Book Arts

The book arts collection contains artists’ books, fine press publications, and related archival materials.

Artists’ books highlights include the work of Rolando Estévez with imprints Ediciones Vigía and El Fortín, and Julie Chen’s spectacular limited edition books. Fine press holdings feature historical heavyweights from William Morris’s Kelmscott Press and contemporary work by Brighton Press. Our archival collections include a complete run of The Alternative Press publication and its records, and a working letterpress studio now part of our Book Arts Studio.

We are actively expanding the artists’ book collection in the area of Michigan and women artists, and new and inventive material expressions of the book. The book arts collection includes editioned and original works of art, artist-designed publications produced by presses and publishers, letterpress equipment, and archival materials including records, ephemera, and other materials.  

The artists’ books are held at the Art, Architecture and Engineering Library’s Special Collections and the Special Collections Research Center. The fine press and archival materials are all held by the Special Collections Research Center. 

Important related collections 

• Art, Architecture & Engineering Library Special Collections
• Literature Special Collections
• Children’s Literature Special Collections
• William A. Gosling Pop-up and Moveable Book Collection
• Art and Design collection