Trials and Tribulations in Exhibition

A lady visiting the National Portrait Gallery may have been so absorbed by the painted gaze of various notable figures that she returned home minus her umbrella.

The Gallery public relations department of 1974 sprung into action. Their efforts fruitless and yet what remains is a wonderful piece of well crafted correspondence (minus an umbrella)

Invisible Letters and the Birth of Italics

Like a spy, always looking for a secret message, or like the kabbalist who is scanning the written for what is un-said, the historians of the book have developed a pretty nice little toolbox to read what was printed, without reading the words of the author ("the author"). The ways of the book trade, the economies of the publishing enterprise, the ruses of typography, the direction of the fibers in the paper, the clues left behind by the hammer, the design of the binding, the presence of faint but regular creases in the page, the precise movement of the thread that makes up the binding, the entitlement and authorisation of books, their librarisation, all these externalities have contributed to a bright rainbow of stories about (the) book which keep a growing gaggle of book-spies pretty busy.

Randall McLeod, also known as Erin Dale (Mrs Auga), Ana Mary Armygram, Random Cloud, Randal Mc Leod, Orlando F. Booke, Claudia Nimbus, Random Clod, etc, is perhaps the most important practitioner of the art of reading the early book as a made object, and telling stories about how exactly they were produced. In many ways the book presents as a finished and ideal object. McLeod's readings destroy this imposition, and show us how it was made in the first place.




The inventor of the McLeod Portable Collator, a machine which allows to read two copies of the same book at the same time and highlighting minute differences between copies, will be talking about the invention of the Italic typeface in 1501 Venice when Aldo Manutius printed the very first book in this compact type, a face which still today is a cultural marker of the highest order. We know that the early value of the new typeface was that it appeared less bookish than the type in use before Aldus. What will the faint traces of uninked type which our book-spy found hidded in plain sight, what will they tell us about the actual process of giving birth to a new typeface? Join the man with many names on Friday 27 June 2014, Seminar Room 24, Faculty of English, West Road, Cambridge at 12.30 and find out.




                    

The latest model of bed-sit-kitch-flatlets are after us

In 1935, in the Spectator, Arthur Waugh wrote about how the "latest model of bed-sit-kitch-flatlets" threaten and replace bookshops. His lament: "The historic firm of Bumpus confronts eviction; and by the end of the month yet one more of the familiar haunts of the book-lover will have been sacrificed to the inexorable laws of traffic and speed."

His analysis is still correct. Books inhabit the remote niches of a complex system, and the used book trade is always liable to give way to more profitable enterprises. And so with Plurabelle.

In lieu of condolences and expressions of sympathy, offers of muscular assistance for the move are gratefully received. (5£ / hour) Join us for a joyful lamentation toward a new beginning. Call 07972282092 or check our facebook page for shifts and locations. We have a van starting this Saturday, 22 Feb 2014.

Here is the Film Preview of the 2014 Plurabelle Move 

Neighbor Kip, most bitter-sweet, sad, yet happy, because he himself does not need to move, declares his sympathy, and requests some for himself

Empty Shelves.

Emptier Shelves with afternoon mood-light.

Book charity haul.

Have suitcase, will travel.

Local art teacher removes books for art projects in inclement weather

Keep /  Get Rid: Which one is it to be? 

Rianna (matrial arts fearless) hits the IKEA shelf very elegantly

Removing the printer (First attempt)

Server (HP DL 380) out

Happy Scrap Removal Team

Shelfmeister at work

Signing the contract with Monet in the background

Miniature Bookshop Official Opening

The official Opening of the fabulous Miniature Bookshop created by Emma Taylor will take place on Wednesday 27 March 2013 at 4:30 pm.

We expect a group of unicyclists to join us for this occasion (Please get your Torker, your Jugglebug or your Semcycle out for this occasion) - the bookseller himself with balance his Ammaco. The unicyclists will assemble at the top of Purbeck Road, and accompany our guests down Purbeck Rd. We are expecting Julian Huppert who will conduct the official opening.

We also have a little facebook event (if you don't mind their advertisement).

Local artist Robert Good will introduce Emma's work and Julian Huppert will cut the ribbon.

After the official opening there will be an opportunity to visit the nearby Cambridge Cookery School and Kip Gresham of the Print Studio will show the visitors around his premises.

The bookshop is located in a protected industrial zone which has in the past hosted high quality art, crafts, and traditional artisan technologies. It is hoped that this tradition can be continued in the future.

From Within a Book

Some books are more special than others. This one is super special. The mental furniture, the conceptual arrangements, the cognitive architecture, even the familiarity of language and tone, the author's style, all is there for you to see, to step into, to play with, to share and to marvel. 

A Bookshop within a Book

Francis Bacon dreamed of an end of bookish learning. He would be keen on such real books, books which literally contain the reality he wanted to focus on. But then, there are books in this book!  That surely would worry a philosopher who wanted to get beyond books! 

Look at  these shelves! 

The bookseller retrieves a book for his client

Emma calls it From Within a Book. She does a bookshop in less than a week. She does shelves, furniture, (upholstery), carpets, ladders, even the humans. This must be my scarf! And of course the books. All made out of books. And placed in a book. Mise en abyme? Enjoy more of Emma's work on her own site. Compliments to fromwithinabook at gmail dot com.

In Edinburgh, mysterious book sculptures are going on display, as the Guardian reports. Perhaps this is how books are fighting back against Kindle and co.

Thanks, Emma, for sharing your marvelous work! 

Bookshop in a Book in a Bookshop

Yes, of course, a Carpet!

A book about epistemology? Epidemology?

"From within a Book"

Bookseller with scarf

Subtle Thief & Mince Pies Plurabelle Tuesday, Dec 18 at 6:00 pm

Askance Publishing and Plurabelle Books would like to have the honour of your company for a evening of books, readings, and the most bookish Christmas Tree you have ever seen. Two sets of the Dictionary of National Biography and a few stout volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica will perform the world premier of a ballet called The Christmas Tree (Composed and designed by Laura N.)

Join us on Tuesday Dec 18th at 6pm at our warehouse at the bottom of Purbeck Road, right next to Hills Road 6th Form College. Come early to pick up a few cheap Christmas presents that have words like a Kindle, but smell much better and cost much less.

Stay to listen to DJ Wiseman and his mellifluous prose in his very own velvet baritone voice when he reads from The Subtle Thief of Youth, his most recent book. We will have mince pies and mulled wine to keep you warm.

More poets and performers have been scheduled, please stay tuned as the names will be released

Join our facebook event here.

Summary (Text&Context) Reception

Our good friend Robert Good likes to work with words. He is not a bookseller, but a word-artist. His most recent project is called Text&Context. It features more than 25 artists who will create some subtle confusion in the way in which language works in public spaces of Cambridge. The show explores the relationship between art, language, text, meaning and location through a series of encounters and de-re-textualisations across Cambridge. It includes live performance, postcards, neon signs, social media and even bicycles. Of course Plurabelle had to be part of this. This is not a confined exhibition, it is more like a carnival, setting language free, and setting us free to see text differently, to see different things in text

We have the good luck that Linda Carreiro from Calgary (together with RICHard SMOLinski) will display her SUMMARY work in and around our warehouse.

We expect some phantastic word-tapestries, inside and outside our warehouse, moving slightly in the wind, heads turning sideways, and letters tempting meaning in brains, as they are wont to. Please join us for the opening with the artist on Sunday, September 30 at 1:30. We will offer Alphabet Cookies and other nourishment, the remains of our Book Eating event  are still on display for those who missed it, and books galore for all who still care for typographical way of writing, its what and its how.

Please note, on Sunday, 7 October there will be an artistic bike ride, departing 10:30 from the Aid and Abet, next to the station, visiting the multiple sites of Text&Context in Cambridge. Join us, details on Acebook and Wtitter...