Rosenbach Museum and Library

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Fitler Square
2010 DeLancey Place, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103+1 215 732 1600

Category:
Tourist Attractions, Museums
Hours:
Tues., Thurs., and Fri. 10-5, Wed. 10-8, weekends 10-5; guided tours on hr 11-4; additional tour... Read More
Price:
$8, free Tues.
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The Rare and Unusual Rosenbach Museum

by zabelle

Portland, Connecticut

July 14, 2008

Best of IgoUgo The Rosenbach brother Abraham and Samuel were the premier rare book collectors of their day and from the depth of this collection maybe of any time. What you will visit here are a pair of town houses that the brothers bought and lived in during ...Read more
The Rosenbach brother Abraham and Samuel were the premier rare book collectors of their day and from the depth of this collection maybe of any time. What you will visit here are a pair of town houses that the brothers bought and lived in during their life time. The library was set up by them with the books that they actually kept.

Right now and for a year to come they are hosting a Maurice Sendak Exhibit. It may very well be the same one that was in New York at the Jewish Museum a couple of years ago, What this exhibit shows us the inner workings of Maurice’s mind and why he drew the things he drew. Along with exhibits of his work there are live interviews with him on a variety of subjects including the Lindburgh kidnapping and how it affected him. I found it particularly touching to hear him tell that how could he as a child feel safe if this blond haired blue eyed gentile could be kidnapped and then found dead what chance did a a dark little Jewish boy have. He says it was the beginning of his insomnia. Then to make it worse he heard his uncle tell his father ‘who would want to kidnap a poor Jewish kid". In his book where the wild things are one of the monsters is his uncle, he need to exorcize the demon that those words created.

The house can only be visited on a tour. The tours are held on the hour and last about 35 minutes or so. We began in the small library where we are introduced to the Rosenbachs and their clients and friends. One of the people we meet here is an adult Alice Lydell who was the model for Louis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Carroll had given Alice his hand written manuscript and when she needed money Dr. Abraham Rosenbach bought the manuscript. They sold it but later arranged for it to be sold to the British Library in London.

Another one of the very famous manuscripts in their collection is a handwritten copy of Ulysses by James Joyce. Joyce was insulted that they only paid $2000 for it and tried to buy it back, he didn’t succeed because it is still in the collection.

Among the other things tat they have are a third portfolio of Shakespeare’s work which is even more rare than the first because it was written the year of the Great Fire in London.
There is a very early copy of Bram Stokers Dracula, Charles Dickens, Herman Melville and literally thousands more. In order for the Rosenbach’s to collect it there had to be less than five of the item in existence, rarity was the primary criteria as well as condition.

In addition to the books and manuscripts there are some portraits by Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Sully and the Peales. They have the largest collection of miniatures in the country.

There is one room that was donated by Maryanne Moore with the stipulation that it be reconstructed exactly as she had it. It includes many personal mementos as well as her desk and typewriter.

All together this is a fascinating place in a beautiful tree lined street near Rittenhouse Square. Since neither of the brothers married the contents pf their store was used to furnish parts of the house.

Beyond just being a repository this is a library and the books can be used for research, and often are.
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From journal Philly: The Good, the Bad, the Outrageous

The Rosenbach Museum

by Saphira

Pine Hill, New Jersey

February 12, 2007

Best of IgoUgo The fallen leaves rustled down the residential street lined with well-maintained brick exteriors, which echoed wealth. We were not quite sure we were in the right place. The street did not look like a museum belonged on it. There was nothing to make ...Read more

From journal Monsters and Alice in Wonderland- Philadelphia, the Bibliophile Tour

Rosenbach Museum and Library

by Trism

New York, New York

July 10, 2003

This museum has so many great literary attractions. I especially enjoyed viewing the collections of Mercedes de Acosta, a playwriter and screenwriter from the early 20th century who was clearly ahead of her time.

From journal Holiday Weekend in Philadelphia

Rosenbach Museum and Library

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User Reviews

The Rare and Unusual Rosenbach Museum

The Rosenbach Museum

Rosenbach Museum and Library