This spring, a new exhibition about the art of bookbinding opened at the Norwegian Printing Museum.
They say: don’t judge a book by its cover. But in the Bibliofilia exhibition, that’s exactly what we do. Have you ever thought about how a book is put together? Is it glued or sewn in the spine? Is the cover made of cardboard or maybe leather? Is it made by a machine or a craftsman?
In the Bibliofilia exhibition, you can learn more about the history of bookbinding and the changes that have occurred in the profession. You can see examples of different types of binding, everything from artist books and deluxe bindings from recent years, to unique bindings made of parchment from the 15th century. You can also try your hand at the craft yourself!
Bibliofilia: love for books [Greek biblion ‘small book’; and philia ‘love’].
The exhibition will run until the end of 2026.
The Norwegian Printing Museum is located together with the Norwegian Canning Museum in Old Stavanger, which is an idyllic part of the city with small wooden houses and cobblestones, a short walk from the city centre. The two museums share a common history, as it was the large canning industry and their demand for printed matter that made Stavanger one of the country’s largest printing hubs. The entire museum complex has therefore been named IDDIS, which is the local term for the labels on canned goods.
Photos: Helle Navratil/ MUST