Catalogue of the Library of the Worcester Lyceum and Library Association.
Worcester: Printed by Henry J. Howland, 1859, Item #814 12mo. 190 x 120 mm., [7 ¼ x 4 ¾ inches]. 96 pp. Original terra cotta printed wrappers, expert tissue repair to the lower spine; rectangular stain to lower left of wrapper. Embossed stamp of the University of Western Ontario in lower margin of the title-page and an ink stamp on page 69. An inscription in pencil on top margin of front wrapper reads, “from Nath’l Paine/Worcester”. Rare Membership Library catalogue, offering for $1.00 per year access to this circulating collection of 4,400 books plus a reference library, called the Green Library, of 7,500 books. The Worcester Lyceum was established in 1825 and appears to be the first subscription library open in the city. It remained the leading library of its kind until 1862 when the Free Public Library was built on Elm Street. The catalogue is organized by author’s name or first words of the title and each listing is printed in a short-title format with call numbers. Given its proximity to the Antiquarian Society, this collection features novels, poetry, romances, travel, religion, and a good collection of newspapers and periodicals. For those who know Worcester, the collection was housed in the rooms in the Worcester Bank Block on Foster Street.
Price: $150.00