Early German printing is the subject of a new display in the Widener Treasure Room. The exhibitions of modern fine printing and of Elizabethan books are still to be seen, but the composition of these displays has changed to some extent.

Among the examples of early printing are a leaf from Gutenberg's Bible, lent by Philip Hofer '21, a volume entitled "Catholica" by Joannes Balbus, an edition of the "Book of Ruth"; and the "Nurnberg Chronicle." Gutenberg's Bible though not dated, is fairly well established as being printed in about 1450. "Catholica" is an encyclopedic dictionary printed in 1460, probably by Gutenberg. The "Book of Ruth" which is on display was published at Mainz in 1462 by Peter Fust and John Schoeffer, the former being the man who financed Gutenberg's edition of the Bible. The "Nurnberg Chronicle" is an illustrated universal history printed in 1483.

A new addition to the display of the Elizabethan books given the library by the family of W. A. White '63 and other friends of Harvard is an English version of Ariosto's "Satyres in Seven Famous Discourses, shewing the State of the Court and Courtiers; of Libertie and the Clergie in generall; of the Romane Clergie; of Marriage; of Soldiers, Musicians, and Lovers; of Schoolmasters and Scholers; of Honour and the happiest life." This work was printed in 1608.

An edition of Bernard Shaw's "Saint Joan" published in 1924 by Constable and Company, and a magnificent edition of Spenser's "Faerie Queen" printed in 1923 by the Ashendene Press have been placed in the exhibit of modern books. Both of these volumes are from the gift of Mr. Hofer.