Library Company of Philadelphia
We love the expression of this cherub ushering in the end of this pamphlet (as well as our week) #FinisFriday
Ever wonder why you see a ton of gold-stamped cloth bindings from the 19th century, but hardly any silver? Gilt-stamping was a popular technique for decorating leather bindings, and made an easy transition to decorating cloth bindings when bookcloth first hit the American publishers’ binding scene in the 1830s.
Since aluminum-stamping was not available until the late 1870s, and was most popular through the 1880s, we see fewer examples in collections today.
Rollo in Holland. Abbott, Jacob. New York : Hurst & Co. [ca. 1880?] 10 cm x 15 cm x 2.5 cm.
Our final #LibraryBookArt feature comes from our copy of The Roman Histories of Lucius Iulius Florus (London, 1636). A former owner added this glorious portrait to the final leaf along with the inscription: Dikus Mulberry. We’re not sure whether Dikus is the person depicted, the former owner, or perhaps both. Regardless, we’re feeling some serious #HairEnvy.
If you are in need of an electrotyped type ornament, Bruce’s New York Type Foundry probably has what you’re looking for. Beehive? Got it. Tiny chair? Absolutely. Oyster? No problem. Avocado? Sure, why not, just use the oyster.
An Abridged Specimen of Printing Types, made at Bruce’s New-York Type-Foundry. New-York: George Bruce’s Son & Co., 1869.
Today marks the Autumnal Equinox, or the first day of fall! The leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and this 1880s trade card has reminded us that it’s officially #psl season and we could really use another cup of coffee.
Bufford’s Lith, printer. Union Tea Co. Boston : Bufford’s, c1880. 1 print: chromolithograph; 5 x 8.5 cm.
These two were just begging to be featured for #PublishersBindingThursday and really, who can say no to that face! Either of those faces!
We’re shining a light on this week’s #LibraryBookArt situation! Our Chief of Conservation, Jennifer Rosner, found this gorgeous geometric watermark while going through our copy of T.H. Saunders’ Illustrations of the British Paper Manufacture (London, 1855). We love how a seemingly plain piece of paper can come alive with just a little light.
T. H. Saunders. Illustrations of the British paper manufacture. London, Waterlow and Sons, 1855.
There’s still time to register for our upcoming seminar, Mirror of a City: Images of Philadelphia, 1780-1950, taking place September 26, October 10, and October 24.
Join Library Company curators Sarah Weatherwax and Erika Piola for this three-part seminar, in which attendees will examine the pivotal role of Philadelphia in creating the visual culture of the nation as a center for printmaking, photography, and collecting. Sessions will explore the social, cultural, and technological influences affecting Philadelphia image making; the known, hidden, and forgotten image makers; and the changing aesthetics of the physical city, as well as tastes of those who notably collected all manner of Philadelphia imagery. Seminar attendees will also gain knowledge about the evolution of the Library’s graphic collections, as well as have hands-on experiences with specimens of early photography, including daguerreotypes and stereographs.
The Library Company is pleased to announce that we have some scholarship funds available to help defray costs of students, teachers, artists, and employees at peer institutions. Check out the event site for more information.
#OnThisDay 399 years ago, the Mayflower set sail from England with 102 passengers and 30-odd crew members on board. Less than two months later they arrived at Provincetown Harbor in Cape Cod. Before disembarking, the first governing document – the Mayflower Compact – was drafted and signed by the colonists to outline how the new settlement would be governed. The original document has long since been lost, but pictured here is the version from “Mourt’s Relation,” printed in 1622.
William Bradford. Relation or journall of the beginning and proceedings of the English plantation setled at Plimoth in New England, by certaine English adventurers both merchants and others. London: Printed [by J. Dawson] for Iohn Bellamie, and are to be sold at his shop at the two Greyhounds in Cornhill neere the Royall Exchange, 1622.
On Wednesday we shared some #LibraryBookArt from our copy of Johann Heck’s Iconographic Encyclopædia of Science, Literature, and Art (New York, 1851-1852). Today we’re returning to the same copy to show off these gorgeous endpapers that are featured in all six volumes of the work. We can’t be sure, but our conservation team thinks these decorated papers may have originally been intended as wallpaper! Regardless, they make for some lovely #EndOfTheWeekEndpapers
(Also, take a look at that relic from our days as a lending library! Looks like the last time this book was checked out was in 1902, a few decades before we stopped lending books.)