Eleanore Edwards Ramsey
2003 WINNER: Jury Prize for Design

I have taught bookbinding and worked privately as a binder since 1980. Since 1988, my teaching experience includes courses at Mills College, the University of California at Santa Cruz, Scripps College, the Ahha School of Art (Telluride, CO), and the Guild of Book Workers Standards of Excellence Conference, 1994. I was president of the Hand Bookbinders of California, San Francisco, 2000 - 2001. My books have been exhibited at "Hand Bookbinding Today," San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (1978); "Barbara Hiller et son Ecole," Brussels (1980); "Un Demi-Siecle de Reliures d'Art Contemporaines," Paris (1984); "Contemporary American Bookbinding," New York and Paris (1990); "Fine Printers Finely Bound Too," New York (1992); "Hand Bookbinding Today," Stanford University (1992); "50 x 25," Bridwell Library (1993); "Tregaskis Centenary Exhibition," London (1995); "ABECEDARIUMS," Guild of Book Workers traveling exhibit (1998); and "Fine Hand Bookbindings for Book Club of California Publications," San Francisco (2000).

DESIGN PROPOSAL. The front and back covers represent a map of the central United States surrounding the Mississippi River Valley during the mid-1840s. The design was suggested by Barry Moser's "photographic portraiture" reflecting Huckleberry Finn's matter of fact, straightforward point of view in the telling of his adventure. This map is similarly a "photographic portrait," linked in the time and place to the story. Each state or territory will be individually covered in one of fifteen colors of green leathers including: French Cape morocco, chagrin, karroo, box calf, and oasis. The states and territories are then mounted so that the board edges are the same color as the state, changing as they pass each geographical area. As the book is opened, another layer of the story is revealed: the division between free and slave-holding states becomes apparent. The free states and territories will be made of honey comb paneling (so as to be very strong and light) and mounted separately on a reinforced flyleaf. The slave states remain on the board cover. The book will be titled in gold with all edges gilded. The whole will be protected with a chemise and slipcase or clamshell box.

SAMPLE BINDING. Porter Garnett. Philosophical Writings on the Ideal Book. Compiled by Jack Stauffacher. San Francisco: Book Club of California, printed at Phelps Schaefer, 1994. One of 450 copies, loaned by Donohue Rare Book Room, University of San Francisco.
 
Full, dark brown French Cape morocco binding with unique magnetic closure (developed by binder). Front cover design with Garnett's Laboratory Press printer's device, also printed in blind on verso. Onlays of French Cape morocco and chagrin leathers with paste varnish top edge and marbled paper by Claude Del Pierre. Title and tooling in gold, drop back box. The book is opened by holding down the printer's device while lifting front cover.