It was an ordinary day. I was just finishing a large framing job where I work. I started this job yesterday and had to wait until Cindy, my boss Keith's wife, had applied a coat of paint to the rear of the frame. We usually don't worry about the rear of the frame since I always place a dust cover on the back before putting the hangers and wire. But, this wasn't your ordinary job. A new customer had brought in two leaves from a Bible and wanted them framed so they were visible from both sides of the job. Created a challenge for me. When Keith first showed be the pages I was overwhelmed. 100% rag cotton linen (instead of paper pulp material) leaves which were about 15" high and 11" wide. I opened one of the envelopes which accompanied the leaves and read the "Affidavit of Originality" that was in the envelope. This leaf is guaranteed to be a genuine original. It is from the First Edition of the1611 King JamesPulpit Bible. This leaf, from the earliest printings of the world's most beloved book, is an unspeakably rare treasure of Christian history. It was beautiful! When I taught school, I had a unit in my Graphics class where we studied early printing methods and early printers. Talked about Johannes Gutenberg, the German printer, and his Bible of 1456 which was printed in movable type on a printing press. First person to use movable type for this purpose. Only printed about 180 of his Bibles. The leaves i was looking at were in "black letter" typeface which was what was used in the 1611 bible. This Bible also was made with movable type and had woodcut illustrations. The pages
were remarkable. Type size must have been at least 24 point. Hard to believe they have lasted this many years. To frame the leaves I cut 2 openings in a piece of acid free B4148 Suedes-moss mat for the front and the same for the
rear side. I sandwiched to leaves between them, holdingthem in place with acid free artist's tabs. I then attached the two mat boards together with acid free double sided tape. I held the pieces up to the light and saw small holes in the paper for the first time. Not quite sure what may have caused that. I then placed a piece of Museum quality glass in the frame and laid the matted job on top of it. On top of the, which would be the rear of the frame, I place a piece of UV clear glass. Now the job was visible from both the front and back. Finished by using framer's pins to hold the glass and mats in place and since the pins were visible, I cut another suede mat of about 1"
wide and taped it over the pins. Wow, did it look neat! Going to be a gift for the woman's husband and she plans to display it on an easel instead of hanging it on a wall. Better to see both sides. The cost ........ the two leaves approximately $1,000, the framing approximately $700, and my getting to have the chance to do it - PRICELESS! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - pixs from the top are: sample of a page from the Bible, certificate which tell you the value, and the finished work displayed by LDub.
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