Book, Writing, and Photographic Artifacts collection
Finding aid prepared by Jessica Geiser, Collections Management Librarian, and Robin M. Katz, Primary Source Literacy Librarian.
Special Collections & University Archives
The UCR Library
P.O. Box 5900
University of California
Riverside, California 92517-5900
Phone: 951-827-3233
Fax: 951-827-4673
Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu
URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives
© 2018
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Book, Writing, and Photographic Artifacts collection
Date (inclusive): circa 1840-2000
Collection Number: MS 417
Extent:
13.02 linear feet
(12 boxes)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Abstract: The collection, created primarily as a teaching collection, consists of materials meant to be actively used to illustrate
the history and techniques of various writing and print systems across the globe, including reproductions, souvenirs, and
original specimens of printing and writing tools and instruments, as well as various formats of book and manuscript binding.
The collection also includes examples of various photographic prints meant to demonstrate historical photographic processes.
Materials in the collection were collected by Special Collections staff to aid with instruction on the history of the book
and various writing, print, and photographic technologies and processes.
Languages: The collection is mainly in English, with some artifacts also containing writing in other scripts.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright Unknown: Some material in this collection may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition,
the reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected
by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other
restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility
for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Book, Writing, and Photographic Artifacts collection (MS 417). Special Collections
& University Archives, University of California, Riverside.
Acquisition Information
The collection was created by Special Collections staff over time through a variety of sources, some with unknown provenance.
Processing History
Processed by Jessica Geiser, Collections Management Librarian, and Robin M. Katz, Primary Source Literary Librarian, 2018.
Collection Scope and Contents
The collection, created primarily as a teaching collection, consists of materials meant to be actively used to illustrate
the history and techniques of various writing and print systems across the globe, including reproductions, souvenirs, and
original specimens of printing and writing tools and instruments, as well as various formats of book and manuscript binding.
The collection also includes examples of various photographic prints meant to demonstrate historical photographic processes.
Materials in the collection were collected by Special Collections staff to aid with instruction on the history of the book
and various writing, print, and photographic technologies and processes.
Items in the collection include early writing artifacts such as a cuneiform tablet, various seals, a wax tablet and samples
of paper, papyrus and vellum; book formats such as a scroll, palm leaf manuscript, bamboo book, and printed books; and various
printing techniques including moveable type, woodblocks, and various types of printing plates. The collection also includes
two cased daguerreotypes.
Collection Arrangement
The collection is arranged into the following five series as follows:
- Series 1. Writing and printing surfaces, undated
- Series 2. Writing technologies, undated
- Series 3. Book formats, undated
- Series 4. Printing technologies, undated
- Series 5. Photographic processes, circa 1840-1860
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Book design -- History
Photography -- History
Printing -- History -- Origin and antecedents
Printing -- Specimens
Writing materials and instruments -- History
Genres and Forms of Materials
Paper (fiber product)
Daguerreotypes (photographs)
Papyrus (fiber product)
Printing Blocks (Printings Surfaces)
Printing Plates
Replicas
Series 1. Writing and printing surfaces
undated
Series Scope and Contents
The series consists of various samples of writing surfaces, including paper, vellum, and papyrus. The papyrus samples also
include some with writing, including Greek and Egyptian Hieroglyphics.
Series Arrangement
The series is arranged topically.
Box 1, Folders 2-3
Papryus samples - Greek script
undated
Box 1, Folder 4
Papyrus samples - Egyptian hieroglyphs
undated
Series 2. Writing technologies
undated
Series Scope and Contents
The series consists of various replicas of early writing tools and instruments, including Sumerian and Cuneiform tablets,
wax and clay seals, and a wax tablet with a Roman stylus.
Series Arrangement
The series is arranged topically.
Box 2, Item 5
Parchment with three clay seals
undated
Box 3, Item 1
Bulla impression from Hyksos period scarab seal
undated
Box 3, Item 2
Sumerian pictographic tablet - Replica
undated
Box 3, Item 3
Cylinder seal - Replica
undated
Box 3, Items 4-5
Cuneiform envelope contract - Replica
undated
Box 3, Item 6
Roman stylus - Replica
undated
Box 3, Item 7
Wax tablet - Replica
undated
Series 3. Book formats
undated
Series Scope and Contents
The series consists of various examples and souvenir versions of different historic formats of books and manuscripts, including
a bamboo book, palm leaf manuscript, a Chinese printed books, and a book with marbled edges and endpapers.
Series Arrangement
The series is arranged topically.
Box 4, Item 2
Palm leaf manuscript - Unknown origin
undated
Box 4, Item 3
Art of War bamboo book - Souvenir copy
undated
Box 4, Item 4
Book with marbled endpapers and edges
undated
Box 5, Item 1
Book on the Han dynasty
undated
Series 4. Printing technologies
undated
Series Scope and Contents
The series consists of various samples of different printing technologies, including various types of printing plates, four
Chinese woodblocks, a moveable type block and a piece of linotype.
Series Arrangement
The series is arranged topically.
Box 6, Item 1
Chinese movable wood type
undated
Box 7, Item 1, Box 10, Items 1-3
Chinese woodblocks
undated
Box 7, Item 2
Copper photoengraving plate
undated
Box 8, Item 1
Lithograph stone plate
undated
Box 9, Item 1
Stereotype printing plate
undated
Box 12, Items 1-2
Intaglio metal plates
undated
Series 5. Photographic processes
circa 1840-1860
Series Scope and Contents
The series consists of photographs that serve as examples of historical photographic processes.
Series Arrangement
The series is arranged topically.
Box 11, Item 1
Daguerreotype - Cased portrait of man
circa 1840-1860
Box 11, Item 2
Daguerreotype - Cased portrait of woman [missing cover]
circa 1840-1860
