The Library’s collections contain many examples of ‘spineless’ works, including pamphlets, booklets, flyers, posters, prints, manuscripts, programmes, and objects.
These videos showcase just a small selection.

• Queer Between the Covers book works by Theresa Easton
  Four artists’ book works made in 2018 by Theresa Easton in response to the Library’s ‘Queer Between the Covers’ exhibition. Each book work utilises a different format and fold to materially reveal stories of LGBTQ+ lives.
• Book Gobblers zine by Theresa Easton
  Produced alongside her artists’ book works (above), this zine publication relates the Customs and Excise raids which took place at Gay’s the Word bookshop in 1984, and the ensuing defence campaign.
• MS657
  A 15th century manuscript with a medieval binding that contains different forms of ‘spineless’ material in the quires that make up its content and in manuscript fragments used in the volume’s binding.
  
• Strange, true, and dreadful relation A strange, true, and dreadful relation, of the devils appearing to Thomas Cox a hackney-coach-man
  A 17th century sensationalist pamphlet that has survived in the form it was originally printed, on a single sheet. It relays a coachman’s account of a supernatural experience.
  
• British Seaweeds
  A scrapbook containing numerous samples of British seaweed, collected and preserved in the mid-nineteenth century.
  
• White Man’s Duty pamphlet
  A pamphlet published by W.H. Allen in 1942, consisting of a discussion between Nancy Cunard and George Padmore on colonialism and anti-fascism. Printed on thin paper and bound by a stitched fold, this work shows the material fragility of pamphlet publications.
• Eric Dingwall Scrapbook
  A scrapbook created by Eric Dingwall - psychical investigator, anthropologist, librarian, and sexologist - replete with cuttings and other ephemera concerning his spheres of interest.
• Ron Heisler Collection
  A range of pamphlet material from Ron Heisler's collection of radical, left-wing publications.
  Community Presses in Ron Heiser Collection
  Ron Heisler - Unboxing 1
• Fragments of Egyptian Mummy Wrappings
  A pamphlet from the archive of Reginald Arthur Rye containing 3 samples of Egyptian Mummy wrappings.
  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJSbv-yhgiQ
• Unboxing the Fuller Collection An introduction to the Fuller Collection of documents and seals.

Bibliography

A small selection of articles and books on 'spineless wonders' which are available via Senate House Library's print and online collections.

• Spineless Wonders bibliography (pdf)

Related Blogs from Senate House Library

• Uncommon Objects: Seaweed Specimens a Source of Strength for Victorian Women
• Alternative Presses, Alternative Futures: Environmentalism in German Countercultural Publishing
• Theatre Nights and Women's Rights
• The London Estates and Neighbourhoods that Became Publishing Houses
• Hocus Pocus: Exploring Women's Presence in the World of Magic
• Aloes Books: Senate House Library's Pamphlet Collections part 2
• Pamphlets at Senate House Library & the Michael Marks Awards for Poetry