114 years ago when these two books were bound, the pages were left “unopened,” meaning the first reader had to slice open the folded page edges to reveal the story within. This delightful task was performed with a paper knife, which created the rough-cut, jagged edges visible here.
I discovered this two volume set on a recent antiquing excursion, and I've been admiring the texture of these honey-hued pages and wondering about the very first reader who had the pleasure of discovering the freshness of each page with the slice of a knife.
My goal today was to step out of my comfort zone (which is nature photography). I had a lot of fun shooting these treasured, century old books from different angles in a variety of lighting situations; and I found that this simple shot best captures what I love most about them.
I like viewing this image best on the black background.
Excellent job Janet!! I love these old books too- although I don't have any that had to be cut before they were read. I love how you've captured the edges here.
