Charles Babbage: On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures (1832/2010)

“In this famous book, first published in 1832, Charles Babbage (1791–1871), the mathematician, philosopher, engineer and inventor who originated the concept of a programmable computer, surveys manufacturing practices and discusses the political, moral and economic factors affecting them. The book met with hostility from the publishing industry on account of Babbage’s analysis of the manufacture and sale of books. Babbage describes the many different printing processes of the time, analyses the costs of book production and explains the publication process, before discussing the ‘too large’ profit margins of booksellers. Babbage succeeded in his aim ‘to avoid all technical terms, and to describe in concise language’, making this an eminently readable historical account. His analysis and promotion of mechanisation and efficient ‘division of labour’ (still known as the ‘Babbage principle’) continue to resonate strongly for modern industrial engineering.”

Originally published by Charles Knight, Pall Mall East., London, 1832
Publisher Cambridge University Press, 2010
Cambridge Library Collection – Printing and Publishing History
ISBN 1108009107, 9781108009102
344 pages

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Bureau for Open Culture: A Manual for the Immaterial Worker (2011)

This publication was commissioned by Printed Matter, Inc., a non-profit based in New York City that supports production and distribution of artist books. This book is part of Printed Matter’s Artists & Activists series. It looks at the historical and current conditions under which freelancers and information workers live.

Published by Printed Matter, Inc., New York City, July 2011
Artists & Activists series, No. 16
ISBN 9780894390586
16 pages
Copyright free

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Art Work: National Conversation About Art, Labor, and Economics (2009)

Art Work is a newspaper that consists of writings and images from artists, activists, writers, critics, and others on the topic of working within depressed economies and how that impacts artistic process, compensation and artistic property.

The newspaper is distributed for free at sites and from people throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. It is also available by mail order from Half Letter Press for the cost of postage.

The 40-page newspaper features the writings, images, and work of Julia Bryan-Wilson, Holland Cotter, Tim Kerr, Nance Klehm, Harrell Fletcher, Futurefarmers, Robin Hewlett, Nicolas Lampert, Lize Mogel, Dan S. Wang, Gregory Sholette, Dylan A.T. Miner, Christina Ulke and Marc Herbst of the Journal of Aesthetics & Protest, OurGoods, Chris Burden, Scott Berzofsky, John Duda, InCUBATE, Linda Frye Burnham, ILSSA, Cooley Windsor, Brian Holmes, Nick Tobier, Lolita Hernandez, Stacy Malasky, Nate Mullen, Aaron Timlin, Harold Jefferies, W&N, Damon Rich, Teaching Artist Union, FEAST, 16 Beaver Group, W.A.G.E., Chris Kennedy, Nato Thompson, Carolina Caycedo, Guerrilla Art Action Group, Anthony Elms, Adam Trowbridge, Jessica Westbrook, and many other artists, art workers, curators, interns, volunteers, writers, and activists.

Produced by Temporary Services (Brett Bloom, Salem Collo-Julin, Marc Fischer), Chicago
Published by Half Letter Press, 2009
40 pages

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