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Category Archives: rare books
Veiled in Gold: The Mysterious History of Disappearing Fore-Edge Decoration
The anatomy of a book includes the fore-edge, or the vertical outer edge of a closed volume. The American Heritage Center’s Toppan Rare Books Library holds fourteen specimens of disappearing fore-edge paintings. Eight of these were collected by Charles Chacey … Continue reading
Posted in Art History, Book arts, Historical Crafts, Library Collections, rare books, Uncategorized
Tagged Art preservation, Art revival, Bibliophilia, Book aesthetics, Book collecting, Book decoration, Book design, Bookbinding, C.B. Currie, Cultural Heritage, Fore-edge painting, Historical bookmaking, rare books, Samuel Mearne, Toppan Rare Books Library, Vera Dutter, Victorian book arts, Vintage books, William Edwards
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Over the Rainbow: Toppan Rare Book Library’s 1939 Oz Books
In the days before streaming became commonplace, it was an annual tradition in many households to look forward to the night when The Wizard of Oz film would air on television. Although not my favorite movie, it was always breathtaking … Continue reading
Posted in Artists, Authors and literature, Book arts, Children's literature, commercial art, Fantasy, popular culture, rare books, Toppan Rare Books Library, Uncategorized
Tagged 1939, Anniversaries, Book illustrations, Books Collections, John R. Neill, Junior Editions, L. Frank Baum, Oz Books, Rare Editions, The Wizard of Oz, Toppan Rare Books Library
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Harriet Hinsdale’s Library: A Room Worth Rating
With the increased popularity of video conferencing platforms like Zoom over the last few years, more and more people began to notice room backgrounds. The idea of “rating the room” often became more important than what was discussed.[i] Many of these … Continue reading
Beauty in the Books: Treasures of the Toppan Library
Nestled between the Laramie Mountains to the east and the Snowy Range mountains to the west, Laramie is a gateway for visitors and residents alike to explore the beauty of Wyoming’s nature. Yet at the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage … Continue reading
The Old-Time Saloon – Just History
Prohibition is little discussed today except in history classes. But if you’re interested in the still relevant political arguments that led to Prohibition in the first place, read the 1931 book The Old-Time Saloon: Not Wet, Not Dry—Just History by George … Continue reading
Time-Traveling Through Toppan: A Peek into the Pages of Ancient Wisdom
Alexander of Hales (ca.1185 to 1245) was a Franciscan scholar from Gloucestershire, England, who taught theology and philosophy in Paris. He was obviously still popular in the fifteenth century when this book was printed in Germany by Anton Koberger: one … Continue reading
Cheramy Collection: Unveiling American Indian History at the Toppan Rare Books Library
The Toppan Rare Books Library is home to a remarkable piece of history – The Cheramy Collection. Donated in 2008 by Ed and Shirley Cheramy of Jackson, Wyoming, this collection comprises more than 150 books, articles, and government publications that … Continue reading
Toppan Selection: James Atkinson, Esq., Sketches in Afghaunistan [London: Henry Graves & Co.], 1842
James Atkinson (1780-1852) was one of the first Europeans to explore Afghanistan, and served as an infantry surgeon there. The Belgian lithographers Louis and Charles Haghe reproduced his original watercolor drawings as twenty-six individual plates in this oversize portfolio (18 … Continue reading
Time Traveling with Zigzag Journeys: Louise A. Jackson’s Western Children’s Books
The Louise A. Jackson Juvenile Western Book Collection contains one hundred and two Western children’s books from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as well as eight reference books on juvenile literature. These books represent early children’s book series … Continue reading