Nature of the Book: A Virtual Tour

Take a virtual tour of our newest exhibition Nature of the Book!
The exhibition explores books of the hand-press era through the myriad natural materials - animal, vegetable, and mineral - that went into their making. From essential ingredients like flax, leather, copper, and lead, to the unexpected, like wasps and seaweed, the exhibition shows what the use of these materials can tell us about the book, touching on questions of use, process, global trade, and economy.
Including an array of books from our Special Collections, paired with specimens ranging from ochre, azurite, and cotton bolls to silkworm cocoons and wasp nests, Nature of the Book tells a story of both local resources and resourcefulness, and global influence. During our this online presentation, learn more directly from the book conservators who curated the exhibition.
Featuring:
Vanessa Smith, Supervisory Conservator
Katie Wagner, Senior Book Conservator