Vintage Book Prints on the Move

Posted by Elizabeth Knauss

Throughout the summer, I have done some Etsy loitering and have noticed an emerging trend in upcycle art: vintage book prints. From beautiful images impressed on torn Bible pages to absurd quotes imprinted on ripped-out chapters of Pride and Prejudice, this art form is on the rise.

The images atop the prints are almost always translucent, offering the idea that rekindling books as art can act as a unique publishing palimpsest. Many times, I’m interested in perusing book prints just because the descriptions are so romantic. The books are referred to as “rescued” and the yellow pages due to lignin concentration in paper pulp is a “golden finish of old age.”

While book artists emboss everything from hipster skulls to sweet squids (above), I have fallen in love with the practice of screening typographical quotes onto vintage pages, especially when the quotes make the least amount of sense. Sometimes, the quotes take on a confessional quality too, which is always good. Where better to announce that you’re a bibliophile than on an actual book?

I Love You More Than Bacon

Still Bananas For You

Bibliophile

Alice in Wonderland, Breakfast

I Just Want To Cuddle

Jane Eyre

Lloyd

We’re All Mad Here

Rainy Day Otter

Nerds Have More Fun

Pride and Prejudice

I Sniff Books

Sushi