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"Collections in Focus" Series Showcases Historical Book Arts

by Michael Taylor on 2016-12-02T10:16:00-07:00 in CSWR | 0 Comments

A new initiative in the UNM Libraries has been engaging students, faculty, and the local community with treasures from the Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections. "Collections in Focus," an ongoing monthly series of pop-up exhibitions, was launched in October 2016. Each event features a selection of special collections materials, together with a short, informal talk by a staff expert. The series is intended to familiarize library users with our vast and varied collections, giving them ideas for materials they can use in their research, teaching, and creative projects, or simply for their own personal enjoyment.

Two events have been held so far. "Art on the Edges: Historical Decorative Papers and Fore-Edge Paintings in UNM's Special Collections" gave an overview of the history of marbled paper, other paper decoration techniques, and the little-known art of painting vanishing images on the edges of books. The second event, "Bound to Please: Fine Bindings from UNM's Special Collections," was a showcase of several dozen beautifully-crafted bookbindings dating from the fifteenth century to the present. Both events were organized by Michael Taylor, Special Collections Public Services Librarian.

Shown below is a sampling of materials from each talk. Stay tuned for announcements of future events in the "Collections in Focus" series. Presentations on Latin American artists' books and the press of Padre Antonio José Martinez (New Mexico's first printer) are being planned for the spring semester.

Marbled, gilt, gauffered, and stenciled edges

 

(left) Miscellaneous 17th- and 18th-century marbled papers; (right) Doublure binding made for Robert Hoe

 

(left) Cockerell endpapers on the Winnie-the-Pooh stories; (right) 18th-century German pattern papers

 

(left) Edwards of Halifax "Etruscan" binding, ca. 1790; (right) Embroidered binding, ca. 1890s

 

(left) Fore-edge painting on Les aventures de Télémaque (1785); (right) attendees at fine bindings talk

 

 


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