Reading Copy Book Blog

Sometimes less is more. The minimalist art movement originated in 1960s New York City. It tended toward simplicity and focus, rather than ornate background or decoration. Many book designers have utilized these principles, eschewing the busy and elaborate in favor of the bare essentials. Enjoy this selection of books whose eye-catching design proves that a [...]

Bookbinding’s history is rooted in craftsmanship and devotion to the written word. While hand-binding is less common now, there is happily a creative minority dedicated to its preservation. These skilled artisans create custom bindings for clients, for exhibition and for pleasure. Sometimes more than one copy is produced, but no two will ever be identical. [...]

Remember our March Madness Battle of the Beautiful Books? Well, we have an interview with the poet whose book “The Crow’s Vow” won the whole enchilada. Read on to learn more about the lovely and bird-crazy Susan Briscoe. And I came across another book today which reminded me that two designs, while very similar when [...]

Beautiful vintage airline posters and vintage travel posters are a gorgeous way to remember when airline travel was a treat.

Beautiful books with retro cover art, from the 1950s and 1960s.

A shape book is a book die-cut to take the shape of anything the designer chooses from teddy bears, flowers, shoes and beyond. Many Victorian-era shape books are highly collectible.

Our literary-themed March Madness has reached its second semi-final – Animals and Objects In and Out of Water by Jay Ryan versus The Crow’s Vow by Susan Briscoe. Cast your vote now. The book that wins will face The Noodle Maker by Ma Jian in the grand final on Monday.

Rare book of the day is Masterpieces of Japanese Puppetry. Sculptured Heads of the Bunraku Theater by Saito Seijiro. Bunraku is traditional Japanese puppet theater and I bizarrely learned about this 400-year-old art while reading a Japanese-themed Thea Stilton adventure book to my daughter who was five at the time. The puppets are very elaborate [...]

The Russian Avant-Garde movement began prior to the rule of Nicholas II and thrived in the early years of the Communist regime. This selection of rare and collectable treasures shows how Avant-Garde art influenced books and other publications during these turbulent years. Glasnost brought in political openness and revealed some beautiful rare books. See the [...]

Today’s edition of book design March Madness sees A Monster’s Notes by Laurie Sheck versus Death in the Andes by Mario Vargas Llosa. Get voting.