Coptic Bound 156 Page Handmade Selection du Livre Winged Horse French Junk Journal with Handtorn Paper in Antique Canvas Book Cover with Brass Edges

I bought this antique book in Shanghai China from an antiques dealer.  I LOVE the horse, the ribbed spine, and the wear on the book. I did cover the inner pages with stickers, but left the exterior blank for you to decorate.

Inside there are many double columned pages, two toned.  I was thinking of columns as I created this, and those pages kind of feel like tabs.  If it were mine to keep I’d probably embroider the seams of the two toned pages or add ribbons to them, but I have left that choice to you.

There are pieces of ephemera: a page from the actual book overlaid with an antique French advertisement in keeping with the book and then a cool tassel I bought in Shanghai, China.

I LOVE handmade stuff, real folkart that’s actually, truly, from scratch.  I collect stuff that’s human and full of the heart of whomever made it.  All my journals are this way – I mean to make treasures. I’m not making a product, I’m building something beautiful because it’s worth doing.

In every case there is only 1 of these; you are buying the only one there will ever be.

VIDEO:  If you want to see every page of this product, please use the link that is a sort of mustard color right at the base of this listing.  In the video, I take you through the entire journal.

DETAILS OF THIS BOOK

SIZE: This journal measures about 5 1/8 inches wide (about 13 cm) by 7 1/2 inches tall (about 19cm) and is about 2 1/4 inches thick (about 5.5cm)

# of PAGES: 156 pages (I count the back and front of every page.)

# of SIGNATURES: About 14 Signatures

BINDING: This is a coptic bound book.  The spine is quite flexible meaning that even though it is exceptionally sturdy there is play in it and can be lain flat for use.   I sew with doubled cotton crochet thread.

HARVESTING USED PAPER:  I employ actual used paper, with rips, spots, stains, glues; I glue pages together, overlay them if they’re not big enough, and repair pages with little patches. I prep each piece by washing it with a bleaching wipe.  Then I iron each piece four times.  I usually remove excess glue with acetone – I’m always thinking, “This is how to take something worth negative money and utilize all kinds of commodities to modify it…”  But I do it anyway!

I handcut or rip each page to size for each project. I collect all kinds of papers, some are handmade cotton, many are from commercial bags from my travels or from home.  I’m always rummaging.

SIGNATURES: I design each book so that the colors work, and I usually keep a kind of idea of the entire feel as I put it together.  I normally do a very thin page at the center of each signature.

EDGES:  This book has brass edges added to the top and bottom of the leather cover in front and back.  These have been hammered on by hand – they’re there to keep the edges crisp.

ALL SHIPPING IS FREE.* Once purchased I will ship within 48 hours unless the weather interferes. We live on an island off the coast of northern Maine.  In winter we get loads of storms and on rare occasions mail isn’t able to come or go off island, though never for more than a few hours or one day.

After I ship I’ll email you the tracking.

**If you live outside of the United States, please email me about shipping and tell me the exact name of the item and I will tell you the cost.

$85.00

1 in stock

Coptic Bound 156 Page Handmade Selection du Livre Winged Horse French Junk Journal with Handtorn Paper in Antique Canvas Book Cover with Brass Edges quantity

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