Crimson Battle

Some of the world’s finest designer bookbinders were commissioned to produce fifteen individual hand-bound copies. All offer exceptionally beautiful one-off examples of how each artist interpreted the book. Each has been meticulously printed letterpress by hand on traditional cast iron Heidelberg Press on paper handmade at the famous Ruscombe Mill in France. This copy was exhibited in Oxford University’s Bodleian Library.

The descriptive text inspired Kathryn with many possibilities for her binding, and over a few days, she developed her design from her drawings. Kathryn likes to use traditional bookbinding materials and techniques, and she felt, in this instance, that would compliment the book. From the tooled red leather covers to the silk endbands to the handmade paper flyleaves and doublures, she has tried to capture the essence of this dramatic story.