Marlyn Bonaventure, Orange, California

The Book of Origins

Case binding in Harmatan light blue leather with a collage of various goat leathers and 24k gold stars. Paste endpapers by Claire Maziarczyk. Silk handmade endbands. Sprinkled and gauffered head edge. 8-1/2 x 5-3/4 x 1 inches. Bound 2005.

James Crumley, The Mexican Pig Bandit, illustrated by Phil Parks

Full leather, traditional laced-in of dark brown Harmatan goatskin. Top edge sprinkled with brown ink. Hand-tied red, green and white silk headbands. Cover design blind stamped with leather onlays of red, green, white and beige. The endpapers are a red handmade paper. This design was an edition of 12 all signed by the author and illustrator. Book: 9 x 7-1/8 x 1/2 inches. Box: 10 x 7 x 1-1/4 inches. Bound 1999.

My experience in bookbinding began later in my life, and slowly, in Southern California in the early 1990's with short weekend workshops whenever they were available. I learned about the Hand Bookbinders of California in San Francisco, and began taking weekend workshops there. I was fortunate to take a class with Bernard Middleton on Rebacking Leather Books at Mills College. In 1993 I met Eleanore Ramsey and for about 7 years commuted to take lessons from her. I have studied in Telluride and in California with Tini Miura. Thanks to Mel Kavin I have been able to study with many wonderful binders at workshops that were held atKater-Craft Bindery. My family has owned a bookstore, used and out-of-print books, in southern California for the last 18 years, which has availed me with more repair work that anyone could want. Website at http://www.bonaventurebindery.com.


Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Library
Syracuse, NY 13244
http://scrc.syr.edu
Last modified: June 09, 2012 12:35 PM
URL: http://libwww.syr.edu /digital/exhibits/b/bookoforigins/bonaventure.htm