Rarely do I come across a book that is as physically beautiful as the words inside. I usually read a book because the story is intriguing or wonderful. But those books are just words on a page. While I was looking through the Archives & Special Collections today, I came across a book that is way more than words. The book, Tours d’Arithmetique by Jean Louis Bernard, was created by Bernard for his studies in 1809. Every page is a work of art. Even the script is remarkable. I sat there totally absorbed in its complexity. You can still see the pencil marks that allowed him to make straight lines. Could you imagine if books today were treated with such focus and detail? In the Archives & Special Collections you can find such pieces!
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By Sierra Scott