Once upon a lifetime ago I saw the incunabla of a very old learned organisation. It was sometime in the mid-late 70's when this organisation was giving my Govt agency library 19th century volumes of interest to us due to lack of space (I think).

The organisation was one of those learned associations formed all over the world in the 19th century where gentlemen of learning collected learned books from around the world to expand their own learning.

The librarian was a lady of great age (to 20-something me!) & just pulled ancient books out of a cupboard to show me. I don't recall touching them & I don't recall her hands in white gloves, either.

If I could ony remember it's name or just what incunabla they had I might be trace some of the volumes I saw.

A few years earlier when I was studying Librarianship the class saw similar books at the Universtity's Rare Book collection & heard the Librarian talk about his battles with maintenance who thought air conditioning was only needed in working hours!

sandra