301:, Stevenson addressed the relationship between the presence of specific watermarked paper and the date of printing, and developed the principle of "runs and remnants". Many bibliographers had argued that the fact that a watermark in a book whose date is in question also appears in a book with a specific date gives no indication (other than a terminal date) for the printing of the undated book because the printer of the dated book could have used old paper which he or someone else had held for many years. Stevenson observed that, while an individual might hold on to a supply of writing paper for a number of years, a printer, for whom the cost of paper for books was his largest capital investment, would ordinarily use paper soon after it was purchased. In fact, "As a rule a particular lot of paper seems to have been obtained and set out for a particular job." Where there is a run of paper with a specific watermark, as opposed to an isolated sheet or two, that should indicate that the book was printed shortly after the paper was manufactured and purchased. In contrast, the presence of a single or few sheets with a particular watermark (a "remnant") might reflect an older paper used, and not be indicative of the actual printing date of a book. Stevenson confirmed this principle by identifying numerous examples of the same watermarks in the
285:, Stevenson analyzed the four then known copies of the missal, along with a fifth shorter version. He reported that surviving copies of the book contained several "runs", i.e., a number of consecutive gatherings of paper, with the same three watermarks (including their twins), a cross on mounts and two different bull's heads under a Tau cross. Stevenson identified several states of these watermarks in the book, reflecting the aging of the watermark as stress was repeatedly applied to the screen in making the paper. He identified the same watermarks in other books which included their dates of printing or were otherwise firmly datable. In fact, some of those books contained both the identical cross on mounts and identical bull's head watermarks. Moreover, he traced the deteriorating states of the bull's head watermarks through a number of dated or datable books, thereby determining the relationship between a particular state of the watermark with the date of the book, and through that analysis, to identify the date of the watermark on the basis of its condition. Through this information, Stevenson precisely dated the printing of the
216:
while the second (the "coucher") would shake the other frame to set the fibers and would then remove the paper to dry. He also observed that, as the screens were used repeatedly to make paper, the wire figures would suffer distortion, pieces of them sometimes breaking loose and having to be retied to the screen. A stock of paper manufactured by hand thus would contain two closely similar watermarks which define the stock for bibliographic purposes, or as
Stevenson said, "watermarks like wrens go in pairs." A particular watermark could be uniquely identified by its position with respect to the "chainlines" formed by the metal screen, its state of freshness or deterioration, and the precise locations where it was tied or retied to the screen, which show up as dots in the watermark. He would later use these basic observations to date the manufacture of paper used in early printed books.
326:
years after his death, a draft of his work was published as "The
Problem of the Blockbooks", based on an unfinished typescript from 1965–66. By comparing the watermarks in the paper used in block books with watermarks in dated documents, he concluded that the "heyday" of block books was the 1460s, but that at least one dated from about 1451. He also determined that block books were frequently reprinted, and that the different reprints or "impressions" may be distinguished, and dated, by the different paper used to print them.
101:(June 20, 1903 – March 31, 1970) was an American bibliographer specializing in the study of handmade paper and watermarks who "single-handedly created a new field: the bibliographical analysis of paper." Through his pioneering studies of watermarks, Stevenson solved "the most fascinating, and perhaps the most notorious, bibliographical problem of our time," the dating of the
270:. Hearing of the Morgan's acquisition, Stevenson began an analysis of its watermarks, and initial work quickly led him to conclude that the paper dated from the 1470s. In 1960, as Stevenson learned that two German bibliographers were reaching the same conclusion, he announced his discovery. In 1962, he published two articles on the
171:
183:
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Handmade paper is manufactured using a metal screen held in a wood frame which is dipped into a paper slurry, after which the frame is shaken in a particular manner to set the fibers of the paper and form a sheet, which is then removed to dry. The screen would usually have attached a design made of
334:
During his life, Stevenson achieved little formal academic recognition, taking twenty years to get his doctorate and never obtaining tenure as a professor. His teaching career ended in 1952, and he was thereafter "unaffiliated". He is seen, however, as a major figure in the history of bibliography
325:
dates, however, led some scholars to believe that the books had been printed later. In the mid-1960s, Stevenson began an extensive study of block books. Stevenson, however, suffered illness in his later years and never completed that project. In 1967, he published an introduction to his study, and
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in earlier periods was ordinarily manufactured using twin moulds, the screens of which bore a near duplicate wire image producing almost identical, but nevertheless distinguishable, watermarks. Two workers would use a pair of frames acting in tandem, one using a frame to dip into the paper slurry
316:
are undated short religious books in which both the text and illustrations were printed from a single woodcut block. In part because of their sometimes crude appearance, it was widely believed that block books dated to the first half of the 15th century and were precursors to printing by movable
342:
Stevenson's writing style has been highly praised for its "sheer pleasure and vitality" and he has been called "a lord of language". Stevenson also is known for his sense of humor. In a highly technical study of early printing, for example, he gives the twin bull's head watermarks names like
351:"Wideface and his brother gaze blandly forth from the 16-mm. window between ... finally I come upon these amiable oxen in a dated book. ... These old fellows, full of agues and distempers, have been pressed into service long after they should have laid down their burdens...."
120:), and possibly to have been the first printed European book. Stevenson proved that the book in fact had been printed nearly twenty years later, in 1473. Through similar analysis of watermarks, he also established that most
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where he ultimately obtained his doctorate degree in 1949. He taught
English at both schools. Stevenson married Rachel Waples. He died in Chicago on March 31, 1970.
508:
at Smock Alley", Shakespeare
Quarterly, Folger Shakespeare Library & George Washington University, Vol. 6, No. 3 (Summer, 1955), pp. 275–296.
1099:
1205:
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at Rice
University, which also holds Stevenson's collection of books on the history of paper and watermarks, donated by his wife in 1986.
1072:
590:"Beta-radiography and Paper Research", in International Congress of Paper Historians - Communications, vol. 7, pp. 159–68 (1967).
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in other dated or datable incunables, the deteriorating states of which fit the chronology of the known dates of the books.
258:
pre-dated the
Gutenberg Bible and was the first European book printed using movable type, basing the belief on the work of
376:"Shirley's Years in Ireland", The Review of English Studies, Oxford University Press, Vol. 77 (1944), pp. 19–28.
431:, Studies in Bibliography, The Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia, vol. 4 (1951-52), pp. 57-91.
254:, but seemingly in a more primitive and unfinished state. The Morgan Library and many bibliographers believed the
1115:
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to the fall of 1473. Bibliographers now accept this proof that the missal was printed in 1473 as "conclusive".
1136:
Studies in
Bibliography, The Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia, vol. 47 (1994), pp. 23-64.
774:
In fact, the type may have essentially the same type which were manually altered during the printing of the
501:"Briquet and the future of paper studies," Introduction to Briquet's Opuscula, Hilversum (1955), pp. xv-l.
595:
Les
Filigranes: Dictionnaire Historique des Marques du Papier Dés Leur Apparition vers 1282 jusqu'en 1600
266:, paying him $ 58,000 in cash and trading four extremely rare books, including two incunables printed by
1180:
1096:
149:
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block and which many believed dated from the early 15th century, had in fact been printed after 1460.
1200:
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148:, graduating in 1924, and obtaining an M.A. two years later. After teaching at Rice, he moved to the
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lingo", and then playfully traces them through various incunables as they deteriorate and "age":
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35:
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124:, small religious books in which the text and images were printed from a single
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around 1895. The Morgan had purchased the book from the famous rare book dealer
247:
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Twin bull's head watermarks, the dots showing where they were tied to the screen
121:
519:
Catalogue of
Botanical Books in the Collection of Rachel McMasters Miller Hunt
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453:
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113:(book printed before 1501) believed by many to pre-date the Gutenberg Bible (
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239:
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110:
211:, Stevenson discussed a fact that few bibliographers then understood, that
612:, Mainz (1991), pp. 229-262, based on a typewritten text from 1965-1966.
62:
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521:, compiled by Allan Stevenson, Pittsburgh (1961), part 1, pp. cxli-ccxl.
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517:"A Bibliographical Method for the Description of Botanical Books", in
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for his groundbreaking work on watermarks and their uses, and his
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copper or brass wire which would leave a slight impression or
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to achieve a more consistent fit between "abutting" letters.
386:
1134:"Allan H. Stevenson and the Bibliographical Uses of Paper,"
937:"The Problem of the Blockbooks", in Sabine Mertens et al.,
862:"Allan H. Stevenson and the Bibliographical Uses of Paper,"
836:"Allan H. Stevenson and the Bibliographical Uses of Paper,"
763:"Allan H. Stevenson and the Bibliographical Uses of Paper,"
608:"The Problem of the Blockbooks," in Sabine Mertens et al.,
600:"The First Printed Book at Louvain", in D.E. Rhodes (ed.),
1056:"Allan H. Stevenson and the Bibliographical Uses of Paper"
1015:"Allan H. Stevenson and the Bibliographical Uses of Paper"
988:"Allan H. Stevenson and the Bibliographical Uses of Paper"
976:"Allan H. Stevenson and the Bibliographical Uses of Paper"
914:"Allan H. Stevenson and the Bibliographical Uses of Paper"
725:"Allan H. Stevenson and the Bibliographical Uses of Paper"
694:"Allan H. Stevenson and the Bibliographical Uses of Paper"
663:"Allan H. Stevenson and the Bibliographical Uses of Paper"
539:"The Quincentennial of Netherlandish Blockbooks", London:
140:, Canada. His family moved to Texas where he attended the
230:& Museum) announced the acquisition of a copy of the
1041:
Allan Stevenson, "Paper as Bibliographical Evidence,"
321:
in the early 1450s. Written notations of purchase and
274:
and in 1966 he published his full length study on it,
382:"New Uses of Watermarks as Bibliographical Evidence"
226:
In early 1954, the Pierpont Morgan Library (now the
1145:The Library Quarterly, vol. 39, no. 2 (Apr. 1969).
1073:"Allan H. Stevenson Papers, 1950-1968: Finding Aid"
812:, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York (1978), pp. 231-233.
88:
78:
70:
47:
28:
21:
1097:Guide to the Allan H. Stevenson Papers, 1955-1986
355:Stevenson's working papers and notes are held at
339:has been called a "bibliographical masterpiece".
952:"The Quincentennial of Netherlandish Blockbooks"
926:"The Quincentennial of Netherlandish Blockbooks"
902:"The Quincentennial of Netherlandish Blockbooks"
514:, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas (1961).
597:, Amsterdam: Paper Publications Society (1968).
553:, London: The Bibliographical Society (1967).
545:, vol. 31, nos. 3-4 (Spring 1967), pp. 83-87.
8:
242:printed from the same type used in the 1457
207:in the sheet of paper. In his 1952 article
18:
1216:20th-century American non-fiction writers
471:"Chain-Indentations in Paper as Evidence"
528:, Gutenberg-Jahrbuch (1962), pp. 95-105.
136:Stevenson was born on June 20, 1903, in
628:
535:, 5th ser. 17, pp. 197–212 (1962).
424:, PBSA vol. 45 (1951), pp. 23–36.
602:Essays in Honour of Victor Scholderer
531:"Paper as Bibliographical Evidence",
504:"The Case of the Decapitated Cast or
7:
1143:The Problem of the Missale Speciale,
1002:The Problem of the Missale Speciale,
875:The Problem of the Missiale Speciale
343:"Wideface" and "Squareface", using "
1060:The Problem of the Missale Speciale
1029:The Problem of the Missale Speciale
889:The Problem of the Missale Speciale
849:The Problem of the Missale Speciale
823:The Problem of the Missale Speciale
796:The Problem of the Missale Speciale
781:The Problem of the Missale Speciale
750:The Problem of the Missale Speciale
651:The Problem of the Missale Speciale
638:The Problem of the Missale Speciale
551:The Problem of the Missale Speciale
276:The Problem of the Missale Speciale
16:American bibliographer (1903–1970)
14:
604:, Mainz (1970), pp. 229–262.
512:Observations on Paper as Evidence
438:"Shakespearian Dated Watermarks"
181:
169:
92:Analysis of paper and watermarks
964:"The Problem of the Blockbooks"
593:Introduction to C. M. Briquet,
337:Problem of the Missale Speciale
283:Problem of the Missale Speciale
1141:G. Thomas Tanselle, Review of
963:
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420:A Critical Study of Heawood's
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1206:University of Chicago alumni
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1045:, 5th ser. 17, p. __ (1962).
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560:"Tudor Roses from John Tate"
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1157:Allan H Stevenson Papers
542:British Museum Quarterly
524:"Paper Evidence and the
317:metal type, invented by
1176:American bibliographers
1116:Woodson Research Center
706:New York Times obituary
675:New York Times obituary
564:Studies in Bibliography
475:Studies in Bibliography
442:Studies in Bibliography
156:Bibliographical studies
1211:Rice University alumni
1058:, p. 62, quoting from
429:"Watermarks are Twins"
209:"Watermarks are Twins"
150:University of Chicago
99:Allan Henry Stevenson
23:Allan Henry Stevenson
737:Watermarks are Twins
357:Princeton University
297:In his works on the
221:The Missale Speciale
161:Watermarks are twins
1102:2009-08-06 at the
711:2012-10-23 at the
680:2012-10-23 at the
361:Firestone Library
293:Runs and remnants
236:Constance Missal,
232:Missale Speciale,
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558:— (1967).
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506:The Night-walker
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398:10.2307/40368928
380:— (1948).
303:Missale Speciale
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32:June 20, 1903
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1181:Watermarking
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53:(1970-03-31)
1201:1970 deaths
1196:1903 births
1186:Papermaking
1043:The Library
916:, pp.59-60.
533:The Library
481:: 181–195.
448:: 159–164.
392:: 149–182.
363:and at the
323:rubrication
314:Block books
309:Block books
248:Johann Fust
246:printed by
122:block books
118: 1455
71:Nationality
1191:Incunabula
1170:Categories
1083:2009-10-20
1027:Review of
1000:Review of
794:Review of
636:Review of
618:References
422:Watermarks
345:Dick Tracy
188:"Wideface"
79:Occupation
1032:, p. 202.
1005:, p. 202.
799:, p. 202.
784:pp. 8-10.
623:Footnotes
576:0081-7600
570:: 15–34.
487:0081-7600
454:0081-7600
406:2153-3857
319:Gutenberg
260:Otto Hupp
240:incunable
205:watermark
132:Biography
111:incunable
1100:Archived
1017:, p. 62.
990:, p. 25.
904:, p. 83.
878:, p. 55.
864:, p. 57.
765:, p. 45.
739:, p. 88.
727:, p. 61.
709:Archived
696:, p. 25.
678:Archived
665:, p. 25.
584:40371437
495:40371128
462:40371098
414:40368928
63:Illinois
42:, Canada
1126:Sources
653:, p. 1.
281:In his
244:Psalter
234:or the
146:Houston
126:woodcut
59:Chicago
40:Ontario
826:p. 31.
776:Missal
582:
574:
493:
485:
460:
452:
412:
404:
36:Merlin
580:JSTOR
491:JSTOR
458:JSTOR
410:JSTOR
572:ISSN
483:ISSN
450:ISSN
402:ISSN
250:and
48:Died
29:Born
1159:at
394:doi
359:'s
144:in
105:or
1172::
578:.
568:20
566:.
562:.
489:.
477:.
473:.
456:.
444:.
440:.
408:.
400:.
388:.
384:.
278:.
115:c.
61:,
38:,
1118:.
1106:.
1086:.
1062:.
966:.
954:.
586:.
497:.
479:6
464:.
446:4
416:.
396::
390:1
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