Amusements and Musings: Non-Book Print Objects in the J.S. Noel Collection

October 3 – December 22, 2022
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

As a rare book library, the James Smith Noel Collection focuses on the history of printed materials.  Usually, that means the usual blocks of pages surrounded by a secure binding or our selection of prints and maps.  However, we also have non-book items such as games -- and print items in unusual formats that are creative and visually intriguing, such as tunnel books and panoramas.  This exhibit highlighted some of the most fascinating items in our collection and examined how print technologies have been applied to objects of art, animation, entertainment, and virtual reality.

Stereoscope, early 20th century (bottom left); view through the tunnel book Te Deum Chanté a Notre-Dame, 1852 (upper left); select cards from Charles Hodges’ Astrophilogeon astronomy card set, 1828 (right).