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15.

^[[Previous to the [[strikethrough]] period e [[/strikethrough]] fiscal year of 1888-89. These are noticed in the ^[[Museum]] report for 1887-1888.]]

To the preceding report upon the administration of the collection up to June 30, 1889. I beg leave to add some suggestions concerning its future.

The first and most important point to be kept in view, if the growth of the section of Graphic Arts is not to be arrested, and if it is the desire to build it up normally and properly proportioned in all its parts, is the necessity of an adequate yearly appropriation. The appeal to artists, publishers, and others has, indeed, been liberally responded to, but it goes without saying that a collection depending almost wholly upon gifts, cannot possibly attain to the logical development, the completeness, and the superlative quality which alone would answer the ends sought, and be worthy of a great nation claiming to occupy the first rank in material welfare and in intellectual attainments. An even cursory examination of the collection as it now stands will show that it is deficient in many aspects, and that in a number of cases specimens have been admitted without regard to quality, simply because they illustrated some technical point and could be had for nothing. It is vain to expect that valuable drawings, paintings, and old
 

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