Colossal - Secret fore-edge paintings and Rainbow Pencils

[Bogon07]

Some interesting articles over on Colossal:
These hidden bookedge paintings show amazing detail for their size. The book edges appear to have standard guilded edging until you angle the edges to reveal the paintings.
5181
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/09/fore-edge-book-paintings/

A few days ago Colleen Theisen (https://twitter.com/libralthinking) who helps with outreach and instruction at the Special Collections & University Archives (https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/spec-coll/) at the University of Iowa shared an amazing gif she made (http://uispeccoll.tumblr.com/post/59499211752/its-a-secret-to-everybody-this-is-one-example) that demonstrates something called fore-edge painting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fore-edge_painting) on the edge of a 1837 book called Autumn by Robert Mudie. Fore-edge painting, which is believed to date back as early as the 1650s, is a way of hiding a painting on the edge of a book so that it can only be seen when the pages are fanned out. There are even books that have double fore-edge paintings, where a different image can be seen by flipping the book over and fanning the pages in the opposite direction.
When I realized the book Theisen shared was only one of a series about the seasons, I got in touch and she agreed to photograph the other three so we could share them with you here. Above are photos of Spring (http://infohawk.uiowa.edu/F/?func=find-b&find_code=SYS&local_base=UIOWA&request=002786461), Summer (http://infohawk.uiowa.edu/F/?func=find-b&find_code=SYS&local_base=UIOWA&request=002786457), Autumn (http://infohawk.uiowa.edu/F/?func=find-b&find_code=SYS&local_base=UIOWA&request=002786457) and Winter (http://infohawk.uiowa.edu/F/?func=find-b&find_code=SYS&local_base=UIOWA&request=002786459) which were donated to the University of Iowa by Charlotte Smith. How much fun are these? Keep an eye on the University of Iowa’s special collections Tumblr (http://uispeccoll.tumblr.com/) as they unearth more artificats from the archives.

Rainbow Pencils Made of Recycled Paper
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http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/09/rainbow-pencils-made-of-recycled-paper/


Lead pencils with layers of coloured paper being done as a Kickstarter project.

[Adhizen]

I've seen these book edge paintings before. I've wanted to know how it was done... some of them are quite detailed. The book as an art form has had many incarnations which speaks to our relationship to it as form of communication and expression.

Some interesting articles over on Colossal:
These hidden bookedge paintings show amazing detail for their size. The book edges appear to have standard guilded edging until you angle the edges to reveal the paintings.
5181
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/09/fore-edge-book-paintings/

A few days ago Colleen Theisen (https://twitter.com/libralthinking) who helps with outreach and instruction at the Special Collections & University Archives (https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/spec-coll/) at the University of Iowa shared an amazing gif she made (http://uispeccoll.tumblr.com/post/59499211752/its-a-secret-to-everybody-this-is-one-example) that demonstrates something called fore-edge painting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fore-edge_painting) on the edge of a 1837 book called Autumn by Robert Mudie. Fore-edge painting, which is believed to date back as early as the 1650s, is a way of hiding a painting on the edge of a book so that it can only be seen when the pages are fanned out. There are even books that have double fore-edge paintings, where a different image can be seen by flipping the book over and fanning the pages in the opposite direction.
When I realized the book Theisen shared was only one of a series about the seasons, I got in touch and she agreed to photograph the other three so we could share them with you here. Above are photos of Spring (http://infohawk.uiowa.edu/F/?func=find-b&find_code=SYS&local_base=UIOWA&request=002786461), Summer (http://infohawk.uiowa.edu/F/?func=find-b&find_code=SYS&local_base=UIOWA&request=002786457), Autumn (http://infohawk.uiowa.edu/F/?func=find-b&find_code=SYS&local_base=UIOWA&request=002786457) and Winter (http://infohawk.uiowa.edu/F/?func=find-b&find_code=SYS&local_base=UIOWA&request=002786459) which were donated to the University of Iowa by Charlotte Smith. How much fun are these? Keep an eye on the University of Iowa’s special collections Tumblr (http://uispeccoll.tumblr.com/) as they unearth more artificats from the archives.

Rainbow Pencils Made of Recycled Paper
51825183
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/09/rainbow-pencils-made-of-recycled-paper/


Lead pencils with layers of coloured paper being done as a Kickstarter project.

[Bogon07]

These look to be one-of-a-kind books. Do you think the pages were clamped in place and then painted on ?
I suppose this could be achieved with modern printing technology but you would need to have very precise binding for it to work well.


I hope it doesn't generate a rash of people bending and twisting old books to see if they have hidden pictures.

[Carole]

You know, that's exactly the thought that crossed my mind--run over to the Library and start looking for these things! ;) j/k Actually, by chance, I've seen some fore-edge book paintings similar to these (I was wearing white gloves at the time), they're amazing.

This short article describes the technique a bit, in case anyone wants to give it a try. http://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/library/lib_sc_fore_edged_srp.pdf
(I know there are others with more pics but couldn't find them at the moment.) Thanks for posting this! Didn't know the Colossal site, it's great.

[Adhizen]

The book has to be painted with the pages flexed and then when the book in "normal" they apply the gold... which is about all I know.... They are quite rare.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Amazing.

[jacksterp]

Spend some time on this site - well worth it.

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/