Almost 100 years ago, in 1906, forty-two craftspeople gathered at a New York bindery to formally organize The Guild of Book Workers. They represented a variety of workers in the book arts that included illuminators, printers, binders, type designers, book and bookplate designers.
Membership is now over one thousand and there are eight regional chapters.
Since its inception, a primary goal of the Guild has been national exhibitions of members work. These exhibits now include works by papermakers, calligraphers, printers, artists, marblers and conservators as well as traditional bindings. Some exhibits have everyone binding the same book, or following a specific theme or like The Best Of The Best , presenting a general survey of members work. A stunning variety of work from traditional techniques to the latest technologies of inkjet printing are part of this exhibit. It seems appropriate to start out the new millennium with the best from the last century.