The medieval pencil or “writing lead” is made from lead cast into a rod. One end tapers to a point for writing with clear signs of sharpening by a knife. The pencil is from England and approximately dated from between 1200 to 1500.

The wax tablet stylus is an iron writing stylus for use with a wax tablet. One end tapers to a point for carving text in wax with a crossbar at the other end used to smooth or erase text from wax for reuse. It is likely from France and dates from approximately 1300.

The bible bag is a small leather pouch likely used to transport a pocket Bible or other small format religious manuscript. It was found near the River Thames in London, England and is approximately dated from between 1300 to 1400.

The bone parchment scraper and folding tool is a tapered tool that fit in the user’s palm and would have been used both to fold sheets of parchment into bifolia, as well as to scrape and rub the surface of the parchment prior to writing in order to create a “knap” to the skin that would better accept and distribute ink as it came off the writing quill. It was found near the River Thames in London, England and is likely made from a sheep’s leg bone. The item is approximately dated from between 1300 to 1400.

The carved bone parchment scraper is a bone tool and is probably the handle of a lunellum, a crescent-shaped blade that was used to scrape sheets of skin as they were stretched and dried to create parchment. It has a carved design at either end. It was found near the River Thames in London, England and is likely made from a sheep’s leg bone. The item is approximately dated from between 1300 to 1400.

The seal matrix is a matrix, or engraved stamp, made from lead that was used for impressing a personal seal in wax to secure and/or certify documents. It is from England and approximately dated from between 1300 to 1400. The content of the engraving on the seal, and therefore details about its owner and origin, have not been identified.

The fastener from an unidentified book is a portion of a heavy leather strap with copper or brass clasp furniture that was previously attached to an unidentified book. It is dated from approximately 1500.

The document box was used to store and protect documents. The box is made of wood with a metal clasp and handle on the lid. The outside of the box is covered with decorated leather. The inside is lined with waste sheets, which are imperfect or extra printed pages, from the 1685 first edition of the Irish translation of the Old Testament. The pages are from the book of Genesis. The edition of the Old Testament was printed in London, so the box was likely made in England.

Book safes or book boxes have been used to hide valuables or contraband. The Exhortations et Instructions Chretiennes: Tome Second book safe was made by gluing most of the pages together, then cutting out the center of the glued text block and lining the interior sides with paper. The first 24 pages of the books are intact, and the text of the book is in French.

Geological maps show the composition and structure of layers of rock and sediment in an area. This map, which shows the area around the Rhine River at the German border with the Netherlands, uses colors to show the location of different types of rock. The map includes a key explaining the meanings of the colors. The text of the map is in German. The map was cut into sections and adhered to a piece of linen to prevent damage from repeated folding.

Geological maps show the structure and composition of layers of rock and sediment in an area. This map, which show the area southwest of Remagen, Germany on the Rhine River, uses colors to show the location of different types of rock. The text of the map is in German. The map was cut into sections and adhered to a piece of linen to prevent damage from repeated folding.

The Rosswein, Saxony, Germany map shows the geological features of the area with colors that indicate the location of different types of rock. The margins of the map also include barometric and altitude information. The text on the map is in German. The map was cut into sections and adhered to a piece of linen to prevent damage from repeated folding.

Book flask is unmarked, but attributed to and in the style of Bennington Pottery of Bennington, Vermont.

Die Fabrication des Papieres by Louis Piette is a book about papermaking or paper manufacturing. Included are samples of different kinds of paper. Also included are foldout technical drawings of various papermaking apparatuses. The book is in German.

Frances Willard was the founder of the World’s Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. In addition to temperance, her work under the union also included social reforms such as equal pay for equal work and the eight-hour work day.

The first appearance in a New York State election of the party-column ballot, which replaced ballots printed by individual political parties.

Color proofs are test prints that show each color from a color printing process individually. The Ojibwa Fine Cut Tobacco color proofs contain five color proofs and one proof will all 5 colors. The proofs are for advertisements or packaging for Ojibwa Fine Cut Tobacco manufactured by Scotten Dillon Company in Detroit, Michigan. The proofs were printed by Calvert Lithograph.

Flongs are temporary paper-based molds made from set type, print blocks, or other relief material. They are the intermediate step to casting metal stereotypes, a type of printing plate. The Auburn Citizen newspaper flongs consists of three dry flongs each with a different front page of The Auburn Citizen. Dry flongs, as opposed to the wet flong process, are made using pressure to create a mold of the original. The Auburn Citizen was published in Auburn, New York.

Street & Smith or Street & Smith Publications Incorporated, was a New York City publisher specializing in inexpensive paperbacks and magazines referred to as dime novels and pulp fiction.

A volvelle is a chart with a rotating wheel used to calculate or display information. The "Wheel O' Life" created by Adolphus Hohensee of Washington, D.C. is a volvelle printed on cardboard that provides information about the nutritional qualities of different foods.

Electrotypes are printing plates made by electroplating metal onto a mold, often set type, print blocks, or other relief material. The metal is then removed from the mold and used for printmaking. The Manuscript Writing: Primary Teachers' Manual for Grades One, Two, and Three by Frank Nugent Freeman electrotype printing plates consists of five plates each with two pages per plate. The electrotypes are only a small selection of pages from the complete book. The book was published by Aner-Bloser Company in Columbus, Ohio.

Cover of book was printed off the maxtrix in this collection.

A matrix is a template that can be made of wood, metal, or glass. The design is created on the matrix by working its flat surface with either tools or chemicals. The matrix is then inked in order to transfer it onto the desired surface. Plate was used to print a portion of the front cover the book Adventures in Science with Bob and Don by Harry Carpenter. Matrix is made of a curved piece of brass with the image to be printed off the table when placed flat. Plate is stamped with 0001.