#charlottesmith

#MiniatureMonday...on a Tuesday

Wild flowers.  Charlotte M. Smith (1919-2002), author, binder & Helen Van Dyke

Continuing the miniseries of gardens and flowers to end our month of May, here is one by the founder of the miniature book collection at Special Collections & Archives herself!  Charlotte Smith was a local Iowan book creator and collector who donated her collection of miniature books in 1996. It is thanks to her that we can share all these wonderful minis with you, and there is plenty of content, as the collection continues to grow and now contains over 4,000 volumes!

Read more about Smith here, and keep an eye out for another series focused on some of the other mini books she made.

The item for today, Wildflowers, showcases some real plants, pressed between plastic sheets, alongside of their Latin and Common names.

"Gathered & pressed by Helen Van Dyke. Lettered & bound by Charlotte Smith. 1981"--Colophon.

‘Bound in green, purple, and beige marbled boards; marbled end papers. Title page has gilt initial letters and hand-colored illustration; Colophon page has hand-colored decorative flower border surrounding publication information.  Library copy has Robert E. Massmann bookplate on cover page Newton, Iowa : Tamazunchale Press’ --Catalog

--Diane R., Special Collections Graduate Student

Charlotte Raine Smith