These 19th Century Books Reveal Hidden Paintings When You Flare Out The Edges

Librarian Colleen Theisen who works at the Special Collections & University Archives at the University of Iowa shared these cool fore edge paintings on the edge of these books from the 19th century.

It’s called fore-edge painting, and it dates back to the early 1650’s.

Basically, it’s a way of hiding a painting/art in plain sight, of which can only be seen when the pages of a book are fanned out.

Why did people do this? No one really knows honestly, but it’s pretty freaking cool! Check it out a few of the 19th century books below.

19th century books by Robert Mudie

It’s called Fore-Edge Paintings

Alice and Wonderland Book

Paradise Lost

Here’s how fore edge paintings are done

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