Call Number:

Item 0007

Repository:

University of Delaware Library Special Collections

Extent:

1 volume

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

MSS 0093, Item 0007, Notebook of handicraft instructions, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.

Date:

approximately 1900s (inclusive)

Creator:

Creator unknown

Form:

Do-it-yourself manuals and Instructions (document genre)

Abstract:

This notebook contains twenty-two handwritten pages of instructions, illustrations, and samples for a making a portfolio, working with metals and leather, and constructing a scrapbook and a tape-sewn book, as well as threading a handloom.

This notebook was created by an unidentified individual with a knowledge of bookbinding and other handcrafts.

Information derived from the collection.

This notebook contains twenty-two handwritten pages of instructions, illustrations, and samples for a making a portfolio, working with metals and leather, and constructing a scrapbook and a tape-sewn book, as well as threading a handloom.

The notebook has six titled sections, the first of which is “Procedure for Making a portfolio.” The seven pages of this section describe and illustrate with miniature examples of the stages of the process. The miniature examples are adhered to the page opposite the descriptive text. There is also a page of “samples of book binder’s linen” which includes estimated costs and firms from which to purchase products. This includes pages of leather samples with prices from Jones and Naudin Co. (Gloversville, NY) and a page with samples of leather tooling and burning.

The second section is a three-page section on "Metals," which includes notes on types and cleaning of metals and techniques such as etching, filing, cutting, and stretching.

The third section, “Scrapbook,” consists of five pages describing the construction of a scrapbook with a list of materials, step-by-step procedures, miniature examples, and a page of samples of dyed cotton print for the cover.

The fourth section, “Tape Sewn Book,” is a four-page description of the materials and techniques used in constructing a book, including the filler and cover, and illustrated with miniature examples.

The fifth and final section concerns “Threading a Hand Loom” and “Threadings for Looms." This information is written on two notecards and laid in the notebook. “Threading a Hand Loom” consists of instructions for threading a handloom on the recto and a hand-drawn illustration of a handloom (with machine parts labeled) on the verso. “Threadings for Looms” lists the names and illustrations for six threadings.