Collection Guide
This document describes a Manuscript Collection held by the
Special Collections DepartmentUniversity of Iowa Libraries
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu
Guide Contents
Biographical and Historical Information
Scope and Contents of the Collection
Administrative Information
Access and
Restrictions:
Agency Note
Luther Brewer, perhaps best remembered for his extraordinary collection of material by and about Liegh Hunt, established the Torch Press in 1907. He had worked at the Republican Printing Company prior to this. In 1909, the Torch Press Book Shop, selling used and rare books, was started, and it operated until 1917. In the mid-nineteen twenties, Brewer divested himself of most of his interest in the company, retaining only a position of vice-president, in order to devote himself to book printing and collecting. Sell also an article by Thomas L. Carney and Joyce Crawford, The Torch Press: A Preliminary History.
Scope and
Contents
Forty-seven catalogs from Torch Press Book Shop
Acquisition and Processing
Information
Guide posted
to Internet:
Carney, Thomas L. & Joyce Crawford. "Torch Press: A Preliminary History." , Vol.21 (November 1974)
Maddigan, Mike. "The Torch Press: Addenda to a Checklist ." Books at Iowa. Vo. 31 (November 1979)
Catalogs
Folder 1
4, 1908
5, undated. Illinois and Lincoln
6, 1908. Americana
8, Winter 1908-09. Rare books and publications
9, May 1909. Interesting books
Folder 2
11, undated. Bargain list of remainders
12, undated. After-Inventory Catalog
16, undated. Books referring to the State of Iowa
17, undated. Americana: American History, Biography and Travel
Folder 3
20, September 1910. A September Clearing List
23, November 1910. Rare Books, Some Excessively Rare
26, January 1911. Rough list
27, February 1911. Rough list
28, March 1911. Americana, Together with a Selection of Good Miscellaneous Books
29, undated. Miscellaneous Books in all Branches of Literature
Folder 4
35, Summer 1911. A Catalog of Interesting Books
37, November 1911. Americana, Including Some Important Lincolniana
38, 1911-12. Beautiful books
39, undated. Stupendous Book Bargains
41, undated. Rare Books
42, undated. Americana: Indians and the West
43, 1912. For the Bibliophile
Folder 5
45, February 1913. Genuine Book Bargains: A Sweeping "After Inventory" Offering
46, March 1913
47, Midsummer 1913
48, undated. Standard Books at Reasonable Prices
49, undated. Unusual and Interesting Books, Some in Fine Bindings
50, 1914. Catalog of an Interesting Collection of Books from the fine and choice Library of a prominent collector, lately deceased
51, 1914. Bibliotheca Curiosa: A Catalog of a very unusual collection of curious, scarce, facetious and out-of-the-way books, the larger portion from the library of a most fastidious collector
52, 1914. Bulletin of new and special books
Folder 6
54, 1914. Some Very Good Books
55, undated. Americana (Bibliotheca Americana)
56, 1914. Bulletin of New and Special Books
57, 1914. Some Rare and Unusual Books
58, 1914. Some Choice Books
Folder 7
60, undated. Bargains in Books
61, undated. Bargains in Good Books
62, undated. America
63, undated. Books About America
64 undated [1915]. The Bargain Counter
Folder 8
66, undated. General Literature
67, undated. Astounding Bargains in Books
