Popular prose

Collection history: The collection was acquired in 1937.
Size: The collection comprises c. 2,000 titles.
Accessibility: The books have been recorded in the KB card catalogues and (partly) the OPAC. Printed catalogue: Dronckers (see below). The majority of the books has been or will be included in either the STCN or the Nederlandse bibliografie 1801-1832. They can only be consulted at the Special Collections Reading Room.
More information: Marieke van Delft 070-3140329

Description of the collection

In 1937 the KB acquired the Waller collection of popular Dutch literature, consisting of nearly two thousand titles, mostly books printed before 1800, often in very rare editions. They were shelved in cases 26, 28, 30 and 32. It was an important acquisition regarding its contents, but also from a bibliographical point of view it was an interesting addition to the collection of Dutch early printed books.
François Gerard Waller (1867-1934) was an art historian and collector. Besides rare early editions, he also collected a considerable number of bookplates. In 1936 the Hague firm Martinus Nijhoff published an exemplary catalogue of the Waller collection, compiled by E. Dronckers
The collection of popular literature was supplemented in 1949 by 110 volumes that were bought with support of the Friends of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek at the auction of the Scheepers collection. In the sixties, finally, a number of gaps were filled at the auction of the Buisman collection.

Literature

E. Dronckers. Verzameling FG Waller. Catalogus van Nederlandsche en Vlaamsche populaire boeken. 's-Gravenhage 1936 (copy LHO OD.A 31db POP10 with added KB shelf-marks).
M van Delft & C de Wolf. 'Populair proza'. In: Vriendschap in vereniging. Den Haag 1988, p. 63-66.
M de Niet. 'FG Waller'. In: Verzamelaars en verzamelingen. Koninklijke Bibliotheek 1798-1998. Zwolle 1798, p. 159-163.