Image courÂtesy of the UniÂverÂsiÂty at Leeds
In the strikÂing image above, you can see an earÂly experÂiÂment in makÂing books portable–a 17th cenÂtuÂry preÂcurÂsor, if you will, to the modÂern day KinÂdle.
AccordÂing to the library at the UniÂverÂsiÂty of Leeds, this “Jacobean TravÂelÂling Library” dates back to 1617. That’s when William Hakewill, an EngÂlish lawyer and MP, comÂmisÂsioned the miniaÂture library–a big book, which itself holds 50 smallÂer books, all “bound in limp velÂlum covÂers with coloured fabÂric ties.” What books were in this portable library, meant to accomÂpaÂny nobleÂmen on their jourÂneys? NatÂuÂralÂly the clasÂsics. TheÂolÂoÂgy, phiÂlosÂoÂphy, clasÂsiÂcal hisÂtoÂry, clasÂsiÂcal poetÂry. The works of Ovid, Seneca, Cicero, VirÂgil, TacÂiÂtus, and Saint AugusÂtine. Many of the same texts that showed up in The HarÂvard ClasÂsics (now availÂable online) three cenÂturies latÂer, and now our colÂlecÂtion of Free eBooks.
ApparÂentÂly three othÂer Jacobean TravÂelÂling Libraries were made. They now reside at the British Library, the HuntÂingÂton Library in San MariÂno, CalÂiÂforÂnia, and the ToleÂdo MuseÂum of Art in ToleÂdo, Ohio.
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RelatÂed ConÂtent:
The HarÂvard ClasÂsics: DownÂload All 51 VolÂumes as Free eBooks
The Art of MakÂing Old-FashÂioned, Hand-PrintÂed Books
WonÂderÂfulÂly Weird & IngeÂnious Medieval Books
WearÂable Books: In Medieval Times, They Took Old ManÂuÂscripts & Turned Them into Clothes
Free Online LitÂerÂaÂture CoursÂes
It’s a box of books, not a KinÂdle, you SEO-bait-writÂing hack.
The metaphor works. PeoÂple carÂry a lot of ebooks in their KinÂdle, just like they carÂried real books in this one. Chill out, dude.
I enjoyed the artiÂcle but I wish the phoÂto had includÂed someÂthing for scale or that the artiÂcle had givÂen the dimenÂsions of the book since “miniaÂture books” can vary a bit. I’m guessÂing these would be about 3 1/2″ to 4″ at the spine, but I’d still like to know for sure.