Stanley S. Slotkin early printed book leaves collectionSLOTKIN.001.CaTurCSU
California State University Stanislaus Special Collections and University Archives
University Library
One University Circle
Turlock, CA 95382
mweppler@csustan.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Stanislaus Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Stanley S. Slotkin early printed book leaves collection
Identifier/Call Number: SLOTKIN.001.CaTurCSU
Physical Description:
22 Leaves
Date (inclusive): circa 1150-1715
Language of Material:
Arabic
, English
, French
, German
, Greek, Modern (1453-)
, Hebrew
, Latin
, Persian
, Welsh
.
Container: 1 of 1
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
Stanley S. Slotkin (1905-1997) was a prosperous Los Angeles businessman. He opened "Abby Rents Inc." rental franchise in
the 1930s. The company would become the largest rental company in the world by 1965, renting a variety of items including
furniture and medical equipment. Slotkin was also an avid collector of antique bibles and other rare books, amassing hundreds
of thousands of books which he also regularly donated to various museums, universities, churches, and libraries across the
United States.
Slotkin had a philanthropic interest in reconstructive surgery, opening up a free clinic to perform plastic surgeries on individuals
with debilitating physical abnormalities and/or who could not otherwise afford treatment. Additional interests included amateur
archaeology and what was at the time the new sport of scuba diving. Diving to a Phoenician ship off the coast of Italy in
1955, he recovered 39 amphorae, earthen jars used to store liquids. Scientists dated them to the 3rd or 4th century. Slotkin
distributed the amphorae to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, UCLA and other museums and educational institutions around
the country.
In the 1960s, Slotkin began to donate individual leaves from books to institutions rather than whole works as a way to provide
greater access to these rare materials. He dismembered a number of books, and donated sets of pages to any institution that
would agree to display them publicly. He contributed philanthropically to a number of causes throughout his life.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Incunabula
Early printed books
Book leaf, Latin, circa 1150 dated on original leave
1150
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Latin circa 1150 dated original leaf (parchment, approximately 24 x 30 inches} From: an unknown antiphonary. "From the Library
of Stanley Slotkin Founder of Abbey Rents - Circa 1150." (No facsimile mount is with this leaf as is typical of Slotkin collection).
Book leaf, Latin, dated 1635
1635
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Latin, dated 1635. From: Antiphonarium Sagiense, " Junius. In Festo S. Joann is - Baptisteo," (Paris,
1635}, pp. 361-362.
Book leaf, English, dated 1715
1715
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in English, dated 1715. From: "The Holy Bible," (printed by Alexander Donaldson and John Reid; Edinburgh:
1715), pp. 135-136.
Book leaf, Greek, dated 1538
1538
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Greek, dated 1538. Printed by Hieronymus Frobenius and Nicolaus Episcopius; Basileae (Basel, Switzerland),
1538, pp. 51-52.
Book leaf, English, dated 1702
1702
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in English, dated 1702. From: "A New History of the Holy Bible" by Reverend Thomas Stackhouse, A.M.,
(printed at the Angel and Bible, St. Paul's Church Yard, 1702), pp. 837-838.
Book leaf, Arabic, dated 1293
1293
Physical Description: 1 Items
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Arabic, dated 1293. From: Kuran, (hand written by Mohammed Shokry, 1293).
Book leaf, Hebrew, dated 1602
1602
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Leaf is written in Hebrew, dated 1602. From: Misha (5362 Hebrew Calendar), (Amsterdam, 1602), pp. 55-56.
Book leaf, English, dated 1705
1705
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in English and dated 1705 A.D. Includes illustration of: St.Matthew 4.Verse, 8. ("Again the Devil taketh
him up into an exceeding high Mountain and Sheweth him all the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of them.") from "The Holy
Bible containing the Old teftament [sic] and the New with annotations wherein the sacred text is at large recited, the senfe
[sic] explained, and the inftructive [sic] example of the bleffed [sic] Jesus, and his holy apostles, to our imitation [sic]
recommended. A Bible that covers all subjects of religious works, and was used by most Scotch families about 1725."
Book leaf, Latin, dated 1667
1667
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Latin, dated 1667 A.D. From: (Medical book) Bibliothecae Anotomicae from J.B. (Doctor, Johannes Baptistae}Von
Helmontii (1577 -1644), "Medico Universa; Contra Galenistas, Opvscvla Medico Lvgdvni." "One of the most interesting medical
figues of the 17th Century. Swayed between science and mysticism, his life reflects the history of his century, became a
physician in 1599, and one of the most sought after doctors ...... Gave a new impulse along the chemical paths indicated by
Paracelsus." pp. 309-310.
Book leaf, Latin, dated 1496
1496
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Latin, dated 1496 A. D. From "Biblie iampridem reno uate pars pzima: coplectes pentateucbu:..." [sic],
(p. 350), "A religious work with many interesting sections. Origin Unknown." From the Biblical Library of Stanley S. Slotkin.
Found in the Collection of Erasmus Darwin, London, England.
Book leaf, Greek, dated 1557
1557
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Greek, dated 1557 A.D., Daniel Juxta LXX. Cap. IX. From a Greek Bible. pp. 711-712.
Book leaf, German, dated 1574
1574
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in German, and dated 1574. From "Biblia Das /st: Die Gantze Heilige Schrifft," Durch (prepared by) D.
Martin Luther. pp. 441-442. "Original Page from martin [sic] Luther Bible {1574). Found in Nazareth by Stanley S. Slotkin,
Charman of the Board, Abbey Rents."
Book leaf, French, dated 1495
1495
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in French, dated 1495 A.D. From "La bible en francois" (Paris, 1495). " It is believed that this rare
French Bible was the forerunner of the official Bible of the Reform Movement, and printed later in Switzerland. Found in Lourenco
Marques, Mozambique, by Stanley S. Slotkin, founder of Abbey Rents Co."
Book leaf, Greek and Latin, dated 1591
1591
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Greek and Latin, dated 1591 A.D. From: "Biblia Hebraica. Eorvndem Latina lnterpretatio" (Avreliae
Allobrogvm: Excudebat Petrus de la Rouiere, M.DXCI) pp. 121-122. "This unusual bible was found in Mykanos, Greece, by Stanley
S. Slotkin, founder of Abbey Rents Co. The New Testament reads from left to right in Greek, with Latin interpretations. The
Old
Testament, translated from Hebrew into Latin, starts from the back of the book and read right to left."
Book leaf, Hebrew, dated 1612
1612
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Hebrew, dated 1612 A.D. "The writing on the title leaf identifies this book as
being from the Hebrew Bible, 5369 Hebrew Calendar. Printed in Basel, Switzerland. Found in Jerusalem by Stanley S. Slotkin,
Founder of Abbey Rents."
Book leaf, Greek, dated 1515
1515
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Greek, dated 1515 A.D. From: "Galena Ascripti Libri qvi variam artis medicae..., from the Biblical
Library of Stanley S. Slotkin.
Book leaf, Welsh, dated 1579
1579
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Welsh, dated 1579 A. D. From: "A Welsh Bible...very rare. (Found in London,
England, by Stanley S. Slotkin, founder of Abby Rents Co. The Welsh language is very seldom
printed."
Book leaf, English, dated 1631
1631
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in English, dated 1631 A.D. From: "Acts and Monuments of matters most speciall [sic] and memorable,
happening in the Church, with an universall [sic] HISTORIE of the same...by Mr. John Fox (Printed for the Company of Stationers,
London; 1631), pp.259-260. "An interesting history of the Martyrs..."
Book leaf, Latin, dated 1624
1624
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Latin, dated 1624 A.D. From: "Missae Propriae Festorvm," "The writing on the title leaf identifies
this book as being from the Roman Missale. Printed in Antwerpiae [sic], 1624 A.D., pp. 401-402. Found in Rome by Stanley S.
Slotkin, Founder of Abbey Rents."
Book leaf, Latin, dated 1677
1677
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Latin, dated 1677. From: "Missale Romanvm Ex Decreto Sacrosancti," pp. 169-170. "Found in Nazareth
by Stanley S. Slotkin, Chairman of the Board, Abbey Rents."
Book leaf, Arabic, dated 1276
1276
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Arabic, dated 1276 A.D. From: "The Koran," "Hand lettered original leaf dated 1276
A. D. Found in Jerusalem by Stanley S. Slotkin, Chairman of the Board of Abbey Rents."
Book leaf, Persian, dated 1245
1245
Physical Description: 1 Leaves
Scope and Contents
Book leaf is written in Farsy [sic], dated 1245 A.H. "This religious work written in the ancient Persian language (Farsy),
discussed and written by Mohammed Ben Garir El Tabri date about the year 1245 A. H. Hand lettered (some gold leaf). An explanation
and discussion of all chapters of the whole Koran. Found in Egypt by Stanley SI. Slotkin Chariman of the Board of Abbey Rents
Co.
