As regards my career as a bookbinder and rare book conservator, there has been no better day than October 28th, 2010. It was on this day that the Gutenberg Museum (Mainz, Germany) installed a year-long solo-exhibition of some of my bookbinding works in Medieval & Renaissance styles.

Following is a brief description of only a few my bindings that are on exhibition through October 2011;

Lost Gutenbergs, Set No. 49, of 128.  {Medieval-style}
Two Volumes. Blind-tooled alum-tawed pigskin over solid beech-wood cover boards, with historically authentic brass bosses and clasps, Medieval braided endbands, around traditional German-primaries, etc, etc.

Historicus Krismanus. Postelle. {Medieval-style}
Blind-tooled alum-tawed pigskin over solid beech-wood cover boards. central front and back blind tooled plates were created from an original 15th Century hand carved wooden bookbinders block. Traditional blind tooling, in a successive pattern, surrounds the central blind-stamped areas. Bronze clasps hand cut by MLC in the "duck-bill" design. Braided alum-tawed leather around traditional natural-linen German-primary end-bands. The paper used in this book is custom "BBWS" Gutenberg Biblereplica paper, which also includes the original watermarks.

The Nuremberg Chronicle.  {Renaissance-style}
1st Latin, 1493. (Nahas Facsimile). Blind-tooled alum-tawed pigskin over solid beech-wood cover boards. Tooled in the well-known 'successive' roll pattern, with custom-cast late 15th Century corner bosses and clasps, from and original set. Braided leather around traditional natural-linen German-primary end-bands.

The Merchants Ledger. {Renaissance-style}
Replica of a late 15th Century German merchants ledger. Full vellum, with historically authentic lacing. The paper used in this book is custom "BBWS" Gutenberg Bible replica paper, which also includes the original watermarks.

Many, many additional items on exhibit that show the detail of the "anatomy" of these bindings, i.e. diagonally cut wooden board, sewing cords, book hardware, Franz Hoffmann Alum-Tawed Pigskin, and much more.

Some photos of the Installation ceremony.....



The wine toasting!, officially opening the exhibition.