Sybil Hurlburt Luddington, Sarah Hurlburt Bushnell, and Susan Hurlburt Grennell were triplets who lived well in their eighties. Even in old age, they were in good health and remained occupied with “some profitable and healthful employment.” Their resemblance to one another was thought to be rather striking, according to the profile of the sisters accompanying their portrait in the American Phrenological Journal (September, 1858), and the anonymous author of the article refers to the sisters collectively in their physical description. The Hurlburt triplets were considered extraordinary in part because all three showed “great vitality.” The author was also “happy to report that they all bid fair for many more years of usefulness.” Usefulness, likely taken here to mean productive capacities, is identified as the measure of age. The Hurlburt triplets exceptionality depended on the belief that women of their age were not typically productive.

Hurlburt triplets. Sybil Hurlburt Luddington. Sarah Hurlburt Bushnell. Susan Hurlburt Grinnell [i.e., Grennell]. Triplets, now seventy years of age. [New York? : s.n.] [1858?]

For Publishers’ Binding Thursday, we present this ribbon-embossed cloth-bound book from 1836. 

Ribbon-embossed grain got its name from its original intention: as decoration for cloth ribbons. However, the rising popularity of grained and decorated book-cloth in the 1830s and 1840s led to the production of ribbon-embossed cloth for use as a book covering.

We love the simplicity of this binding, and the choice to let the cloth speak for itself with no additional decoration beyond the gold spine title.

Browse the Library Company’s database of 19th-Century Cloth Bindings to see more! 

1836, Phrenology known by its fruits. Reese, David Meredith. New York : Howe & Bates.