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  1. Dartmouth Libraries
  2. Research Guides
  3. Dartmouth Libraries Guides
  4. Book Arts
  5. Book History

Book Arts

A source for bookbinding and printing instructions, videos and links to resources regarding book production, history, culture and art.
  • Book Arts in the Dartmouth Library
  • Resources
  • Book History
  • Book Structures and Tutorials
  • Bookbinding Tools and Materials
  • Printing History
  • Letterpress Printing
  • Printers and Small Presses Publishers
  • Typography
  • Illustration Techniques

Anatomy of a Book

General Book History

  • Graphic Design History Nancy Stock-Allen's comprehensive site on the history of books, book materials, writing, printing, and design. http://www.designhistory.org
  • A Brief History of Writing The British Museum's history of writing tools and materials

Clay Tablets

  • The World's Oldest Writing Cuneiform writing and clay tablets as described by The Archaeological Institute of America

Cuneiform tablets at the UCLA Library

Wax Tablets

  • Wax Tablets The British Library's description and collection of wax tablets
  • How to Make a Wax Tablet Instructables step-by-step guide on making a wax tablet
  • Another way to Make Wax Tablets

Papyrus

  • A Brief History of Papyrus From the Dartmouth Ancient Books Lab, a blog from a Dartmouth course, CLST: Ancient Books, offered in Spring Term, 2026.
  • Ancient Writing Materials
  • University of Michigan Papyrus Collection Information about Papyrus and How it is Made The University of Michigan has over 10,000 ancient papyrus fragments and conducts research and conservation. Don't miss the link to their collection!
  • How to Make Papyrus WikiHow Instructions on How to Make Papyrus
  • Pigments and Inks Typically Used on Papyrus This post is part of a series by Conservators and Curators on papyrus and in particular the Book of the Dead of the Goldworker of Amun, Sebekmose, a 24 foot long papyrus in the Brooklyn Museum’s collection.

Parchment

  • The Grisly Invention of Parchment An excerpt from "The Book", by Keith Houston

Clip from Stephen Baxter, medieval historian at King's College, London visiting a parchment making shop to see how the parchment for the Domesday Book was made.

Jesse Meyer of Pergamena Leather and Parchment making parchment on Business Insider

Making Parchment in the UK in 1939

Paper

  • History of Paper and other resources

Pens

  • History of Reed Pens From the History of Pencils
  • How to Make a Reed Pen From Instructables
  • How to Make a Reed Pen from a Coffee Stirrer
  • Where to Buy a Reed Pen
  • History of Pens in General From the Journal Shop
  • How to Make a Quill Pen from Instructables Step by step instructions on making a quill pen

Writing Ink

  • History of Pen and Ink From the website "History of Pencils"
  • A Visual History of Ink

The British Library's video about oak gall ink and how it's used and made.

How to make early medieval carbon-based black ink by Experimental Soup! (a series conducting experimental archeology)

Folger Shakespeare Library's video on making writing/drawing ink from blackberries.

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  • Last Updated: May 6, 2025 4:08 PM
  • URL: https://researchguides.dartmouth.edu/bookarts
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Subjects: Book Arts

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