Reconstructing Christopher Clarkson’s Flip Flop Box: A Protective Enclosure for Book Covers

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the early 1970s Christopher Clarkson designed and constructed specialized enclosures, which he later named “flip flop boxes,” to protect Islamic book covers in the Kirkor Minassian Collection at the Library of Congress. A flip flop box provides support for book covers and permits easy viewing of both sides while reducing handling. Recently a project to house a book cover prompted a return to Clarkson's box design, since over 40 years of use for both storage and research has proven its elegance and durability. This paper gives a historical account of the design process, discusses selection of materials for the recent reconstruction, and provides detailed instructions for making a flip flop box.