The townhouses at 2008 and 2010 Delancey Pl. are nestled in a quiet, upscale and largely residential Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. Baby strollers are parked on stoops of the surrounding residences. Fancy cars sit silently on the clean side streets and young, wealthy parents walk their golden retrievers. But amongst the domestic affluence lie these two townhouses, which together compose the Rosenbach Museum & Library.
Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach and Philip Rosenbach were two brothers who collected various rare books, manuscripts and decorative arts in the early 20th century. Their acquisitions helped build Harvard’s Widener Library. The museum on Delancey houses some of the Rosenbachs’ most priceless possessions, such as original documents from the age of exploration and the American Revolution and manuscripts and rare editions of works by such authors as James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and Lewis Carroll.
The gift shop, according to the cashier, caters both to patrons on their way out of the museum and to bookworms and tourists looking for children’s books or other writerly souvenirs. The shop is a single, small room with a lone worker (and, when I was there, a lone customer: me). Shoppers can browse organized, small sections relating to exhibits in the museum, like original facsimiles of Joyce’s Ulysses, the works of and biographies of the modernist poet Marianne Moore, and posters, prints and books by the children’s author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, who is heavily featured in the museum.
Also included are sections for “books about books,” Judaica, the Rosenbachs themselves, and posters (from Where the Wild Things Are to “Map of the Exodus from Egypt”). The Moby Dick section includes various editions of the book as well as illustrated versions and Why Read Moby Dick? Plus, there are literary chocolate bars and $2 children’s “Pig Splat Balls.”
Additionally, pricey lithographs are for sale, like rare Sendak books and illustrations for $500–$700. Clearly, the shop aims to attract customers with varying budgets. Adorning a wall is a massive canvas with an original 2003 Maurice Sendak illustration of a “Wild Thing” drawn for the Rosenbach Museum & Library (not for sale).
Overall, the shop’s selection is limited by its size, but this charming shop may be worth it for those interested in rare literature or the authors featured at the museum. This may mean offering more from your pockets, but the shop's friendly staff and logical organization make for easy shopping. For those wary of making the trek to 20th for a tiny shop, you can make a day of it and check out the museum too ($5 student admission).
ROSENBACH MUSEUM AND LIBRARY GIFT SHOP 2008 Delancey Pl. (215) 732–1600 What you'll find here: Literature and knickknacks Bottom line: A small but very worthwhile collection that will delight book enthusiasts
