PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Hailed as the earliest precursor to photography, nature printing is the practice of taking impressions directly or indirectly from the surface of natural objects such as leaves, flowering plants, ferns, seaweed, snakeskin, and more, to produce an image on paper. Nature printing was popular with botanists in the 18th century as an aid in their study of useful and medicinal plants. By printing directly from specimens, they were able to represent plants in an affordable way and to great effect.

The Zucker Collection is the most extensive collection of nature prints ever assembled, with 130 rare and seminal works, including journals, published books, unique manuscripts, American Currency, and instructional texts related to nature printing from 1733 to 1902. The book covers more than forty-five different printing techniques.

The publication is structured as a journey through the collection and the history of nature printing as well. It starts with closeups of the different printing methods in chronological order. After which it zooms out step by step showing various topics until an overview of the Zucker Collection in the centre of the book. The illustrated list is cased by the descriptions of all techniques represented in the collection. These explanations are printed in silver and white on green paper and work as a visual index. After the middle the zoom works the other way around – from overviews to closeups at the end of the book.

BOOK INFORMATION

Trim Size: 9,22 x 13

Number of Pages: 352 + loose 7-pages leporello

Binding Method: Patastar

Paper: IGEPA, Lessebo Smooth Natural, 115g/m2, image, cmyk; IGEPA, Forever Sap Green, 120g/m2, text, 3 pantone colors (silver and white); IGEPA, Rebello, 80g/m2, text, 2 Pantone colors (green); IGEPA, Forever Sap Green, 270g/m2. cover, 3 Pantone colors ( white and silver);

Typefaces: Gerstner Programm, Ivar Text

CREDIT INFORMATION

Creative Director:

Art Director:

Book Designer: Haller Brun

Jacket/Cover Designer: Haller Brun

Illustrator:

Photographer: Martin Slivka

Picture Editor:

Production Director:

Production Coordinator:

Production Artist:

Other Credits: Harry Willis Fleming - contributor; Nicole Hanquart & Régine Fabri - contributors; Naomi Hume - contributor; Jessica C. Linker - contributor; Adam Lowe - contributor; Pia Östlund - contributor; Harriet Rix - contributor; Michele Rodda - contributor; Andrew Kerr-Jarrett - copy editor; Barbara Mirecki - copy editor; Ellen Lapper - translation; Kim Glassman - translation; Andrew Kerr-Jarrett - translation; Laura Didyk - proof reading; Kendra H. Millis - index

Return to the Gallery