Seeing a 15th century binding at the New York Public Library changed my approach

I was looking at a display case there about five years ago, and one book had its spine completely gone. You could see the sewing structure clear as day, how the cords were laced into the boards. I'd only ever worked from modern manuals before that. Now when I plan a rebind, I always try to study the original structure first, even if it's just a photo. Has anyone else had a moment like that, where seeing an old piece just clicked something into place?

4 comments

4 Comments

hayden_craig952mo ago

That NYPL display case did the same for me.

cole5492mo ago

Feel like it just makes me miss the old stuff more. I mean, it's cool but also kinda sad.

viola_lopez3011d ago

Yeah exactly, it's like that with everything now. I noticed it at the grocery store last week when they had this old cash register sitting in the lobby with a sign about how checkout used to work. Made me stop and think about how I scan my own stuff now without even looking up. Everything is just moving so fast and we barely notice until something old is right in front of us.

emery2902mo ago

Noticed this happens a lot with old tech in museums too. Seeing a giant blocky computer or a first gen cell phone just sitting there hits different. Makes you realize how fast everything changes while you're just living your normal life.