Research Guides
Book Arts & Rare Book Collections: Book Arts
Historically significant, rare and collectible books from the Libraries Special Collections Division.
Featured Book
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Moon Dreams
by
Limited ed. of 2 copies
Letterpress printed. Artist-created paste papers and Japanese decorated paper collaged on accordion folded boards, one leaf of text and 5 leaves of illustrations
Hands-On Book Arts
About the Book Arts Collection
The Book Arts Collection includes both historical and modern pieces encompassing all aspects of the physical book: typography, papermaking, letterpress and offset printing, illustration, book design, paper decoration, calligraphy, sculptural and conceptual work and artist's books. There is a separate subset of the Collection dedicated to the history of bookbinding with a special emphasis on 19th century publisher's decorated bindings.
Roughly half of the Collection of 21,000 titles is 20th and 21st century. Historical materials are primarily English, European and American and date from 11th century to the end of the 19th century. Balancing a special commitment to collect current work from the dynamic Pacific Northwest, work is actively acquired from throughout the US, Canada, England and Europe. New work is being added continually.
Also in the Collection are hundreds of uncataloged paper samples, zines, and regalia, including materials donated by artists to support study of their work such as paste-ups, proofs, drawings, ephemera and photographs.
Related Links and Guides
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Digital Collection of Historical Book ArtsA teaching tool featuring a sampling of materials held in the Special Collections Division focusing on the history of the book and medieval manuscripts from the 11th to the 19th century. The digital collection is comprised of images of binding, printing, papermaking and illustration examples and techniques.
Digital collections still in development include Medieval Manuscripts, 19th Century Bindings and Modern Book Arts. -
Digital Collection of Decorated and Decorative PaperExamples of decorated and decorative papers such as Western marbled paper, paste paper, and Dutch gilt paper produced between the 17th and 19th centuries, from Europe, primarily Germany, France and Italy.