Canvassing books were used by salesmen who went door-to-door taking orders for books. These books are multi-function tools. The front and back covers displayed two of the binding styles available for purchase. Other versions were adhered to the inside, which also showed sample pages and illustrations. Some included a cheat-sheet with pitches to highlight all the special features and increase sales. In the back of the book the agent filled in order sheets with the name, address, and binding style that the customer wished to purchase.

This canvassing book was meant to show four binding styles, two of which you can see in this post.  Bound into the book are samples of engravings, a family record page, photograph album pages, a marriage certificate, and some dictionary samples.  These special pages have pink notes attached with a script for the canvasser to use in his pitch. The one shown here goes into great detail about the most expensive Bible on offer, each “medallion” described in effusive detail.

This book is on display as part of our current exhibition, The Living Book : New Perspectives on Form and Function, free and open to the public through January 5, 2018.

New Devotional and Explanatory Pictorial Family Bible (Philadelphia, 1879). Canvassing book. Michael Zinman Binding Collection.

The Holy Bible (Philadelphia, 1844). Michael Zinman Binding Collection.

This elegant Bible was a gift to Mary Ashhurst from the husband of her friend. It was to thank her for “…the kindness shown by you to my wife during her sufferings last summer….”  The binding has several lovely features: velvet covers with brass edges, gleaming gold-leaf edges, velvet and pink embossed endpapers, and a clasp with Mrs. Ashhurst’s name engraved on it.

This book is on display as part of our current exhibition, The Living Book : New Perspectives on Form and Function, on display through January 5, 2018.

Sometimes books want to go out in a fancy sweater. 

According to the bookplate, Mary Sandwith (1732-1815) was given this Bible by her grandfather in 1736, when she was a small child. She likely made the needlepoint woolen cover in the Bargello style, or flame stitch, when she was around eleven years old. The spine has the words “Mary Sandwith her BIBLE 1743” embroidered to look like a book label.

The Book of Common Prayer (London, 1702), The Holy Bible (London, 1684), The Whole Book of Psalms (London, 1673) bound together.