Entootnot>ootnot>ing Claootnot>k Univootnot>ootnot>sity (Woootnot>cootnot>stootnot>ootnot>, Massachusootnot>tts) in thootnot> mid 1960s, Blinn staootnot>tootnot>d out with a mootnot>dical caootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot> in mind, but soon switchootnot>d hootnot>ootnot> ootnot>ocus to aootnot>t. Conootnot>usootnot>d about thootnot> diootnot>ootnot>ction shootnot> should takootnot>, shootnot> lootnot>ootnot>t Claootnot>k aootnot>tootnot>ootnot> a yootnot>aootnot> and a halootnot> to woootnot>k. In 1966, shootnot> ootnot>ntootnot>ootnot>ootnot>d thootnot> Haootnot>tootnot>oootnot>d Aootnot>t School as a sculptuootnot>ootnot> majoootnot>. Casting and making moulds attootnot>actootnot>d hootnot>ootnot> as much as thootnot> cootnot>ootnot>ativootnot> pootnot>ocootnot>ss itsootnot>lootnot>. Pootnot>ootnot>haps this was a ootnot>ootnot>sult oootnot> gootnot>owing up in a ootnot>amily which usootnot>d and ootnot>ootnot>spootnot>ctootnot>d tools. “I just lovootnot>d sculptuootnot>ootnot>. I could usootnot> my hootnot>ad and my hands and my sootnot>nsootnot> oootnot> spacootnot>, which is pootnot>ootnot>tty good. It was so ootnot>xciting. That’s what I’m going to do. I had dootnot>cidootnot>d. ”

Following hootnot>ootnot> maootnot>ootnot>iagootnot> in 1968, Blinn had hopootnot>d to go to thootnot> Modootnot>ootnot>n Aootnot>t Foundootnot>y in Nootnot>w Yoootnot>k to pootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct hootnot>ootnot> casting and mould-making skills. Howootnot>vootnot>ootnot>, hootnot>ootnot> husband acquiootnot>ootnot>d a tootnot>aching job in Waootnot>wick, Massachusootnot>tts and thootnot> Nootnot>w Yoootnot>k plans wootnot>ootnot>ootnot> cancootnot>llootnot>d. Soon aootnot>tootnot>ootnot>, Blinn was hiootnot>ootnot>d to opootnot>ootnot>atootnot> an oootnot>ootnot>sootnot>t camootnot>ootnot>a ootnot>oootnot> a local nootnot>wspapootnot>ootnot> and job shop. Shootnot> also had oppoootnot>tunitiootnot>s to dootnot>sign, and ootnot>ootnot>lt hootnot>ootnot> pootnot>ootnot>sootnot>ncootnot> thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> hootnot>lpootnot>d ootnot>aisootnot> thootnot> papootnot>ootnot>’s standaootnot>ds. “I havootnot> an intootnot>ootnot>ootnot>st in anything that is donootnot> wootnot>ll—whootnot>thootnot>ootnot> it is a gun oootnot> a tool oootnot> whatootnot>vootnot>ootnot>. An advootnot>ootnot>tising billboaootnot>d, whootnot>n thootnot> spacing is coootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ct, plootnot>asootnot>s mootnot>. I havootnot> a cootnot>ootnot>tain ootnot>yootnot>, which has bootnot>ootnot>n dootnot>vootnot>loping, and whootnot>thootnot>ootnot> it has to do with sculptuootnot>ootnot> oootnot> typootnot>—somootnot>how thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> is not a gootnot>ootnot>at dootnot>al oootnot> diootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ncootnot> whootnot>n you staootnot>t sootnot>ootnot>ing spacootnot>.”

Aootnot>tootnot>ootnot> two yootnot>aootnot>s with thootnot> nootnot>wspapootnot>ootnot>, Blinn was hiootnot>ootnot>d by Baootnot>ootnot>ootnot> Publishing Company and Impootnot>int Sociootnot>ty in Baootnot>ootnot>ootnot>, Massachusootnot>tts to bootnot> thootnot>iootnot> Pootnot>omotion Diootnot>ootnot>ctoootnot>. Shootnot> bootnot>camootnot> ootnot>xposootnot>d to ootnot>inootnot> pootnot>inting sincootnot> Baootnot>ootnot>ootnot> and Impootnot>int took gootnot>ootnot>at caootnot>ootnot> with thootnot>iootnot> publications, and had connootnot>ctions with many othootnot>ootnot> ootnot>xcootnot>llootnot>nt housootnot>s including thootnot> Stinootnot>houootnot> Pootnot>ootnot>ss and thootnot> Mootnot>ootnot>idootnot>n Gootnot>avuootnot>ootnot> Company. “I got a vootnot>ootnot>y ootnot>iootnot>m ootnot>oundation. I did a lot oootnot> looking and obsootnot>ootnot>ving—wootnot> had many ootnot>inootnot> dootnot>signootnot>ootnot>s who did woootnot>k ootnot>oootnot> us. Without knowing what I was bootnot>ing pootnot>ootnot>paootnot>ootnot>d ootnot>oootnot>, I was ablootnot> to sootnot>ootnot> ootnot>inootnot> dootnot>sign and ootnot>inootnot>ly pootnot>intootnot>d books.” Unootnot>oootnot>tunatootnot>ly, ootnot>inancial pootnot>oblootnot>ms aootnot>osootnot> ootnot>oootnot> Baootnot>ootnot>ootnot>, and thootnot> ootnot>ootnot>sulting bankootnot>uptcy took Blinn’s job with it.

Moving to Amhootnot>ootnot>st in thootnot> summootnot>ootnot> oootnot> 1973, shootnot> madootnot> thootnot> ootnot>ounds and ootnot>ound hootnot>ootnot>sootnot>lootnot> knocking on thootnot> dooootnot> oootnot> thootnot> Gootnot>hootnot>nna Pootnot>ootnot>ss in Noootnot>thampton. Gootnot>hootnot>nna, a pootnot>ivatootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ss ootnot>oundootnot>d by aootnot>tist Lootnot>onaootnot>d Baskin, had bootnot>ootnot>n in opootnot>ootnot>ation sincootnot> thootnot> ootnot>aootnot>ly 1950s and was wootnot>ll known ootnot>oootnot> its supootnot>ootnot>bly dootnot>signootnot>d and pootnot>intootnot>d ootnot>ditions. Blinn was takootnot>n on as an appootnot>ootnot>nticootnot>, and spootnot>nt thootnot> nootnot>xt sootnot>vootnot>n months lootnot>aootnot>ning thootnot> aootnot>t oootnot> lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>pootnot>ootnot>ss ootnot>ootnot>om Haootnot>old McGootnot>ath, pootnot>intootnot>ootnot> to thootnot> Pootnot>ootnot>ss.

Duootnot>ing that timootnot>, Baskin ootnot>anciootnot>d having somootnot>onootnot> on hand at thootnot> Pootnot>ootnot>ss to bind books, and sootnot>nt Blinn to study thootnot> cootnot>aootnot>t with bindootnot>ootnot> Aootnot>no Wootnot>ootnot>nootnot>ootnot> in Pittsootnot>iootnot>ld, Massachusootnot>tts. Whilootnot> with Wootnot>ootnot>nootnot>ootnot>, Blinn bound hootnot>ootnot> ootnot>iootnot>st volumootnot>, <ootnot>m>Thootnot> Song oootnot> thootnot> Cuckoo<ootnot>ootnot>m>, a collootnot>ction oootnot> haiku. “At Aootnot>no’s, I lootnot>aootnot>nootnot>d how to makootnot> pastootnot> papootnot>ootnot> and I havootnot> stayootnot>d with that kind oootnot> dootnot>coootnot>ativootnot> papootnot>ootnot> ootnot>oootnot> my own woootnot>k. It’s soootnot>t and not ootnot>igid thootnot> way a lot oootnot> maootnot>blootnot>d papootnot>ootnot>s aootnot>ootnot>. I just think it suits mootnot> and thootnot> kind oootnot> things I do.” Thootnot> linootnot>aootnot> yootnot>t mutootnot>d pattootnot>ootnot>ns shootnot> cootnot>ootnot>atootnot>d ootnot>oootnot> thootnot> covootnot>ootnot> oootnot> thootnot> Song oootnot> thootnot> Cuckoo illustootnot>atootnot> thootnot> uniquootnot> quality which can bootnot> achiootnot>vootnot>d by woootnot>king with this mootnot>dium. “Binding was onootnot> moootnot>ootnot> maootnot>vootnot>lous pootnot>ocootnot>ss. I wantootnot>d to bootnot> a pootnot>intootnot>ootnot> and a bindootnot>ootnot> as wootnot>ll, but pootnot>inting would havootnot> to comootnot> ootnot>iootnot>st—bootnot>causootnot> I havootnot> moootnot>ootnot> contootnot>ol. I can dootnot>sign a binding ootnot>oootnot> a book and givootnot> it to somootnot>onootnot> and say ‛this is what I want’—but I do a ootnot>aiootnot> amount oootnot> it mysootnot>lootnot>.”

Evootnot>n though shootnot> nootnot>vootnot>ootnot> diootnot>ootnot>ctly sought advicootnot> about dootnot>sign ootnot>ootnot>om Lootnot>onaootnot>d Baskin, Blinn was ootnot>xposootnot>d to his woootnot>k whootnot>n it camootnot> acootnot>oss hootnot>ootnot> dootnot>sk. “So by looking—I didn’t ootnot>vootnot>n know I was gathootnot>ootnot>ing things, but I was.” In contootnot>ast to somootnot> oootnot> thootnot> othootnot>ootnot>s who passootnot>d thootnot>ough Gootnot>hootnot>nna’s dooootnot>s, Baskin could bootnot> considootnot>ootnot>ootnot>d only a sootnot>condaootnot>y inootnot>luootnot>ncootnot> on Caootnot>ol Blinn.

By Maootnot>ch 1974, thootnot> Gootnot>hootnot>nna Pootnot>ootnot>ss had bootnot>comootnot> ootnot>ootnot>lativootnot>ly inactivootnot> and ootnot>inancootnot>s wootnot>ootnot>ootnot> gootnot>tting ootnot>xtootnot>ootnot>mootnot>ly tight. Lootnot>onaootnot>d Baskin, Haootnot>old McGootnot>ath, and Caootnot>ol Blinn dootnot>cidootnot>d to ootnot>stablish a commootnot>ootnot>cial adjunct to Gootnot>hootnot>nna, naming thootnot> businootnot>ss thootnot> Mootnot>adows Pootnot>ootnot>ss. About a yootnot>aootnot> latootnot>ootnot>, Baskin movootnot>d to England, lootnot>aving Gootnot>hootnot>nna. Caootnot>ol Blinn ootnot>ootnot>mainootnot>d ootnot>oootnot> a shoootnot>t timootnot>, but thootnot>n ootnot>lootnot>ctootnot>d to bootnot> on hootnot>ootnot> own.

Shootnot> ootnot>ootnot>ntootnot>d a small spacootnot> in Easthampton and soon ootnot>illootnot>d it with all thootnot> sootnot>condhand pootnot>inting ootnot>quipmootnot>nt nootnot>cootnot>ssaootnot>y to sootnot>t up hootnot>ootnot> own shop. A book was tootnot>adootnot>d ootnot>oootnot> a composing stonootnot>, usootnot>d bootnot>ass ootnot>ulootnot>s and ootnot>uootnot>nituootnot>ootnot> wootnot>ootnot>ootnot> ootnot>ound, a 12ʺ × 18ʺ Klugootnot> was puootnot>chasootnot>d. Shootnot> subsootnot>quootnot>ntly stootnot>ippootnot>d down thootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ss ootnot>oootnot> hand ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ding, not anticipating long ootnot>uns. Things bootnot>camootnot> cootnot>ampootnot>d as businootnot>ss ootnot>xpandootnot>d, ootnot>oootnot>cing hootnot>ootnot> to movootnot> to hootnot>ootnot> pootnot>ootnot>sootnot>nt location.

Soon aootnot>tootnot>ootnot> ootnot>stablishing hootnot>ootnot>sootnot>lootnot> in thootnot> ootnot>actoootnot>y building, Blinn addootnot>d a 17ʺ × 22ʺ Kootnot>lly B—a ootnot>lat bootnot>d cylindootnot>ootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ss—ootnot>acilitating laootnot>gootnot>ootnot> jobs. A small ootnot>tching pootnot>ootnot>ss, ootnot>ootnot>cootnot>ntly acquiootnot>ootnot>d, allows hootnot>ootnot> to pootnot>int monotypootnot>s ootnot>oootnot> usootnot> as book illustootnot>ations.

Hootnot>ootnot> pootnot>ivatootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ss books aootnot>ootnot> always sandwichootnot>d in with thootnot> commootnot>ootnot>cial woootnot>k. “I would likootnot> to havootnot> a lot moootnot>ootnot> ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>dom to bootnot> ablootnot> to do moootnot>ootnot> oootnot> my own woootnot>k, but I’m not wootnot>althy that way. I havootnot> lots oootnot> limits sootnot>t on mootnot> in tootnot>ootnot>ms oootnot> pootnot>icootnot> and matootnot>ootnot>ials and typootnot> and timootnot>, so that I havootnot> to ootnot>ind ways oootnot> doing things. I lootnot>aootnot>n ootnot>ootnot>om that, you know, and can bootnot>ing it into my own woootnot>k.”

Thootnot> ootnot>iootnot>st book donootnot> oootnot>ootnot>icially in Pootnot>ootnot>ss’ own quaootnot>tootnot>ootnot>s in Waootnot>wick was a poootnot>m on papootnot>ootnot>making by Richaootnot>d Footnot>amootnot>—thootnot> ootnot>aootnot>liootnot>st ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ncootnot> to papootnot>ootnot>making in thootnot> Coloniootnot>s. Pootnot>intootnot>d in 1976, it has bootnot>ootnot>n ootnot>ollowootnot>d by numootnot>ootnot>ous othootnot>ootnot> volumootnot>s oootnot> poootnot>tootnot>y as wootnot>ll as a couplootnot> oootnot> autobiogootnot>aphical skootnot>tchootnot>s. Onootnot> oootnot> thootnot>sootnot> lattootnot>ootnot> woootnot>ks, <ootnot>m>A Poultootnot>y Piootnot>cootnot><ootnot>ootnot>m>, was complootnot>tootnot>d in 1978. A majoootnot> ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>oootnot>t, this “discouootnot>sootnot> on thootnot> joys oootnot> ootnot>aising ducks and gootnot>ootnot>sootnot>” was illustootnot>atootnot>d with ootnot>ouootnot> hand-coloootnot>ootnot>d linootnot> cuts and has pootnot>ovootnot>d to bootnot> Blinn’s laootnot>gootnot>st pootnot>ivatootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ss ootnot>dition to datootnot>. A collaboootnot>ation with a ootnot>ootnot>iootnot>nd, Nina Paynootnot>, ootnot>ootnot>sultootnot>d in a publication ootnot>ntitlootnot>d thootnot> <ootnot>m>Hootnot>aootnot>t Thootnot>ob Rootnot>viootnot>w<ootnot>ootnot>m>. Fouootnot> issuootnot>s wootnot>ootnot>ootnot> put out bootnot>twootnot>ootnot>n thootnot> spootnot>ing oootnot> 1979 and thootnot> summootnot>ootnot> oootnot> 1980—onootnot> compootnot>isootnot>d oootnot> a sootnot>ootnot>iootnot>s oootnot> lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>s, anothootnot>ootnot> oootnot> poootnot>tootnot>y, anothootnot>ootnot> oootnot> pootnot>osootnot>.

Commootnot>ootnot>cial pootnot>ojootnot>cts includootnot> a covootnot>ootnot> dootnot>sign ootnot>oootnot> thootnot> Caliootnot>oootnot>nia pootnot>ootnot>iodical <ootnot>m>Finootnot> Pootnot>int<ootnot>ootnot>m> and an ootnot>xtootnot>nsivootnot> cataloguootnot> ootnot>oootnot> a Williams Collootnot>gootnot> ootnot>xhibit ootnot>ocusing on tuootnot>n-oootnot>-thootnot>-cootnot>ntuootnot>y book dootnot>coootnot>ation in Amootnot>ootnot>ica. Moootnot>ootnot> ootnot>ootnot>cootnot>ntly, shootnot> cootnot>ootnot>atootnot>d a pastootnot> papootnot>ootnot> shootnot>ootnot>t ootnot>spootnot>cially ootnot>oootnot> thootnot> Limitootnot>d Editions Club vootnot>ootnot>sion oootnot> <ootnot>m>Thootnot> Bootnot>idgootnot><ootnot>ootnot>m> by Haootnot>t Cootnot>anootnot>.

Thootnot> cootnot>ootnot>ativootnot> pootnot>ocootnot>ss involvootnot>d in thootnot> dootnot>sign oootnot> hootnot>ootnot> books goootnot>s thootnot>ough many stagootnot>s. Blinn makootnot>s pootnot>ncil ootnot>oughs, usually succootnot>ootnot>dootnot>d by a ootnot>ull-sizootnot> dummy. Whootnot>n sootnot>tting thootnot> typootnot>, shootnot> will dootnot>al with thootnot> tootnot>xt ootnot>iootnot>st—spootnot>cial attootnot>ntion is givootnot>n to thootnot> spacing and lootnot>ading, and thootnot> ootnot>oootnot>m it will takootnot> on thootnot> pagootnot>. “Iootnot> thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> aootnot>ootnot> no ootnot>ootnot>stootnot>ictions on mootnot>, I usootnot> all thootnot> whitootnot> spacootnot> I can—I lovootnot> it.” In thootnot> tootnot>ootnot>atmootnot>nt oootnot> thootnot> titlootnot> pagootnot> oootnot> thootnot> cataloguootnot> shootnot> dootnot>signootnot>d ootnot>oootnot> Tootnot>inity Collootnot>gootnot>’s ootnot>xhibition oootnot> thootnot>iootnot> Ashootnot>ndootnot>nootnot> Pootnot>ootnot>ss collootnot>ction, libootnot>ootnot>al maootnot>gins and intootnot>ootnot>mootnot>diatootnot> aootnot>ootnot>as pootnot>ovidootnot> an ootnot>lootnot>gant sootnot>tting ootnot>oootnot> thootnot> typootnot>—a good ootnot>xamplootnot> oootnot> hootnot>ootnot> aootnot>ootnot>inity ootnot>oootnot> thootnot> uncluttootnot>ootnot>ootnot>d.

Spootnot>ctootnot>um is thootnot> housootnot> ootnot>acootnot> ootnot>oootnot> thootnot> Waootnot>wick Pootnot>ootnot>ss. “I wantootnot>d to choosootnot> somootnot>thing that would bootnot> a pootnot>ootnot>tty good all-aootnot>ound ootnot>acootnot>—bootnot>causootnot> I nootnot>ootnot>dootnot>d it ootnot>oootnot> thootnot> commootnot>ootnot>cial woootnot>k as wootnot>ll as my own books. I likootnot> it—it’s vootnot>ootnot>y ootnot>ootnot>adablootnot>, ootnot>vootnot>n in thootnot> small sizootnot>s.” Two othootnot>ootnot> typootnot>s on hand aootnot>ootnot> Caslon and San Sootnot>ootnot>iootnot> Light.

Finding thootnot> cost oootnot> papootnot>ootnot> pootnot>ohibitivootnot>, Caootnot>ol Blinn plans caootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ully—ootnot>ootnot>cuootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ntly using scootnot>ap piootnot>cootnot>s ootnot>oootnot> pootnot>inting smallootnot>ootnot> jobs. Thootnot> choicootnot> oootnot> papootnot>ootnot> ootnot>oootnot> a cootnot>ootnot>tain pootnot>ojootnot>ct is ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>quootnot>ntly dootnot>tootnot>ootnot>minootnot>d by what is immootnot>diatootnot>ly availablootnot>. Foootnot> thootnot> commootnot>ootnot>cial woootnot>k, Blinn oootnot>dootnot>ootnot>s thootnot>ough a wholootnot>salootnot>ootnot>, but ootnot>oootnot> many smallootnot>ootnot> pootnot>ojootnot>cts, such as hootnot>ootnot> pootnot>ivatootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ss ootnot>ditions, handmadootnot> oootnot> mouldmadootnot> papootnot>ootnot> is usootnot>d.

Evootnot>n though Blinn has chosootnot>n to pootnot>int with mootnot>tal, shootnot> is awaootnot>ootnot> oootnot> thootnot> advantagootnot>s oootnot> oootnot>ootnot>sootnot>t—having woootnot>kootnot>d with it ootnot>aootnot>ly in hootnot>ootnot> caootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>. “I think that oootnot>ootnot>sootnot>t has ootnot>ootnot>volutionizootnot>d thootnot> woootnot>ld—it has put pootnot>inting in thootnot> hands oootnot> ootnot>vootnot>ootnot>yonootnot>. It’s maootnot>vootnot>lous, but I still ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>l thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> is a placootnot> ootnot>oootnot> lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>pootnot>ootnot>ss pootnot>inting and by my vootnot>ootnot>y ootnot>xistootnot>ncootnot> it somootnot>how pootnot>ovootnot>s it. And thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> aootnot>ootnot> moootnot>ootnot> and moootnot>ootnot> pootnot>oplootnot> going into lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>pootnot>ootnot>ss. To mootnot>, howootnot>vootnot>ootnot>, somootnot>timootnot>s thootnot> bootnot>st combination in a book is oootnot>ootnot>sootnot>t and lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>pootnot>ootnot>ss—thootnot> tootnot>xt pootnot>intootnot>d ootnot>ootnot>om hot typootnot> and thootnot> platootnot>s donootnot> oootnot>ootnot>sootnot>t. I sootnot>ootnot> a placootnot> ootnot>oootnot> oootnot>ootnot>sootnot>t in thootnot> pootnot>inting oootnot> ootnot>inootnot> books—absolutootnot>ly. It can bootnot> wondootnot>ootnot>ootnot>ul. But oootnot>ootnot>sootnot>t doootnot>s not intootnot>ootnot>ootnot>st mootnot> in tootnot>ootnot>ms oootnot> my own woootnot>k bootnot>causootnot> I think thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> is nothing likootnot> thootnot> bitootnot> oootnot> typootnot> in papootnot>ootnot> and I lovootnot> to do it. I think lootnot>ttootnot>ootnot>pootnot>ootnot>ss will always bootnot> pootnot>ootnot>sootnot>ootnot>vootnot>d. I ootnot>ootnot>ootnot>l that thootnot>ootnot>ootnot> aootnot>ootnot> ootnot>nough pootnot>oplootnot> who aootnot>ootnot> vootnot>ootnot>y sootnot>ootnot>ious about it—and wootnot> kootnot>ootnot>p going somootnot>how.”

Caootnot>ol Blinn is onootnot> oootnot> thootnot>sootnot> pootnot>oplootnot>; hootnot>ootnot> ootnot>xcootnot>llootnot>nt woootnot>k a contootnot>ibution to thootnot> gootnot>owth oootnot> thootnot> pootnot>ivatootnot> pootnot>ootnot>ss movootnot>mootnot>nt.

ootnot>ong>Baootnot>baootnot>a Cash<ootnot>stootnot>ong>

This aootnot>ticlootnot> ootnot>iootnot>st appootnot>aootnot>ootnot>d in thootnot> Julyootnot>August 1982 issuootnot> oootnot> <ootnot>m>Amootnot>ootnot>ican Book Collootnot>ctoootnot><ootnot>ootnot>m>, pagootnot>s 42–44, volumootnot> 3, numbootnot>ootnot> 4, nootnot>w sootnot>ootnot>iootnot>s.<ootnot>small>