Featured FORE EDGE BOOKS Information!!

Today was a little bizarre when I opened my email!!! There, was a post from a "Martin Frost", who I didn't remember AT ALL, but since I have a pretty good service protecting my computer, I held my breath and went there!!!! Back when we had looked at some Fore Edge books here, I must have gone to his site and left my email (duhhhhh!), 'cuz boy was it interesting, all over again!!!! (HOPING that's not a sign my memory is TOAST!!). However, for anyone interested, here is the link.....been there....loved it....did NOT check out prices....(but saved site!!) (AND NOTHING bad happened to my computer, FYI!!!)

http://www.foredgefrost.co.uk/

For those who DON'T know what it is......it's when elaborate paintings are hidden on the edges of antique books that are only visible when the books are fanned out!!!!

 

They are usually gilt edged so always check those. Often they are small as well.

 

DH and I have seen one. A couple of months ago we traveled to a large university with an extensive library. First day there we went to their library and asked if they had any books with fore-edge painting. One of the very nice librarians said they did and asked if we could come back later (in the afternoon).

We went back about 4:00 p.m. and lo and behold they had pulled an absolutely beautiful (breathtakingly so) book with fore-edge painting. That particular university library has a "collection" of such books, but we saw only the one that afternoon. The librarian who was assisting us seemed to have a love for fore-edge painting books and seemed pleased that someone (a "visitor") had inquired about them.

 

Powell's books in Portland Oregon seems to always have some. Maybe they can be seen on their site.

 

I used to see them at book shows. They were never cheap. The edition is usually not of particular collector interest - not first editions or like that. It is the fore edge painting that is the focus of attention. The bindings are frequently custom leather since the appearance of the artifact is everything.

If you're actually going to read the book, that would probably be hazardous to the decoration.

 

READ it!!!!

 

Oh, just saw some of those when I was watching some antiques show. There was one where you could fan in both directions and get 2 different pictures. I thought that was pretty dang cool!!!