In the Service of Canada -
The Seventh Book of Rememberance
The Seventh Book of Remembrance records, by name, all Canadian Forces service men and women whose death is attributable to military service since 1947, with the exception of the Korean War.
This Book, like the other six Books of Remembrance, employs calligraphy, illumination, design and text to provide recognition to those who died in service to our country.
The Binding is handcrafted by Old English Bindery using traditional methods in Morocco goatskin, with silk headbands sewn in red, white and red to represent the Canadian flag.. The pages are hand-written and hand-painted on calfskin vellum using designer’s gouache and sumi ink, with 24k gold highlights.
The opening design on the title page, also embossed on the outside front cover, is a 10 inch by 13 inch grid red, blue and green rectangles. This type of pattern has been used for centuries to highlight and decorate illuminated manuscripts. Here, the pattern symbolizes the order, organization and precision that one associates with the military. Additionally, in its resemblance to a quilt, the grid provides a visual symbol of the warmth of the homes from which these men and women came together in the service of our country. The poppy, symbol of remembrance, is used in the middle of the title page and cover to link the English and French texts.
The front cover of the binding hold an intricate patchwork of leather onlays hand tooled with 24K gold to recreate the illuminated design of the quilt from the title page of the book. The Inside of the front and back cover is elaborately guilded in 24K gold with a variety of hand crafted tools, one of which is a delicate grapevine - this has been chosen as it is similar in design to the grapevine used by the illuminator in the 1st and 2nd books of remembrance. It also signifies the grapevine which can be see around the walls of the senate.
The green in the quilt on the outside front cover and on the title page represents the colour of life, as seen in Canada's green fields and forests. Blue represents both the skies and the waters that surround Canada. Red is the blood of Canadian sacrifice. The falling maple leaf transits through green to red, or from life to death, and, by its dying, nourishes our soil to produce a new generation of brave Canadians. They will carry on to meet a new foe—faithful to our traditions—loyal to our predecessors—and honourable protectors of our Canadian way of life.
Full-colour renderings of Canada’s military badges have been inlaid by the bookbinder on the inside edges of the front and back covers. The pre-1968 navy, army and air force badges and the Canadian Forces badge from 1968 onward are replicated in 24k gold and colour. The tools for these were all designed and hand carved for Old English Bindery especially for this Book.
More articles about this book at:
www.legionmagazine.com
www.cbc.ca
Veteran Affairs Canada
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