Daniel Dafoe. Robinson Crusoe. Embroidered front cover of a 1791 edition of Robinson Crusoe, from the Newberry Library — Source.
Daniel Dafoe. Robinson Crusoe. Embroidered back cover of a 1791 edition of Robinson Crusoe, from the Newberry Library — Source.
This book cover is one of a kind. It was fashionable for ladies of this time period to hand embroider covers for books and this gorgeous piece of needlework has survived beautifully and is kept in the Newberry Library in Chicago. The Public Domain Review featured an article about this art form (it’s at the link below) and I’ll be posting a few other examples down the road. I keep thinking that in 1791 when this book was published it was considered an item of luxury. It was so valuable that the person who designed and made this cover spent hour upon hour with needle and thread to embellish it. It’s exquisite.
Via: Public Domain Review
It is extraordinary. The names on the map are interesting, I didn’t know that Australia was ever called New Holland. I rather like the winds, blowing trouble on the ships.
This is amazingly impressive. And really shows the value of books -- obviously they’re still worth a lot of effort, but I think there’s certain advantages to the invention of colour printing.
Oh my gods this is amazing. Caine would have loved it so much.
It looks so dynamic. You can almost see the waves rolling.