Napoleon III

This archival album/scrapbook was made from custard colored Hahnemühle Ingres paper that was mould-made in Germany.  It is sewn with waxed Irish linen thread, in a pamphlet stitch through the binding to preserve space between its gatherings for additions adhered to its pages by its users.

Its spine is covered in pigskin, and its boards are wrapped in paper that was hand marbled by by Regina and Daniel St. John at Chena River Marblers in Amherst, MA. The book is lined with Hahnemühle Ingres paper.

Treasure binding began with monks in the 6^th Century who would encrust volumes with jewels. During the Renaissance, there was a resurgence in treasure binding. This is a contemporary revival of the treasure binding in which a lucky charm has been embedded in the cover of this book.

 The talisman in this book is an 1867 French 10 centime coin featuring the likeness of Napoleon III. As Emperor of France, Napoleon III commissioned the grand-scale reconstruction of Paris carried out by prefect of the Seine, Baron Georges-Eugène Haussman, who created the city’s famed wide boulevards and uniform limestone façades.  Have a vision.  Stick to it.  Leave your mark.

This book is roughly 6.5 x 10” with 80 blank pages.