102 Hesburgh Library, Rare Books and Special Collections
Hesburgh Libraries’ Zahm Dante Collection bolsters Notre Dame’s globally recognized program in Italian Studies. One of the most important volumes of the collection is its earliest printing of Dante’s Divine Comedy, produced in 1477 in Venice by Wendelin of Speyer.
Ensuring meaningful access to and use of rare and early imprints by faculty and students for research is a goal for the Hesburgh Libraries conservation and preservation efforts. Age and frequent use demands for this volume mandated restoration work. To undertake this significant treatment, the Libraries enlisted the specialized skills of accomplished conservator, Jeff Peachey.
Peachey will share the journey of conservation through an illustrated lecture. Bibliophiles, conservators, librarians, scholars of Italian Studies, and anyone curious about the history of books and literature will find this lecture of interest. Highlights include: