New Exhibit: Selections from the Heldrich Movable Book Collection - College of Charleston Libraries

The latest free exhibit from the College of Charleston Special Collections is now available for viewing on the third floor of Addlestone Library.

Curated by Special Collections’ Autumn Bennett, the exhibit features “movable”—also known as “pop-up”—books drawn from the Eleanor Heldrich Movable Books Collection.

Lothar Meggendorfer’s 1983 movable book, The Doll’s House: An Adaptation of the Antique Pop-Up Book.

The exhibit includes books designed by Lothar Meggendorfer—the “pioneer of paper engineering”—and those from such “movers and shakers of movables” as Ernest Nister, Ib Penick, and Geraldine Clyne. The work of winners of the Movable Book Society’s biannual Meggendorfer Prize—including Robert Sabuda, Marion Bataille, and Matthew Reinhart—are also on display.

“We have over 1,000 books in this collection with which I could fill many more windows,” said Bennett, Special Collections’ Archives Librarian. “These books hold pages that elicit emotion from a single glance—they are special in that way. I hope that individuals will view this exhibit and come away with a better understanding of the history of these enchanting items, a feeling and a curiosity about the world.”

The Eleanor Heldrich Movable Books Collection includes hundreds of movable books donated by Heldrich to Special Collections over the past decade. In addition to being an avid collector, Heldrich published movable books—primarily about flower arranging—for twenty years under the banner of Prospect Hill Press.

Matthew Reinhart’s 2007 movable book, Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy.

The exhibit is available for viewing during regular library hours March 28 – May 6, 2019.

And while you’re on the third floor of Addlestone Library, check out Special Collections’ exhibit highlighting the evolution of communications technology with items spanning an 18th century “Magic Lantern” to the Macintosh Apple II.