• Workshop

Bookbinding Workshop: LJS 419 and Parchment Bindings

A workshop to make our own versions of MS LJS 419, a 15th century herbal from Penn's collection.

calendar_month
January 27, 2026, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
location_on
Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
group
Open to the Public

Hosted by: SIMS and Kislak Center

photo of a parchment binding

Ever wonder how manuscripts were bound? Come find out in this workshop where participants can learn about the binding style and techniques used to make Penn’s very own LJS 419, an illustrated herbal (book about plants) made in Italy in the 15th century and bound in parchment. 

Each workshop participant will make their own version of LJS 419 to take home, including images from the manuscript and using techniques inspired by medieval artisans.

From sewing to making the cover, learn about parchment bindings, their structures, and what makes the binding of this herbal unique.
 
This workshop will be led by Jess Ortegon, Preventive Conservation Librarian at Penn Libraries.

This workshop is sponsored by the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies and will be held in the Vitale II Lab for Digital Humanities & Book History (Van Pelt Library 623)

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