When one handles old books and paper , one is constantly coming upon images that attract and stop the eye. Sometimes it is the sheer beauty of an image that captivates one. Other times it is an image whose qualities so totally capture the spirit of a time that one believes that image to be iconic. Sometimes it is just something strange or telling in an image.

Images abound in nineteenth century books and pamphlets. Images abound again in early twentieth century materials; but the nature of the images was evolving, as were the materials and production means for creating the image. Late nineteenth century and early twentieth century were the golden ages for illustrators - wielders of pen and ink.

The nineteenth century saw the proliferation of both wood engraving (as well as the simpler wood-cut) and steel-plate engraving. Plus, early in the nineteenth century illustrators and artists became captivated by the possibilities in stone impressions ... lithography, which led into chromolithography. The world of images, the methods and materials used to create them is practically endless. It is certainly a rich field.

I thought I would share various images found in old books and paper. There will be no rhyme or reason .... just that there will be something interesting about the image. Or, yes, something merely beautiful.

Please feel free to make contributions yourselves. Add a little text explaining why you think the image interesting ... or beautiful. I realise some pictures will speak for themselves.



TWIG WRITING or Twig Typeface, although this was engraved by the cover artist. I believe there were experiements done increating actual type for printing in twig, but such, by its very self-immobilized form would be contrary to or would lose the free and loose expression that resided in the drawn (or engraved) twig writing.

Twig writing flourished as a luxuriant undergrowth in American book illustration. The image here shows an old 1862 almanac, but it was used in books for illustrated title pages and chapter initial letters, etc. It evoked, or was supposed to evoke, a folksy – homey kind of feeling. We're out in the rural countryside now -- healthy farm folks, hewing type face from tree limbs and sprigs. Everybody eats a hearty meal after chopping down the day's type-face. There are a great many examples of twig writing to be found .... no two ever seem to be quite the same.

Below is a closer look at part of the image. The sickle and hourglass on the old Bible is sort of nifty also. Ayuh, time flyeth. Old man sickle he be awaitin'.