Adventures in Stationery
A Journey Through Your
Pencil Case
By James Ward
Profile Books, Ltd. 2014
£12.99 Hardback, £8.99 Paperback (2015)
ISBN 978 1846686153
Star rating: ****
Star rating: ****
“It’s only a slight exaggeration to say that the history of
stationery is the history of human civilisation.”
-
James
Ward, Adventures in Stationery
It is National Stationery Week (27 April – 3 May), an
appropriate moment to review James Ward’s
fun and fascinating appreciation, Adventures
in Stationery. And, with perfect timing, this title is now out in
paperback.
The book is an enthusiastic, quirky, and very personal
history of stationery staples (in both the figurative and literal senses). Cleverly
designed with illustrations and
pics interspersed throughout, this title is a treat. It traces the evolution of
stationery basics – paper, pens, pencils, erasers, paperclips – consumables
and gadgets. It shares the eureka
moments and serendipitous discoveries that led to the development of
now-familiar stationery items, such as the Post-It Note, Blu-Tack, and the
stapler. Spoiler alert: the distinctive, flat and stubby design of the Stabilo
Boss highlighter came about by accident. (I would have thought that the design
team would automatically hit upon the idea of a flat marker that wouldn’t roll
away...).
This book provides plenty of pub quiz factoids (Mike Nesmith
of the Monkees’ mother inventing typewriter correction fluid – a full recount
of the story) – but that is not the point. The author is sharing his obsession with
both like-minded aficionados and the curious casual reader. Packed with anecdotes,
personal stationery-based recollections, and cultural references, the book is a
well-written and entertaining read. From a design standpoint, the observations
are sharp and insightful.
There are chapters on desk tidies, postcards, school
stationery items, filing cabinets, and more. There’s a chapter on tapes and
adhesives. (I was surprised by the omission of frosted Magic Tape, a very useful product – you can write on it, it can
be removed from paper without tearing).
The final chapter deals with the role of stationery in the
digital age. (Do you use digital sticky notes on your comp?).
Adventures in
Stationery is an erudite but accessible nerdfest. The title speaks the
truth. Boring it is not.
James Ward’s blog is, I Like Boring Things
Oh yes, this year marks the launch of World Stationery Day
