Wild Muse Notes

While researching book bindings for a project, I’ve been coming across these gorgeous embroidered book covers and bindings from the 16th and 17th century. Thought I’d make a blog post out of these exquisite works of art.. The original scans for the books are scattered throughout The British Library Database of Bookbindings. I’ve just selected, [...]

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“We now come to a beautiful and loquacious race of animals, that embellish our forests, amuse our walks, and exclude solitude from our most shady retirements. From there man has nothing to fear, their pleasures, their desires, and even their animosities, only serve to enliven the general picture of Nature, and give harmony to meditation.”

Yet [...]

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I found this Victorian Era copy of Undine by Friedrich de La Motte Fouque in the toss away bin on one of my recent book hunts. This copy, published in 1897, is illustrated by Rosie M. M. Pitman. The cover and binding are water damaged but the pages and pictures are in pretty good shape. [...]

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A hat tip and thanks for the reminder to wise and inspiring friends Donna, Karen, Lisa, and Nin. I’ve been re-focusing and that is certainly a helpful mantra. Magic, Art, and Beauty. That’s what it’s all about. Thought about calling this post “Magic, Art, and Booty” (as in the booty from treasure hunting) but that [...]

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These fascinating time-worn book pages and covers are the latest additions to my early reader collection. The two 19th century primers were discovered on a recent treasure hunting expedition to the local antique market.

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