Fine Books & Manuscripts

[CAXTON CLUB CHICAGO BY THE BOOK]. DOWD, Lesa, binder (Director of Conservation Services for the Newberry Library). Chicago by the Book: 101 Publications that Shaped the City and its Image. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, [2018]. Small 4to. Illustrated from photographs. Original full black goatskin sewn on four splayed cords, laced into boards, inlayed with red, gold, blue goatskin and black suede inlays tooled in blind and gilt, overlayed with printed Japanese Mingei paper featuring titles and authors of the publication, red leather endbands, black top edge, Payhembury marbled endpapers; custom cloth folding box with red goatskin spine label gilt. “The layers and characteristics of the materials I used for this binding are reflective of the city and of the 101 titles selected for the book. I wanted the book to come alive like this amazing city and the books born here. The simplified cityscape is highlighted by the glistening gold, while the color palette is one we all recognize from the Chicago flag. The six-pointed star from the flag and also from the book’s commercial cover was selected to hold the book’s title prominently in gold on the front cover. The light blue paper that serves as the city’s backdrop contains the titles of the selections contained within the book. This paper was cut into strips and woven to create a rich texture not immediately obvious without closer inspection. The combination of traditional and modern techniques and materials speak to the evolution of the city from its earliest beginnings to the present day (Dowd).”