The Encyclopedia of the Anomalous Book is an ongoing project created and managed by fellows of the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture (WPAMC) in Wilmington, Delaware.
What we’re calling “anomalous books” are books that, in response to intersections of culture and technology, deviate from the conventional codex form in interesting and unique ways. For example, we’re interested in how the phone book developed in response to telephones, or how zines were made possible by the availability of mimeograph and Xerox technology. We seek to answer questions like:
- What does the design of a book tell us about its purpose or primary function?
- How do design elements like typography, bookbinding materials, format, size, etc. reflect the purpose the book was intended to serve?
- Was the book made possible by the development of a particular technology? Or was the book created in response to a technological development?
- Is the category of book still in production, and if so, has the design evolved? If it is no longer in production, why not?
Learn more about our project or just dive in and start exploring our current entries. We also invite you to check back periodically for updates as we continue to add entries.
Why Anomalous Books?
There is a surprising lack of research on anomalous books collectively, though they are ubiquitous in collections worldwide and in everyday life. At most, one can find research only on individual categories of anomalous books. The Encyclopedia of the Anomalous Book aims to provide a centralized resource for book historians, librarians, archivists, curators, collectors, museum professionals, students, and others who want more information about these unique, historical book forms.