Pictorial Webster: A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities
by 
|Frolicking through the artist community known as Marfa, TX, I stumbled across the exquisite Pictorial Webster: A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities, by master letterpress printer and artist, John M. Carrera. Sifting through more than 12,000 original engravings provided to him on loan, Carrera spent the next ten years constructing the book by painstakingly categorizing, restoring and selecting images from three 19th century Merriam-Webster dictionaries.
A true labor of love, the book’s copy was printed by hand — casting the words via a 1938 Model 8 Linotype Machine. Carrera purchased the Linotype with the blind faith that he’d figure out how to use it and, well, it appears that he did. To witness the impressive nature of this project, Watch how the book was made and feel free to let your jaw drop. Mine surely did.
Tagged: John M. Carrera, Merriam-Webster dictionaries, Model 8 Linotype Machine
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Luann Mcgrath said | 16 June, 2010
Hehe I’m really the only comment to this incredible post?!
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Thelma Delacruz said | 16 June, 2010
http://www.lostateminor.com‘s done it once again! Amazing article!