“The Most Formidable Weapon Against Errors: The Sid Lapidus ’59 Collection & the Age of Reason” celebrates the collecting achievements of Sid Lapidus ’59. Lapidus has dedicated many years to the acquisition of rare books that trace the emergence of Enlightenment ideas and their influence on politics, medicine and society, creating a powerful tool for understanding the concepts that have shaped modern American society. The exhibition is curated by Steven A. Knowlton, librarian for history and African American studies at Princeton University Library. In addition to showcasing printed texts from the Lapidus collection, the exhibition features examples of graphic arts and objects from the 18th and 19th centuries that illustrate the topics addressed by the books. Artworks from Thomas Rowlandson, James Gillray, Charles Willson Peale, Isaac Cruikshank and Paul Revere, among others, are included. 

The exhibition is open to the public Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday in the Milberg Gallery, Firestone Library from February 19 through June 8, 2025. Guided tours are offered on March 25 and April 5 and 6. 

A digital version of the exhibition is available here.