, Charles A. Platt and George F. C. Smillie. · Other purchases during the year were: (a) Collection of 1,468 photographs of paintings and sculpture in European galleries, and of foreign architecture. (b) Collection of 1,000 items, comprising Red Cross and regimental stamps, programs of charity concerts, religious tracts, and post cards gathered in France during the World War. (c) Thirty-six etchings by Henri Pillé, illustrating the works of Shakespeare. The most important gifts to the general collection have been: (a) Two hundred and fifteen bookplates from the American Society of Bookplate Collectors and Designers, Washington, D. C. (b) Fifty-two London underground railway posters and 63 photographs of paintings, etc., from Mrs. F. E. Partington, Washington, D. C. (c) Six hundred and ninety-one photographic portraits, American and foreign views and illustrations of current events, from Messrs. Underwood & Underwood, Washington, D. C. (d) One hundred and twenty-four photographs of Greek, Roman, and Italian sculpture, from Miss Mary Brush, Washington, D. C. (e) Three hundred and ninety-four photographs of Civil War leaders, European views, scenery of western United States, and "Occupation of Porto Rico," from Maj. Sherman Miles, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. (f) Eighteen portraits of well-known American authors from Mr. E. A. Whitman, Boston, Mass. (g) Seventy-two posters and portraits from Miss Frances B. Johnston, New York City. (h) One hundred and eighteen photographs of paintings and foreign views, from Miss H. J. Koehler, Springfield, Mass. (i) Two hundred and fifty-eight post card views of New England and Europe, from Mrs. R. H. C. Kelton, Washington, D. C. rance. Through the courtesy of Seymour L. Cromw Mr. Philip Posener, president and general manager, during the World War), of the Fatherless Childre nc., this "Book" was deposited as a loan in the Lib ress for the purpose of exhibition.) SEMITIC, SLAVIC, AND ORIENTAL DIVIS SE ITIC SECTION (From the report of the chief, Doctor Schapi Of the accessions to the Hebrew collect elonging to the class Hebraica Americana-i. ooks printed in the United States-clair nterest. Universality and perpetuity during millenn main characteristics of Hebrew literature, ever ceased to exist and has flourished at m han any other literature we know about. With the loss of the national independe omeland Hebrew literature lost, to be sure, ous qualities, but its existence was never 1 fact, with the dispersion of the Jews it s Hebrew press in the United States. new territories, acquired new vitality, and developed an amazing adaptability. Direct contact with other civilizations and new currents of thought broadened its horizon and enlarged its scope. Hebrew academies and seminaries sprang up and flourished everywhere, even in the most somber periods of the Middle Ages; incidental losses in one quarter were soon compensated by gains in another. The continuous drifting of Jewish settlements thus enabled the Hebrew literature to strike root in many lands of the globe. With the invention of printing, which was enthusiastically welcomed by the Jews, their literary output in the early decades of the new era of the printed word became stupendous. The flood of Hebrew books has continued, unimpaired by vicissitudes, wherever Jews have settled, down to the present day. Later, however, was the appearance of the Hebrew press in the United States, a fact deserving of note, since settlements of Jews had followed in the wake of the discovery of this continent, and the fathers of the new commonwealth professed a deep interest in the tongue in which the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament were written. The first book printed in this hemisphere which employed Hebrew characters was a Hebrew grammar in English printed in Boston in 1735 by Judah Monis, an instructor in Hebrew at Harvard University. Its Hebrew title reads, "Dickdook leshon gnebreet(!)." In 1814, 79 years later, there appeared in Philadelphia a reprint of Athias's unpointed Biblia Hebraica (Editio prima Americana, sine punctis masorethicis. 2 vols.); in 1849, also at Philadelphia, Isaac Leeser's reprint of the Van der Hooght Bible was issued. But it was not until 1860 that the first genuine Hebrew book was printed in America, and this was the book "Abne Yehoshua," a commentary on Pirke Aboth, by Joshua Falk at New York City. Henceforth Hebrew books were published sporadically, Hebrew printing establishments having been founded in several of the larger cities. The first periodical appearing in the Neo-Hebraic lan have settled in this country, where they energies and erudition to the promotion literature. Moreover, in American universi and other institutions of learning interes studies is constantly growing, and modern living tongue receives proportionate atte therefore but appropriate that Hebraica A well represented in the National Library States so that bibliographical inquiries and this Hebrew material both from here and a adequately met. Examining all available bibliographies, with the exception of some periodicals and siderable number of books, practically e moment that has been printed in Hebrew i States is contained in our Hebrew collection recalled that Hebraica Americana was one o of the Deinard collections, now greatly a subsequent purchases and exchanges. 64329-25-9 Useful additions were made during the past year to Judaica and Arabica. Chief among them are those relating to Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Egypt bearing on language, geography, history, agriculture, and industry, social and economic conditions, etc., subjects which are now engaging the attention of numerous students and investigators more than ever. Many of these Judaic books, published in different languages and various countries, were on our list of desiderata for some time. Of the Arabica, the acquisition of the Hyderabad Arabic publications deserves notice. Of special value are the works dealing with the Hadith, i. e., the traditions of the Prophet Mohammed. The Hadith has been, next to the Koran, the subject of study and research, occupying as it does a preeminent place in the Arabic literature. It embraces in its scope practically everything that comes under the influence of religion, including the ritual, the law, the religious legends, and the ethical precepts and views. The most important documents and sources for the religious, ritualistic, and legal development of Islam are contained in the Hadith. Some of the books of the above-mentioned publications may be cited: Abu Ja'far Ahmad b. Muhammad at-Tahawi (d. 321 A. H.). Mushkil al-athar. 4 vols. On difficult legal questions based upon traditions. The author was one of the greatest Hanafi writers on law; Al-mu'tasar min al-mukhtasar min mushkil al-athar lit-Tahawi. Commentary on the collection of traditions by Tahawi; Ali al-Muttaqi al-Hindi (d. 975 A. H.). Kanz al-ummal fi sunan al-aqwal wal af'al. 8 vols. An enormous collection recording all traditions, whether genuine or not; Muhammad ibn Ahmad ad-Dahabi. (d. 748 A. H.). Tajrid asma' as-sahaba. 2 vols. A list of all people who knew the Prophet (8,809 in number). A useful index to larger works on the subject, such as the Usd al-Ghaba of Ibn al-Athir and the Isit'ab of Ibn Abd al-Barr; Muhammad ibn Musa al-Hazimi (d. 584 A. H.). Kitab al-i'tibar. On traditions which are cancelled by others; Ali ibn Uthman al-Mardini (d. 750 A. H.). Al |