BOOKCASE

I love a glass-front bookcase full of fine leather bindings. Is there anything any nicer? via

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Audubon's Birds of America - One Page Per Day

   PHILADELPHIA (AP) – One of the world's rarest and most valuable books is out of the vault and on public view as part of an unusual daily ritual at the oldest natural history museum in the United States.

   Every weekday at 3:15 p.m., a white-gloved staff member of the Academy of Natural Sciences lifts the locked protective cover from 19th century naturalist John James Audubon's influential book, The Birds of America, and turns a double elephant folio linen-backed page to reveal the bird of the day. More than 180 years after Audubon created the life-size illustrations that now link his name with ornithology, their vibrant watercolors and fine details are still remarkable.
   Full article here. View the birds being unveiled day by day.

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Bookcase with Dog Painting

I adore dog portraits and bookcases full of books. Do you personalize your home library shelves with other items too? via

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A few of my fine bindings.

I'm always on the lookout for beautiful antiquarian books with lovely bindings. These were photographed with my trusty iPhone in my bedroom.

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Favorite Book or Movie? 84 Charing Cross Road

I loved the movie but must confess I have never read the book. It’s the true story of a woman (Helene) who lived in New York in the 1950s, and wrote letters to a bookseller in England (Frank). Frank specialized in second-hand books and rare editions, and after seeing an ad for the shop, Helene started a correspondence requesting books she couldn’t find in the U.S. “I am a poor writer with an antiquarian taste in books,” she explained. “If you have clean second-hand copies of any of the books on the list, for no more than $5 each, will you consider this a purchase order and send them to me?” Over a period of 20 years, she and Frank exchanged stories of their lives and sent parcels to one other. The book is the collection of these letters.
There is a wonderful slideshow showing the author with Anne Bancroft, meeting the Queen Mother at the premier of the film, and several other stills from the movie. VIEW SLIDESHOW AND ARTICLE FROM THE TELEGRAPH HERE. Be prepared for chills and a delightful read.
See the movie trailer here.

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Miniature Period Room Doll House on a Bookshelf

I love this open ended box that became a period room on a shelf with books of the same period. Made by sweetington .. see more photos of this shelf room on flickr. Found on Book, Paper, Scissors

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1664 Engraved Title Page by William Vaughan

A Booke Containing such Beasts as are most Usefull for such as practice Drawing, Graveing, Armes Painting, Chaseing, and for severall other occasions. 'Design'd by F: Barlow' and 'Ingraved by Wm. Vaugha[n] 1664'.
Engraved title page in the collection of the British Museum
Publication details at top: 'Sould by Iohn Overton at ye White Horse Without Newgate. where you may haue Severall Bookes for ye same uses'.

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Bookcase in My Bedroom

Here's a portion of my cocoon-like bedroom. It's only big enough for a double bed with a table on one side and a floor lamp on the other. It has a window on either side and I love it. Small is the new big. This bookcase was an afterthought when my renovation was going on. It was designed for the living room but I didn't like the way it looked there and it turned out to be perfect here. I honestly can't imagine my bedroom without it. 

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