First U.S. edition. A magnificent production which will be a delight to any bibliophile, being filled with illustrations of rare and interesting items. The British Library's fifteen-million item collection includes many of the world's most famous books - the Gutenberg Bible, a First Folio of Shakespeare, the earliest dated printed book, first editions of Chaucer, etc. This work traces the history of the Library from its foundation with Sir Hans Sloane right up to the twentieth century. Bookplate on front free endpaper. 272 pages. cloth, dust jacket.. 4to..