The Book of Commandments

Remember all the paper I was making in this post?

Well, it's for a project that has been a long time in the making at Scrub Oak Bindery where I work. Ethan Ensign was granted permission from several owners ( including the LDS church archives) of original copies of the LDS Book of Commandments to scan and create a reproduction of the book.

So, for the past year to two years he has been furiously scanning, editing files, making paper, and printing (on a Vandercook letterpress) 150 reproductions of the Book of Commandments. Now it's time to bind them all up, make boxes (oh my goodness) and get them sent on their way to those who have pre-ordered and are VERY patiently waiting.

Needless to say, work has been busy lately, but I've got some great photos to show you our progess!

Get ready for photo overload

Untrimmed, printed sheets

Lili folding and collating the cut sheets

A sea of pages

Sections folded, pressed, and ready for a refining trim

Lili trimming

Trimmed sheets being prepped for sewing

Had to get a shot of Ethan :)

Punching sections for sewing

Ethan sewing

Building trays for the box

Ten box trays and lids finished!

Boxes ready for labels

Here's the inside of the box with the Book of Commandments on top and the addendum by Peter Crawley on the bottom. Obviously this copy isn't in a completed state, but you get the idea.

So there's a sneak peak! I'll get some more pictures up soon of the finished product in all it's glory. The reproduction is being sold through Ken Sanders Rare Books.