In the late 19th century, librarians and conservationists began silking manuscripts in an effort to best preserve the materials. It was thought that this process would help strengthen the paper, making it less susceptible to damage. Silking involved cleaning the manuscript and then applying paste and a silk gauze, sometimes referred to as crepeline, to either one or both sides of the leaf. However, it did not take very long for conservationists to realize that this was not an adequate method of preservation. Over time the silk became brittle; discoloration occurred; it could separate from the document; some silks had a rapid rate of deterioration; and silking generally "failed to render the document any more resistant to the enemies of paper" than untreated pages (William Barrow, 1939 Newport News (Virginia) Daily Press article). Which brings us to the process of de-silking, through which the silk gauze is very carefully removed. The Morgan Museum & Library had to de-silk their manuscript of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol last year in anticipation for their exhibit Dickens at 200. The procedure is explained in the informative video below and is also summarized on their website. [more De-silking 'A Christmas Carol']
Below is a beautifully produced video that takes you through the basic steps of letterpress printing. Letterpress from Naomie Ross on Vimeo. [more Letterpress Process]
Sourcebooks publishing house has recently released a line of ebook/iPad apps called The Shakesperience. Using the iPad's technological capabilities, these books provide a multimedia experience that allow readers to interact with Shakespeare's plays. Each play features an embedded glossary of approximately 2,000 terms; video and audio commentary, interviews, and introductions by thespians; classic scenes and performances by respected actors like Orson Welles, Paul Robeson, Sir Laurence Olivier, and Dame Judy Dench, to name a few; presentations analyzing the historical and social context of selected scenes; production notes from past performances that include costume and set design, and stage directions; interviews with the full casts and directors of productions; and, finally, "interviews with voice coaches on how to approach the Bard's various characters." Dominique Raccah, CEO of Sourcebooks, said that the app was developed with input from teachers and theatre professionals, specifically in regard to the difficulties they encounter teaching and relating Shakespeare to students and modern audiences. The glossary and other elements that deal with Elizabethan language were a central focus because "getting into the language of Shakespeare" was identified as a universal hurdle for educators. Audio content took precedence over video, as teachers felt that audio forces students to engage with the text, whereas videos present a more passive experience. "We've taken what has traditio... [more Shakespeare On Your iPad]
We came across a fun list of novels and histories compiled by Andre Braugher in this week's New York Times Magazine. [more Actor Andre Braugher Talks Sea Captain and Espionage Books in the NYT Magazine]
This item was still reported missing as of June 11, 2019. The following item has been reported stolen: Title : Der Americanischen Neuen Welt Beschreibung (engraved title) Authors : Winckelmann, Johann Just Date of publication : 1664 Publisher : Heinrich Conrad Zimmer, Oldenbourg Description : With copper engraved title, 1 (of 2) full-page portraits (of Hans Staden) in woodcut and 32 woodcuts in the text after Hans Staden. 8 unn. leaves, 228 pp., 6 unn. leaves of index. Modern gilt violet/red leather binding. If you have any information on this item, please contact yueksel@erasmushaus.ch [more Stolen: Der Americanischen Neuen Welt Beschreibung (engraved title; 1664)]
Two recently published titles focus not on the fatalistic claims that we are closing in on 'the end of the book', but rather examine what the future holds for books, in both the private and public sectors. In This Is Not the End of the Book, Umberto Eco and Jean-Claude Carriere have a lively intellectual discussion about books, "reading, the Internet, book collecting and odd byways of literary and cinematic history." Michael Dirda reviewed the book in the Washinton Post on Friday, and it sounds like a highly engaging and interesting read. David Culbert, President of the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies (FABS), also just edited a book on a corresponding subject. The Future of the Books & the Public Interest, published by the William Clements Library at the University of Michigan in conjunction with FABS, is a collection of essays and includes a thoughtful introduction by Mr. Culbert. The "end of the book" is an understandable concern, as technology advances and the publishing industry and very modes of reading change, but still a ridiculous notion in the eyes of this bibliophilethe book isn't going to disappear as a relic of the past! These advances and changes in the literary landscape will affect how we read, though, and how we view the book as a physical object. In my opinion, the emphasis on the physicality of books will only increase because of these changesa plus for booksellers, especially those dealing in rare and antiquarian material! [more NOT the End: Two New Titles on the Future of Books]
The New York Public Library currently has an exhibit on display in its flagship building entitled Charles Dickens: The Key to Character. The exhibit "celebrates the power of Dickens's characters to be imagined ever anew, examining important precedents for his art of characterization as well as intersections between his personal and his literary creations." A few of the items on display are artwork by over twenty illustrators, the memoranda book Dickens used to jot down possible character names, and his 1867 pocket diary that contained the code Dickens used to communicate with his mistress. Flavorwire noted a very interesting part of this exhibit that the NYPL website did not mention: a replication of Dickens's 'fake library'. After moving into Tavistock House in 1851, Dickens apparently wanted to fill a space in his study with fake books, the witty titles of which he came up with himself, and "wrote to a bookbinder with a list of 'imitation book-backs' to be created specially for his bookshelf." For the current exhibit curators at the NYPL recreated some titles from Dickens's imitation library, which included titles such as Jonah's Account of the Whale, Kant's Ancient Humbugs, Captain Parry's Virtue of Cold Tar, The Art of Cutting the Teeth, and Drowsy's Recollections of Nothing. (Additional images and titles can be found at the link.) I swear, every time I read something about Dickens, I learn something new; what a fascinating man! Check Out Charles Dickens' Library of Fake ... [more Charles Dickens's Fake Library Replicated in NYPL Exhibit]
An extensive Ernest Hemingway collection compiled by a Mississippi physician was donated to the University of South Carolina Columbia and put on display at the Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library for a special showing earlier this week. Edgar Grissom, the 70-year-old collector and donor, has worked for more than 50 years in his quest to compile all of Hemingway's English-language publications. He likened his pursuit to "an Easter egg hunt", but now, at the end of his journey, he is delighted to assert that he has "the most complete collection of primary works in existence." William Rivers, chairman of USC's English department, agrees. "It provides a tremendous resource. It makes writing real in a very powerful way," Rivers said. "There is no other place in the world now where scholars can go to look at Hemingway's primary materials." Thisto provide an institution, and thereby students and scholars, with an extensive collection that would allow for further research on Hemingwaywas Grissom's intention all along. He was smitten with Hemingway after reading The Green Hills of Africa, and began seriously collecting in his 2os when he was still a medical student. Last year he published his own bibliography of Hemingway's work. It wasn't always an easy road, though, and Grissom encountered opposition from a number of research libraries and museums he tried to work with over the years. "I could give you story after story of Hemingway scholars who told me to get lost," Gr... [more Hemingway Collection Donated to the University of South Carolina]
A rare 161-year-old book of recipes owned by Beatrix Potter is set to go to auction on Thursday. Also for sale is a collection of books and ephemera from Potter's husband William Hellis's personal effects. The cookbook is full of Hellis's family recipes, clearly handed down through generations, but there are several recipes that appear to be in Potter's own hand. Richard Westwood-Brookes, a representative from the auction house, admitted that they "cannot conclusively prove" that it is in fact Potter's handwriting but that it is very likely. Nonetheless, he says that the recipe book and the other items for sale "form an intriguing insight into the daily life of one of the world's most loved children's authors." The items will be sold through Mullock's Auction House. The recipe book has a guide price of £200-£400. It seems rather odd that the auction house wouldn't have an expert examine the book to determine more definitively whether or not some of the recipes were in fact written in Potter's hand, but perhaps I'm overlooking something. Any insights? The original article I read took care to note to that the cookbook did not include any recipes for rabbit. After the jump is a recipe form Gingerbread, taken from the cookbook. I haven't tested it out, so if you do please let me know how it turns out! Gingerbread 3.5 lb wheat meal 3.5 lb treacle 12 oz. sugar 12 oz. butter 2 oz. ground ginger 1 oz. pounded allspice 1 pint of ale 1 oz. common washing soda** Add 2/3 of the ale to th... [more Beatrix Potter Recipe Book Goes to Auction]
In July, I posted about a rare first English edition of Machiavelli's The Prince (1640) that the head of British auction house Keys found during a collection evaluation. Needless to say, Keys considered it a "very exciting find" and expected to bring in between £25,000 to £30,000 ($30,992 to $46,488) at auction. Unfortunately, bidders were not as enthusiastic and the book failed to sell. As a result, the book will go back before bidders again on Thursday at a lower price, £15,000 to £20,000 ($24,358.50 to $32,478). So, if you're interested in this item and missed out on bidding the first time, here's a second chance! Rare book goes back under the hammer at Aylsham- this time for just £15,000 to £20,000 [more First English Edition of 'The Prince' Fails to Sell]