J. Franklin Mowery experimental case construction specimen

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0097-Item 0179

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This single volume is a specimen of a case construction binding created by John Franklin ("Frank") Mowery, a bookbinder and former head conservator at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.

The case consists of multi-colored inlaid leather straps stretched over cardboard boards. The excess leather has been folded and glued under the boards. Mowery attached six separate strips of multi-colored leather to the bottom edge of the case’s back cover. A piece of brown leather has been wrapped around the top of the case’s front cover, spine, and back cover and glued into place on both the exterior and interior of the case. A strip of green leather has been wrapped and glued in the same manner around the bottom of the case’s front cover, spine, and back cover.

The book block consists of unlined paper signatures that have been sewn into the guards. The leaves have been trimmed, but maintain a rough edge. Some of the leaves were not trimmed as fully, and have been folded inward to maintain a consistent trim edge. Mowery attached hand-sewn, multi-colored headbands to the top and bottom of the spine.

Mowery wrote an inscription in blue ink on the first page of the volume, asking an unknown recipient not to “take the technique of this model serious[ly]” since “it was intended to see what the box construction would look like.” The name “Mowery” was also written on this page in pencil. There are several pencil scribbles throughout the volume. The last leaf has been partially torn out.

Dates

Creation: approximately 1970-2010

Creator

Mowery, John Franklin (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Terms Govering Use and Reproduction

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce isrequired from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec

Biographical Note

John Franklin Mowery was the head of conservation at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., from 1977 until his retirement in 2013. He trained in Europe at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Hamburg, Germany, and the National Arts Academy in Vienna, Austria, before being awarded the titles of Master Binder and Conservator. He developed and perfected numerous techniques used in paper conservation and has published and lectured extensively on bookbinding and book conservation.

“Restore Paper: Conservation by J. Franklin Mowery” (accessed on September 4, 2015 and September 22, 2016) http://restorepaper.com/about/ Information derived from the collection.