Hunting the elusive bookbinder

That’s All She Wrote In 1941 Hannah Dustin French of the Wellesley College Library published an essay entitled “Early American Bookbinding by Hand.” In the essay, she makes mention of American’s first bookbinder: Bookbinding was one of the very early crafts to be practiced in this country, but where the

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Care and Repairs for Standard Hardcovers

Many of us have personal libraries, and within those libraries the chance that we own a standard hardcover book is high. Modern case bindings (also known as hardcovers) are everywhere. These bindings are constructed from paper boards covered by a sturdy cloth or decorated paper, and the cover is generally

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The 18th Century, Thomas Jefferson and Book Binding

“I am not so regular in my sleep as the Doctor (Rush) says he was, devoting to it from five to eight hours, according as my company or the book I am reading interests me; and I never go to bed without an hour or half an hour’s previous reading

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Holiday Shopping at the ABM Bookstore: Some Recommendations

Having a hard time finding a gift for the book lover in your life? Why not do some of your holiday shopping in our bookstore? After all, we’re offering 10% off all bookstore purchases on the two remaining pre-Christmas Saturdays! Here are some recommendations from ABM staff members. Madeleine says:

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Don’t Cross a Bookbinder – A Bookbinder’s Curse

In honor of National Poetry Month, a bookbinder’s curse in 10 stanzas. One wonders what “Particular Occasion” caused Mr. “Burnisher” to vent such spleen. Solemn Curse Pronounced by Ben Burnisher upon a Master Bookbinder upon a Particular Occasion May rats and mice devour your paste, Your paper, and your leather.

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#ColorOurCollections Wrap-Up

#ColorOurCollections has come and gone, but luckily the links to the coloring pages in our original post will remain, so if you feel like coloring, please make use of them. We’re always excited to see your artistic takes on our collection items. Hopefully this project will continue next year –

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#ColorOurCollections 2016!

The craze for coloring books continues to grow! If you (or people you know, of any age) enjoy coloring, as I do, then you’re in for a real treat. This week, the New York Academy of Medicine is sponsoring a special collections coloring fest on social media!

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box by box, the ABM library is being built!

While the museum itself is of course up and running, the library and archives here at the museum are still in process. I find myself confronted with a particular question often these days: In general, what is the difference between libraries and archives? The simple distinction is that a library

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SF in SF at ABM

On January 17, please join the American Bookbinders Museum as we host SF in SF and authors Kim Stanley Robinson and Cecelia Holland, who will read from current work, then participate in an interview hosted by Terry Bisson.  Doors open at 5:30; the program begins at 6pm.

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For All Time: The Victorian Gift Book

“Jo was the first to wake in the gray dawn of Christmas morning. No stockings hung at the fireplace and for a moment she felt as much disappointed as she did long ago, when her little sock fell down because it was crammed so full of goodies. Then she remembered

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