The Medieval Miscellany was bound in a total of six different colours and made a stunning bookshop display.

A Medieval  Miscellany

The Brief

Weidenfeld & Nicolson, one of the most prestigious and dynamic literary imprints in British and international publishing, commissioned Facsimile Editions to source more than 400 images depicting scenes of medieval life from illuminated manuscripts spanning the 6th to the 10th century. These images would illustrate a text by Judith Herrin for a sumptuous 208 page volume. Wiedenfeld & Nicolson, seeking imagination, flare and production excellence commissioned Facsimile Editions to design and produce 36,000 copies. As usual, the timetable was extremely tight!

A few copies are still available to purchase.

The Project

Fine papers and immaculate printing were taken for granted. An imaginative binding was also proposed and accepted by Weidenfeld’s visionary chairman Anthony Cheetham.

The volumes, printed in full colour throughout on Fedrigoni paper would be bound in cloth with Fabriano endpapers. As an exciting innovation the edition was bound in six different coloured cloths – red, green, blue, black, violet and brown. The volumes were delivered to booksellers worldwide in cartons containing equal numbers of each colour which ensured a stunning and unusual bookshop display.

Four of the 6 differently coloured bindings of the Medieval Miscellany  © 2021 Facsimile Editions Ltd

Four of the six differently coloured bindings of the Medieval Miscellany. 36,000 copies were designed, produced, printed and bound by Facsimile Editions Ltd for Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

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