| Title | The Crucible |
| Artist / Creator | Barbara Adams Hebard |
| Place of Publication | Melrose, MA |
| Publication Date | 2011 |
| Structure / Binding | Limp vellum binding, double-fanned adhesive textblock, endbands made of brown leather covered vellum strips, heavy weight gilt Barrett paper decorative "clasps," gold color cotton plaited ties, paste paper flyleaves |
| Number of Pages | 143 |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 5.5 x .5 x 8.5 inches |
| Edition Size | Unique |
| Signed & Numbered | Unsigned |
I chose to bind this book in a 17th c. style, so it would appear contemporary with the story, using as a model limp vellum bindings in the John J. Burns Library where I work. I deliberately selected bindings on books with religious themes from the 16th & 17th c. to imitate. I added the gilt paper "clasps" to introduce metal to the binding-since the title references the process of melting metal. The flyleaves also are painted to suggest molten metal.
Artist Bio
Barbara was trained in bookbinding and book conservation at the North Bennet Street School and while a student worked part-time as Book Conservator at Harvard Business School. She was employed as Book Conservator at the Boston Athenaeum and worked there until becoming the Conservator of the John J. Burns Library at Boston College in 2009. Ms. Hebard frequently writes book related articles and book reviews, gives talks and presentations, and teaches book history classes for Boston College courses. She has exhibited her bookbindings nationally and internationally. She is a Fellow of The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, a Professional Associate of The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, and a board member of the New England Conservation Association. Barbara is currently serving her second term as overseer of the North Bennet Street School.