Nicole Williams and John Baranik, two undergraduates studying the history of the book and publishing at University of Pennsylvania, have provided a fascinating analysis of the ways letters were folded for writing, mailing, and filing in early 19th century Philadelphia.
See their Anatomy of a Letter, parts 1, 2, 3. If you like crease patterns, start by searching on: Superscription on letter from George E. Blake to John Rowe Parker, March 28, 1818 (Anatomy of a Letter, Part 3), and try reconstructing the folds from their photo. Penn Manuscript Collective: http://pennmanuscriptcollective.wordpress.com Karen 9/30/3013 Karen Reeds, co-ringleader, Princeton Public Library Origami Group. Affiliate of Origami USA, http://origamiusa.org/ We usually meet 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6:30-8pm, 3rd floor. Free! We provide paper! All welcome! (Kids under 8, please bring a grown-up.) Princeton Public Library info: 609.924.9529 http://www.princetonlibrary.org/ [email protected] (Ann Woodrow) Next meeting, Wed. Oct. 9, 2013
