Coptic Bound Antique Cyrillic Dictionary Volume 1 Handmade Junk Journal with Handtorn Paper with Brass Edges
I bought this antique book set in Shanghai, China. They are from a set of antique Cyrillic dictionaries once in use in Eastern Europe before they found their way to Shanghai. I LOVE the patina on these books. They were used for reference over and over again, touched by so many hands and fingers attached to minds of people who wanted to understand language. Such a fantastic pedigree on these. I included a couple of photos of the entire set of these junk journals, but each one is a separate purchase.
This is Volume 1. I really love the “Juan” bag in this book, so much so that I made a repair non it to use it. I made a page in there from a 20kg Chinese soybean bag that is transparent. There’s some gorgeous colored papers and bunches of commercial retail paper from Shanghai where we lived for 3 years. I sewed in original pages from the antique book into this journal so you’d have them.
There are two extra bits: an overlay of this Victorian prize steer on top of another original manuscript page from this set and a soldier on a horse overlaid onto an antique Pears Cyclopedia page.
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. This book has a kind of cool, old smell. It belonged to a set – I bought them all, carted them all halfway across the globe. I want some person to use it and use it and use it!
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 10 1/4 inches tall (about 26cm) by 7 1/4 inches wide (about 18.5cm) and is about 2 1/4 inches thick (about 6cm)
# of PAGES: 412 (I count the back and front of every page.)
# of SIGNATURES: At least 26 signatures
BINDING: This is a handsewn coptic bound book. The spine is loose and can be lain flat for use. It wiggles when you move it, is meant to wiggle as it is flexible and very sturdy – meaning the spine is not stiff. I sewed this 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 tiny 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 directly (aimee_steiner@yahoo.com) about shipping and tell me the exact name of the item and I will tell you the cost.
Weight: |
41.6 oz |
|---|---|
Dimensions: |
10.25 × 2.25 × 7.25 in |
$285.00
1 in stock
