Here's something different - I documented some antique French books from the 1700s yesterday and marvelled at the artistry of them with their leather and gold but that was nothing compared to the amazing - cosmic - endpapers!
© Sheila Creighton 2011
18th Century Endpapers
Imagery of Light 
Very nice!! I actually had never heard the term “endpapers”…. I had to look it up!! 😉
thanks Holly!
How interesting! The colours are so strong – it reminds me of an album cover from the 60s (imagination again). Beautiful.
I love to learn about new things – thanks Sheila.
thanks M – I know what you mean about the 60s – and they thought it was new and unique to that time!!
A beautiful shot, Sheila! It shows that the bookbinding was a type of ‘art’ in itself, not just an end product. The book itself was meant to be enjoyed and appreciated, not just the story. 🙂
thanks Ted – how right you are! Sad it is an almost dead art – and now with digital readers, etc.. I fear that books themselves are in severe danger.
I listened to a discussion about the future of art books, in this digital age. Somehow I think there’ll still be those like me, who want the real thing. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I hope you are right eremophila! art books especially.
😀 😀 😀 … Smoking!
thanks aj 🙂 🙂 🙂
Gorgeous paper! I remember when I worked at a hotel on the Isle of Mull, an artist had a studio nearby and produced beautiful patterns using different coloured inks on water(?) in a screen-box type thingie, then resting the paper on top to absorb the colour. I remember it took quite some skill to not blur the colours too much or streak them when removing the paper from the screen. I bought quite a few rolls of the paper, which I then used as book covers 🙂
it is truly an art form that needs to be preserved! and the paper – all handmade with a great feel and texture.