Rare Book Monthly

Articles - May - 2022 Issue

Jon Buller, Master Hand Bookbinder (Detroit area)

On May 1st, 2022, the Book Club of Detroit (founded, 1957; current president, novelist Charlene Kull) hosts Master Hand Bookbinder, Jon Buller. As founder of Bessenberg Bindery, he served Detroit-area professionals, librarians, and collectors for nearly 50 years. His talk discusses the evolution of the European tradition of hand bookbinding, and he will present (physical) examples of binding styles. He is now passing on his expertise to younger hands. For illustrated feature by Guest Writer & former Detroiter, Maureen E. Mulvihill, Click Here.


Posted On: 2022-05-07 20:01
User Name: mairin

A quick note to acknowledge the prompt & cordial assistance of Jon Buller, also Charlene Kull and Maurice
Barie (Book Club of Detroit), in the development of this article. And special thanks, as well, to Michael Stillman
(Rare Book Hub) for seamless installation, as always, and close care with the 'Guild of BookWorkers'
logo in the Buller photo. Mr Buller recently wrote that his talk was well-attended, well-received, with a lively Q&A.
He was pleased to have had the opportunity to discuss hand bookbinding and especially to present
a variety of visual items (bookbinding styles, slides, catalogues). He found the experience "a good exercise";
and is now hoping to possibly digitize his considerable slide collection to enable broad access to these
beautiful objects. For bibliophiles like Jon Buller, hand bookbinding is both a craft and an art form.
Thank you, John. And thank you, Bruce McKinney (Rare Book Hub), for hosting the article.
- Maureen E. Mulvihill, Rare Book Collector (early women writers) / Guest Writer, Rare Book Hub.


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  • SD Scandinavian Art & Rare Book Auctions
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    Polar – History – Ornithology – Colour Plate Books
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    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ROALD AMUNDSEN: «Sydpolen» [ The South Pole] 1912. First edition in jackets and publisher's slip case.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: AMUNDSEN & NANSEN: «Fram over Polhavet» [Farthest North] 1897. AMUNDSEN's COPY!
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ERNEST SHACKLETON [ed.]: «Aurora Australis» 1908. First edition. The NORWAY COPY.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ERNEST SHACKLETON: «The heart of the Antarctic» + SUPPLEMENT «The Antarctic Book», 1909.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: SHACKLETON, BERNACCHI, CHERRY-GARRARD [ed.]: «The South Polar Times» I-III, 1902-1911.
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    The Odfjell Collection
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    Ending December 4th
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: [WILLEM BARENTSZ & HENRY HUDSON] - SAEGHMAN: «Verhael van de vier eerste schip-vaerden […]», 1663.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: TERRA NOVA EXPEDITION | LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBERTSON BOWERS: «At the South Pole.», Gelatin Silver Print. [10¾ x 15in. (27.2 x 38.1cm.) ].
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: ELEAZAR ALBIN: «A natural History of Birds.» + «A Supplement», 1738-40. Wonderful coloured plates.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: PAUL GAIMARD: «Voyage de la Commision scientific du Nord, en Scandinavie, […]», c. 1842-46. ONLY HAND COLOURED COPY KNOWN WITH TWO ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY BIARD.
    Scandinavian Art & Rare Books Auctions, Dec. 4: JAMES JOYCE: «Ulysses», 1922. FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERS.
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    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
    Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
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    Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books
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    Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.

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