One of the privileges I have in taking photographs for In Custodia Legis is getting to see the Law Library’s rare book collection. For preservation’s sake, the rare books must be confined to a locked climate-controlled room, so it is always a treat when these items emerge from the vault. I have been snapping photos of the endpapers of the collection items that we’ve featured in blog posts over the years. Marbled papers in law books bring a particular surprise, like a happy ending to a ponderous legal story or a rest for weary eyes. Below are just three examples.
The Law Library’s copy of the Constitution of Norway features endpapers with a monochromatic shell pattern. The deep red color brings to mind a slide you might have seen under a microscope in high school biology class. This example is interesting in that it has a distinct glossy finish, as you might be able to see from the glare on the left side of the photo.
In the 1591 edition of Littleton’s Tenures, we see an example of combed French curls. The colors of these endpapers are particularly vibrant and add to the beauty of this already splendid volume.
The Laws of Maryland, Enacted at a Session of Assembly, Begun and Held at the City of Annapolis, on Thursday the tenth day of October 1727 [bound with] Laws of Maryland … 1729 is a new acquisition to the Law Library’s collection this year. We have not yet featured this item on the blog, so this is a sneak peek! The book cover is a Turkish pattern that features five colors – salmon, teal, ochre, burgundy, and black.
Comments (2)
These are so beautiful! What a nice surprise to find when opening a law book!
Thank you so much for sharing this. What a treat!