This section of my collector's guide to interactive books with fun pull-out elements includes books filled with removable facsimile documents, memorabilia and other ephemera – typically these titles include books containing historical artefacts curated by museums, and tv and movie scrapbooks. This is one of the most popular genres of this type of book, and many of the titles in this style are produced in series format.
On this page:
Fictional Facsimiles: Disney & Cartoon Treasuries | Comic Vaults | Harry Potter Movie Scrapbooks | Wizarding World | True History Revealed | Ultimate Visual Histories | Star Wars | Other TV & Movie Tie-Ins
History Series: Black Holocaust | Great City Stories | Musical Treasures | Museum in a Book | Vintage Car Dynasties | Titanic Facsimiles | Interactive Portfolios | Treasures and Experiences
Standalones: Upcoming titles and other Non-Fiction Books
The Disney Keepsake Treasures books are part of a larger collection of Disney Deluxe Editions, which are gorgeous art quality collector's books. The four classic Disney books (Treasures, Keepsakes, Mickey Mouse and Pixar) are the best ones, being landscape layouts with removable facsimiles laid in throughout the book next to the relevant text. Later cartoon treasury books (like Looney Tunes and Snoopy) placed the removable facsimiles in groups inside envelopes instead – still lovely but I think less fun. Sadly, most of these are presently out of print, but they are relatively easy to source second-hand – although it's difficult to be sure you have all the removable items unless the book is still sealed. These books are all well-researched, fantastic pieces of movie and television history for the Disney buff.
Disney Editions, 2010. Covers the struggles, growth, and successes of the animation studio. Removable facsimiles include sketches, scenes, newspaper articles, a flipbook and visitor's pass.
Titan Books, 2015. Covers Snoopy's inspiration, first appearances, and evolution into the dog that we all know and love. Removable facsimiles are collected in pockets throughout the book and include drawings, posters, letters and a baseball pennant.
Carlton, 2013. Looks at the influences on Hergé and the backgrounds to the stories of Tintin and how they were produced. Contains 20 removable facsimile documents.
Running Press, 2010. The inside story on Looney Tunes as told by the main characters – Buggs, Daffy, Taz, Marvin, etc. Removable facsimiles are collected in pockets throughout the book and include a Bugs Bunny script, Yosemite Sam ‘Wanted' poster, Pepé Le Pew Valentine's Day cards, Porky Pig mini-comic, and more.
Little Brown & Co, 2010. Celebrates the 60th anniversary of the comic strip. Removable elements include film cels, stickers, booklets and reproduction prints of Peanuts artwork for framing.
Thunder Bay Press, 2015. 9781626862999. A history of Marvel's heroes and heroines (largely focused on Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, and The Incredible Hulk). Removable inserts (enclosed in bound-in envelopes at chapter breaks) include Captain America’s Sentinels of Liberty membership card, original art by Jack Kirby, early drawings of Iron Man, and a complete Marvel mini-book.
Running Press, 2011. Spider Man's biography through his development in comics, media, and culture. Removable items in plastic cases include sketches, posters, drawings and more.
Running Press, 2008. An in-depth look at the development of Batman from his vigilante days to his television stardom. Removable items in plastic cases include a paper mask, sketches, batplane and more.
Running Press, 2008. Unlocks DC Comics’ most fascinating secrets and deeply buried treasures. More than 25 removable items are in plastic cases and include a working reproduction of a 1942 Junior Justice Society of America decoder, a series of Public Service Announcements starring Superman and Batman, and more.
Running Press, 2007. The insider’s story of Marvel Comics from 1939 to the early 2000s. Removable items are in plastic cases and include holiday cards, the welcome kit from the original Merry Marvel Marching Society, the program for the first comics convention, early sketches and more.
Candlewick/Bloomsbury, 2016. 0763695904/1408885646.
An introduction to Newt and his enchanted suitcase, 1920s New York City, and his friends. Removable items throughout which include wizarding newspaper articles, posters and other movie props.
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Candlewick/Bloomsbury 2017. 0763695912/1408885972. An introduction to Dark wizards and the heroes who rise up to combat them. Removable items throughout which include letters, notes, ‘wanted' posters and stickers.
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Candlewick/Bloomsbury 2018. 0763695920/1408885980. A tour through the shops of Diagon Alley. Removable items throughout which include stickers, articles from the Daily Prophet, and posters.
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Random House/Bloomsbury, 2018. 9781984830456/9781526605412. Behind the scenes of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Removable items throughout which include stickers, cards and a Hogwarts letter.
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Insight/Bloomsbury, 2019. 9781683834380/9781526613189. A behind the scenes guide to the spells and incantations of the Harry Potter films. Removable items throughout which include stickers, notes and collectible cards.
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Insight Editions/Bloomsbury, 2023. 9781683839408/9781526628244. A tour of Christmas in the Wizarding World. Removable items throughout which include stickers and an invitation to the Yule Ball.
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Insight Editions/Bloomsbury 2021. 9781526644299. An introduction to magical creatures like the Basilisk and beloved animal characters like Hedwig, Fawkes and Fang. Removable items include stickers, posters, prints and collectible cards.
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Insight Editions/Bloomsbury 2022. 9781647224356/9781526653024. Detailed profiles on the foes and friendships of the wizarding world, including between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry and Professor Snape. Removable items include stickers, posters and other film artifacts.
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Insight Editions, 2023. 9798886630428. Explores the magical battles and dynamic duels seen in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. Removable items include stickers, posters and other film artifacts.
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Candlewick/Walker 2016. 9780763695828/9781406376098. Discover how the extraordinary places and fascinating characters of the wizarding world took shape onscreen, from the gilded halls of Gringotts and Hogwarts to the New York City of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Inserts include removable postcards, posters and even a mini Quibbler. Removable paper masks at the back.
Candlewick/Walker 2017. 9780763695835/9781406377026. Featuring detailed creature profiles, artwork, and captivating insights from the making of Fantastic Beasts and the Harry Potter films. Removable postcards and animal trading cards are attached to pages with rubber cement. Removable poster at the back.
Candlewick/Walker 2017. 9780763695842/9781406377033. Detailed profiles of everything from the Golden Snitch to Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes and Newt Scamander’s magical case include blueprints, concept illustrations and unit photography. Inserts include mini-books, a wand permit application, Hogwarts letter, removable playing cards, and mini Beedle book. Removable poster at the back.
Random House/Penguin 2018. 9781984830463/9780241367018. Features behind-the-scenes looks at the characters, magical locations, beasts, and artifacts seen on-screen. Interactive inserts include tickets, posters and a magical achievement certificate.
Insight/Bloomsbury 2022. 9781683837176/9781526654755. Features behind-the-scenes profiles of the characters, magical locations, beasts, and artifacts seen on-screen. Interactive inserts include posters reproducing props from the film, bookmarks and stickers.
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2010. Revised edition 2012 (Bantam, 9780593071717). Updated edition 2018 (Harper, 9780062878946). Removable props are inserted throughout the book and include a Hogwarts acceptance letter, posters, an Advanced Potion-Making mini-book insert with stickers, press-out packaging, and a marauder's map. The latest updated edition also includes a blueprint of the layout of Hogwarts and a Ministry of Magic poster warning against Death Eaters.
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Harper Design/HarperCollins, 2016. 9780062571373/9780008204600. Shares filmmaking secrets, film photography and artwork, and behind-the-scenes stories from cast and crew. Removable facsimiles are inserted throughout the book and include Henry Shaw's campaign brochure, Porpertina Goldstein's Macusa ID card, maps, wanted posters and a wand permit.
Harper Design/HarperCollins, 2018. 9780062853127/9780008204655. An in-depth behind the scenes look at Newt Scamander and his colorful trove of cohorts and the behind the scenes filmmaking secrets. Removable props are inserted throughout the book.
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Harper/HarperCollins 2022. 9780063087774/9780008505509. An interactive guide to the magical movie art of MinaLima.
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These small format books are cute and informative. Almost every page contains hidden information accessible via lift-the-flap mechanisms, but a few pages also have information on pages that is only accessible via small envelopes.
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The ultimate visual histories are comprehensive film histories, filled with fascinating insight into the creative process behind the films, interviews with key creators and actors, wonderful large glossy photographs, and fun pull-out memorabilia. Earlier editions use tacky glue dots to attach memorabilia to pages throughout the book which may leave marks after time. Later editions experimented with sticky strips but these often prevent the inserts from being easily removed. More recently they seem to have moved to rubber cement, although I'm not sure this will age (I've used this in photo albums and it seems to dry out after 10 years or so). In the US they are published by Insight Editions, in the UK by Titan Books. The contents are pretty much the same, but cover/spine designs and spelling can differ. Note that not all the visual history volumes have removable inserts – I've included those where I know they do.
Insight Editions/Titan Books, 2027. 9781647221799/9781647221799 Goonies never say die! Behind-the-scenes story of the iconic movie, with removable inserts like production stills, storyboards and other memorabilia TBC.
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Insight Editions/Titan Books, 2025. 9798886631494/9781835415979. Behind-the-scenes details about stop-motion animation and concept art, with removable inserts like production stills and storyboards.
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Revised and expanded, Insight Editions/Titan Books, 2024. 9798886631357/9781803369921. (Originally published 2014.) Removable elements include a reprint of the first TMNT book, fan club letters, press release, poster, and more.
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Insight Editions, 2024. Die-cut slipcase, and removable inserts that include cards, posters, mini-books, and other interactive ephemera that bring the history of Metropolis's protector to life.
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Insight Editions, 2024. Removable inserts attached with rubber cement include cards, photos, an anniversary dinner menu and a newspaper insert containing an ad for Vesuvio.
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Insight Editions/Titan Books, 2022. Removable inserts include maps, storyboards, concept art and more.
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Insight Editions/Titan Books, 2022. Removable items include annotated script pages, studio memos, preliminary sketches, Spielberg's stage pass, and more.
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Insight Editions/Titan Books, 2021. Removable inserts include the original script for “The Woozle Show” and a memo from a writer's retreat.
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Titan Books, 2021. Removable elements include a park access badge, scene sketches, park maps, postcards, and more.
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Revised Harper/Titan 2020. 9780063073043/9781789096088. (Originally published 2015.) Behind the scenes review of the whole trilogy. Removable elements include script pages, call lists, concept sketches, Marty's disappearing photo, and more. The 2017 limited edition includes additional inserts such as a Biff Tannen museum ticket, poster art foldouts, premiere tickets, blueprints and more. Nb: The Revised and expanded edition of 2025 includes new features and interviews, but it's unclear if it has retained the removable inserts – I'll update when I can.
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Insight Editions, 2019. Removable inserts attached with rubber cement include Batmobile plans, sketches, script pages, and mini comics. An envelope at the back contains The Return of Batman by Bob Kane.
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Insight Editions/Titan books, 2018. Removable elements include script extracts, building schematics, surveillance photos, deleted scene sketches, and more.
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Insight Editions/Titan books, 2018. Removable inserts include postcards, call sheets, character sketches, badges, schematics, and more.
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Insight Editions/Titan books, 2017. Removable items include script pages, notes and sketches from Jim Henson, and other treasures.
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Harper/Titan books, 2017. Removable elements include script pages, call lists and concept sketches.
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Insight Editions/Titan Books, 2016. Removable items include scene outlines, a Goblin sketch booklet, a fold-out movie poster, and more.
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Insight Editions/Titan Books, 2015. Removable elements include shooting notes, sketches of locations, scenes and creatures, a Stay-Puft ad, Venkman's business card, and more.
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Amazing ‘in universe' collectibles, most of which have electronic mechanisms (take the batteries out before you store them!) and flashing lights as they open to reveal the book and removable ephemera.
Epic Ink, 2018. 9780760362167. An in-universe collection of hidden treasure locations, advice, and hard-earned data. Reomvable ephemera include transport registrations (under vaious aliases), a customs form, casino chit, and more.
Epic Ink, 2017. 9780760355459. Presented as a compendium of the Rebel Alliance’s compiled strategies, history, and equipment manifests. Removable ephemera include an evacuation roster, an Imperial prison intake form, and a promotional flyer for the shipyards of Kuat, and more.
becker&mayer!, 2014. 9781603803403. In in-universe compendium of ordinance, mission reports, and Imperial philosophy. This one doesn't contain much by way of removables compared to the others but I'm including it for completeness. The mechanised box does include a die-cast Imperial military medal.
47North, 2013. 9781477805985. Around the time legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett tumbled into the Great Pit of Carkoon, the Rebel Alliance discovered a secure, blast-proof bounty hunter’s case holding Boba Fett’s personal items. Removable ephemera include a Kamino saberdart, Boba Fett’s captain's license and arms permit, an Imperial wanted poster for Han Solo, and more.
becker&mayer!, 2012. 9781612182612. The black-and-red pyramid is a motorised Sith case containing an exclusive edition of The Book of Sith. Removable ephemera include a scrap of a Sith burial shroud, a battle map from the Great Galactic War, a Sith lightsaber crystal, a Nightsister talisman, a diagram detailing Palpatine’s political strategies during the Clone Wars, and a propaganda poster for the Galactic Empire, and a note from Luke Skywalker.
becker&mayer!, 2010. 9781603800969. With the push of a button, the doors of the vault open in a wash of light and Star Warssound effects. The inner platform rises, revealing this exclusive edition of The Jedi Path. Removable ephemera include A letter tracing the book’s history, a severed Padawan braid, a metal Jedi Credit medallion, a Jedi starfighter patch, a burned poster of the Jedi Code, a map of the Jedi Temple, a lightsaber diagram sketched on the back of a napkin from Dex’s Diner, and a note on the missing pages torn from the book by a Sith.
It Books, 2007. 9780061257315. A celebration of the 30th anniversary of George Lucas' first Star Wars movie, Removable memorabilia includes the questionnaire from the test screening, facsimile handwritten instructions, Lucasfilm Christmas cards, concept sketches and blueprints, and even an iron-on T-shirt transfer. Also includes two CDs with vintage radio ads, cast interviews, Lucas' commentary, and Carrie Fisher singing.
Chronicle/Virgin, 1998. 9780811820608/9781852277024. Sansweet, the world's foremost Star Wars collector shares the best of his unparalleled collection, including a punch-out X-wing glider, C-3PO mask, Japanese stickers, an envelope containing a reproduction crew-screening invitiation for Return of the Jedi, and more.
More fun tie-ins to movies & TV shows, my favorite are the ones presented as ‘in universe' facsimiles.
Insight Editions, 2024. 9798886633351 (US); Titan, 2024. 9781835411711 (UK). Takes readers on a visual journey through the development of the Riot Games’ and Fortiche's revolutionary animated series. Includes removable extras like an in-world poster, Piltover map, blueprint, and letter.
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Insight Editions, 2019. 9781683833932. Avatar Korra and her friends chronicle their memories and adventures in this illustrated scrapbook. Removable inserts include letters, photos, posters and other keepsakes.
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Insight Kids, 2019. 9781683837039.
Anna's journal reveals all the secrets she has uncovered in the kingdom of Arendelle with removable cards, recipes and quotes.
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Epic Ink, 2019. 9780760366363. a A portal into the making of the legendary film Alien, tracing its path from embryonic concept to fully fledged box office phenomenon. 10 removable inserts enclosed in envelopes include storyboards, schematics, early designs, and a promotional poster from Japan.
Carlton 2019. 9781787391802. A revised edition of this record of 50 years of life on Britain's most famous street, with removable artefacts and all sorts of lost treasures, from adoption certificates, invitations, love letters, and holiday photos to divorce papers, handwritten notes, football-pools forms, birthday cards, clocking-in cards from the factory, prison visiting forms, and more.
Titan Books, 2016. 9781783293520.
Weyland-Yutani Corp have been monitoring the behaviour of an alien life-form and have granted you access to their files in the hope that you will be able to help capture this fascinating, deadly creature. Includes removable papers, booklets and more.
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Abrams, 2016. 9781419724428. Before and during the events of season two of Mr Robot, Elliot recorded his most private thoughts in this journal. Seven removable artifacts include a ripped-out page, a newspaper clipping, a mysterious envelope, and more, along with sketches throughout the book.
Chronicle Books, 2016. 9781452148274. An in-world companion to the video game Tom Clancy’s The Division from Ubisoft. This discarded survivalist field guide contains a mystery that can be solved with seven removable artifacts, ranging from a full-city map to a used transit card.
Disney Press Books, 2016. 9781368002509. Contains all of the content of the regular edition (every page seen on the show, new pages with monsters and secrets, notes from Dipper and Mabel, and the Author's story), plus black light pages on real parchment; a signed note from the creator; leather & metallic cover; a magnifying glass; and removable photos and notes. Limited to 10,000 copies and crazy expensive now.
Insight Editions, 2016. 9781608877973. The story behind the filmmaking journey. Removable items include parkour stunt schematics and Callum Lynch’s Animus Report.
HarperCollins, 2016. 9780062471666. The The officially authorized companion to Suicide Squad with removable facsimiles including Zoe's letter to Deadshot, Diablo's Pressure Chamber blueprints, Joker tattoos and playing card.
AmazonEncore 2012. 9781612184173. Housed in a pedestal display (complete with lights and audio introduction by Admiral Sulu) it also includes removable documents from the in-universe Federation Archives including an early sketch of the warp drive engine and a handwritten letter from Jim Kirk.
Insight Editions, 2012. 9781608871049. An in-world exploration of Christopher Nolan's Batman. Removable documents include the design and capability of the famed utility belt, hi-tech functions of Batman’s cowl, and others details of his arsenal of gadgets.
Titan Books, 2012. 9780857682970. A lavish book on the legendary House of Horror, limited to 1000 copies. Includes an envelope with 10 pieces of memorabilia, such as a ticket and brochure from the première of The Curse of Frankenstein and a brochure, lobby cards, movie stills, christmas cards and more.
47North, 2012. 9781612184135. A 15th anniversary celebration of the show with 13 artifacts including a Watcher's Diary about a slayer from 1793, text in Nezzla demon language, spells, and more.
Abrams, 2011. 9781419700750. Charts the remarkable history of the world's most popular science fiction series, examining the franchise's first 40 years. 13 pieces of removable ephemera include on-set signage, hand-drawn storyboards, blueprints for Picard's captain's chair, and a vintage T-shirt transfer.
Abrams, 2011. 9780810998681. A history of Transformers, including toys, the original animated series, comics, collectibles, and merchandise. Includes seven removable pieces of memorabilia, with vintage advertising, removable red cellophane to read stats, artwork, an animation cel, and an acetate slipcase with a unique “transforming effect.”
Running Press, 2004. 9780762415724.
A family-authorized, never-before-seen trove of authentic memorabilia for fans of the 1950s TV show I Love Lucy. A replica composit of the hundred-plus scrapbooks that were kept by Lucille Ball and her partner Desi Arnaz includes more than 20 facsimiles from actual letters and contracts to report cards and passports.
becker&mayer!, 2019. Contains text from three of the earlier publications (Lest We Forget, Freedom’s Children, and We Shall Not Be Moved). Includes 5 interactive items attached to pages throughout, plus 10 pieces of removable memorabilia in a back envelope.
Crown, 2002. A journey through the freedom struggles of the 20th century, tracing 100 years of battles for justice and equality. Inserts include reproductions of letters from soldiers in World War II, a flyer advertising the original March on Washington, a sign urging black riders to boycott the buses in Montgomery, and other facsimiles.
Crown, 2001. A vibrant legacy of the past and an expression of hope for the future, African-American songs and spirituals formed an oral history during the perilous era of slavery. The only insert here is a CD with the songs, but I've included it for completeness.
Crown, 2000. Chronicles the jubilation and despair of newly freed slaves turned loose, as Frederick Douglass put it, “to the wrath of our infuriated masters”. Inserts include “Freedman's Third Reader” used to teach former slaves to read, a change pouch with “script” money, and other facsimiles.
Crown/Random House, 1997. Traces the history of African-American slavery in the United States. Removable facsimiles include slave receipts and correspondence, along with paper engineered maps and other interactive items.
These books concisely tell the history of great cities around the world, with the help of their local museums. Facsimile documents are stored in page pockets every couple of chapters, which fold out so you can remove them. (Not as immersive as having them ‘in situ', but the documents are fascinating.)
Welbeck 2010, 9780233002859. Facsimiles are taken from The Museum of London's rich collections and include artefacts, documents, maps, paintings and photographs. Nb: Later editions do not have removable items, the facsimiles are printed in the book.
Welbeck 2011. 9780233003016. Facsimiles are taken from the museums of Paris and include sketches, maps, royal decrees, letters, and more. Nb: Later editions do not have removable items, the facsimiles are printed in the book.
Welbeck 2011. 9780233003313. Facsimiles from the Museum of New York include over 20 historical documents ranging from print photos of New York city, to posters, vintage post cards, immigration certificates and ration cards.
This pair of books (published by Bulfinch) were lovingly prepared using personal collections and family archives – don't expect any salacious gossip, they are more like a family photo album. Facsimile documents are held in around 8 parchment sleeves that appear throughout the book and they came with CD as well. Sinatra is common, the BB King collection less so.
Bulfinch, 2004. A collection from the archives of the legendary Chairman of the Board, filled with never-before-seen photos, letters, mementos, and more. 30 removable facsimile reproductions are held in parchment sleeves, and include a script from one of his radio shows and a Sinatra family photo album, and a CD of rare interviews and songs.
Bulfinch 2005. A collection of photos, mementos from BB King's personal collection. Removable facsimiles are held in parchment sleeves including his sharecropping account from 1940, tickets, programs and posters for his shows, and a CD of King talking about his music.
Rutledge Hill, 2007. 9781401603250. The story of all of America's Commanders in Chiefs from George Washington to George W. Bush.
Rutledge Hill, 2006. 9781401602376. Although Franklin's contributions to the worlds of science and letters were enough to make him memorable, it was the American Revolution that made him legendary. Removable documents include a map of Franklin's Philadelphia Portions of “Poor Richard's Almanack”, letters to his illegitimate son, and his edits to the Declaration of Independence.
Nelson, 2005. 9781401602109. The story of the fifty-six signers of America's Declaration of Independence, the foundation of America's freedom. Removable artifacts include a full-size (24-1/4″ x 29-1/2″) replica of the Declaration of Independence.
Nelson, 2004. 9781558539990. In addition to a discussion of the battles and the roles of the maps, the book explores the methods used by Civil War mapmakers. Fifteen chapters each contain two or three maps that can be pulled out of a pocket. Ten of the maps are 18″ x 24″; the rest are smaller.
Nelson/Rutledge Hill, 2003. 9781401600754. Describes the expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the unknown western regions of America at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Includes facsimiles of journal entries, maps, and letters
Ever since the “unsinkable” Titanic went to its grave, hundreds of books, movies, and even a Broadway musical have tried to re-create the tragic night. This is not a publisher series, but there are enough different offerings out there reproducing facsimile documents from the historical record of the Titanic to make it a collectible category in its own right.
Random House, 1977. 9780375501159. This box contains reproductions of eighteen documents based on originals from London's Public Records Office. It includes a copy of the original deck plans from the archives of the shipbuilders Harland and Wolff; the Titanic's final, desperate telegrams; an eyewitness account by one of the survivors; certificates issued by the Board of Trade prior to the ship's maiden voyage; findings of the Parliament and Senate investigations; and thirteen other records that will make history unfold in your hands.
Chronicle Books, 1998. 9780811820523. Drawn from the archives of the Titanic Historical Society and reminiscent of a turn-of-the-century steamer trunk. Contains almost 20 items, including the boarding pass of a man who missed the sailing, a brochure reviewing the amenities and civilities of the first class, deck maps, luggage stickers, postcards sent from the ship, and replicas of three tragic telegrams: the warning of icebergs ahead, the Titanic's distress call, and the heartrending announcement of the disaster. Also includes a fact-filled booklet and timeline.
Andre Deutsch, 2011. 9780233003320. The book includes 30 facsimile items–blueprints and construction plans, telegrams from that fateful night, even a U.S. Navy ice warning. The included DVD and audio CD offer firsthand accounts from survivors, rare film footage, original blueprints, safety reports, and more.
Fascinating for architects in particular, these two books include lots of facsimiles from the designers' archives.
Running Press, 2004. An engaging journey into the life and work of the iconic American architect through words, pictures, and artifacts. Removables include 25 facsimiles of original documents, architectural sketches, and an audio CD containing excerpts from Wright's weekly addresses at his architectural compound.
Running Press, 2008. A celebration of Jefferson’s four most notable structures: the University of Virginia, his Monticello home, the Poplar Forest retreat, and the Virginia State Capitol. Removables includes letters, charts, floorplans, and drawings.
A collection of historical explorations, made into reading ‘experiences' through including facsimile documents from the time. Typically published by Carlton/Barnes & Noble in the US, Andre Deutsch in the UK and Five Mile Press in Australia.
Andre Deutsch, 2011. 9780233003214. A tribute to the life and works of William Shakespeare. Removable documents include Shakespeare's baptism record, his marriage bond, his will, first playbills, and more. Also includes a CD.
Carlton, 2011. 9781847324924.D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history, took place on 6 June 1944. The subsequent battle of Normandy involved over a million men, and helped seal the fate of The Third Reich. This is a graphic account of the planning and execution of Operation Overlord, with 10 facsimile items including diaries, letters and memos.
Carlton, 2010. 9781847325310. On 18 June 1940 Churchill declared in the Commons – ‘The Battle of France is over…the Battle for Britain is about to begin'. Removable documents include Churchill's notes, invasion plans, pilot log books, and more. Nb: the 2016 edition has removable facsimiles but several less than this edition.
Carlton, 2010. 9781847324832. When the ANZACs landed at Gallipoli in 1915 they had no idea that they were creating the Australian and New Zealand national character and a legend that would forever define them. Removable facsimiles include secret memos and official orders; diaries and letters; and battlefield maps.
Carlton, 2010. 9781847323927. Documents the battles fought in the jungle islands of Guadalcanal and the Philippines and the seas of the Pacific. Includes two folders of historical facsimiles including radio messages, telegrams, and letters.
Andre Deutsch, 2009. 9780233002835. Brings to life the age of the Pharaohs as well as Carter and Carnarvon's 1922 expedition, which revealed so much about ancient Egypt. Removable facsimiles include diaries, notebooks, photographs, drawings, and diagrams from the original expedition.
Andre Deutsch, 2009. 9780233002712. As well as showing how Einstein developed his theories, this book reveals the man behind the science. Includes removable facsimiles of letters, postcards, notes, receipts, and more.
Carlton/Imperial War Museum, 2008-2009. Vol. 1: Blitzkrieg 1939-41, 9781844420148; Vol. 2: Axis Ascendant 1941-42, 9781844420087; Vol. 3: The Turning of the Tide 1942-44, 9781847321862; Vol. 4: The Struggle for Victory 1944-45, 9781847321879 / 9781847324603. A four-volume documentary history of the Second World War, issued in association with the Imperial War Museum and also available as a boxed set. Removable facsimiles across the set include wartime maps, letters, speeches, memos and official documents; highlighted items include Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor speech notes, Stalin memoranda, letters from North Africa, MacArthur letters from the Philippines and Eisenhower’s “in case of failure” D-Day message.
Carlton Publishing Group/Lyons Press, 2008. 9781847320674 / 9781599214757. A history of Native American peoples, from migration into the Western Hemisphere through contact, conflict, survival and continuing cultural influence. Removable facsimiles include maps, Navajo Code Talker documents and a full-size replica of God Gives the World to Arapaho Children.
Carlton/Imperial War Museum, 2008. 9781847321930 / 9781847321329. A broad history of the First World War’s Western Front, covering ordinary soldiers and senior commanders, major battles and lesser-known actions. The original edition includes over 30 removable facsimile items, more than 200 photographs and an audio CD of dramatic first-hand accounts.
Carlton/Barnes & Noble/Andre Deutsch/Five Mile Press, 2007. 9781844422005/9781435100305/ 9780233004495/9781741786859. Chronologically brings to life the lead up to the conflict, the major battles and campaigns and the aftermath. An included CD features dramatic first-hand accounts from Vietnam veterans.
Carlton/Imperial War Museum, 2006. 9781844424504. A documentary account of the two defining Western Front battles of 1916, Verdun and the Somme, told through photographs, maps and first-hand accounts. Removable facsimiles include maps, diary extracts, letters, sketches, secret memos and reports. Also includes an audio CD featuring personal accounts from veterans.
Carlton, 2005. 9781844424894. Published to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the start of the Cold War. 30 facsimile items of memorabilia integrated into the book include maps, diaries, letters and more from American museums.
Random House/Carlton, 2005/2007. 9780891418825 / 9781844423118. A history of the American Civil War, following the military, political and social story of the conflict through commanders, soldiers, civilians and the war’s documentary record. Removable facsimiles include maps, letters, diaries, newspapers and other Civil War memorabilia. Also includes an audio CD.
Carlton/Imperial War Museum, 2005. 9781844425099. Published for the sixtieth anniversary of VE Day, this follows the final eleven months of the war in Europe, from the Allied advance after D-Day through Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, the bombing of Dresden, the fall of Berlin and VE Day. Removable facsimiles include maps, diaries, letters and other wartime documents. Also includes an audio CD of first-hand accounts.
The rest of the books in this section include a potpourri of histories, biographies, science books, explorations of wartime, and a wide range of other non-fiction accounts that have been enriched by the inclusion of removable artefacts. I've listed them in date order, newest first.
Carlton, 2017. 9780233004860. Celebrate a century of Britain’s Royal Navy, includes 15 items of removable facsimile memorabilia from National Museum of the Royal Navy, including letters, diary entries, war reports, and maps.
Aurum Press, 2016. 9781781315347. An illustrated history from its prewar heyday as a country estate, its wartime requisition and how it became the place where modern computing was invented. Removable memorabilia includes a recruiting memo, handwritten Turing memos, decryptions, and other everyday items like theatre posters, maps and menus.
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Welbeck, 2013. 9780233003986. (First published 2007.) Presents the life and art of Claude Monet, a leading light of the Impressionist movemen, produced in association with the Musée Marmottan Monet. 12 removable facsimiles including Monet's baptism record, an exhibition poster, early caricatures by Monet, and more.
Carlton, 2012. 9781780971292. The story of our discovery of dinosaurs through the individuals who dedicated their lives to furthering our knowledge. Removable inserts include over 30 facsimile documents, rare photographs and hand-drawn, specially commissioned maps.
Pelican, 2012. 9781589808942. Fascinating details of Washington's life. Removable inserts include documents, letters and other facsimiles.
Sevenoaks, 2012. 9781862009929. A celebration of Jerusalem, from its ancient origins to the present day. Fifteen removable facsimile documents include a sixteenth-century letter written by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and a copy of the 1917 Balfour Declaration.
Black Dog & Leventhal, 2011. 9781579128807. An exploration of the elements, organized into the nine major groups of the periodic table. Removable items include not only a poster and historic documents related to the elements and the field of chemistry (like letters from Einstein Roosevelt, an ad for lithium-laced 7UP soda (genuine!)), but even real samples of pure elements.
Carlton, 2010. 9781847326416. Published in association with the Science Museum of London, this book aims to give insight into the minds and lives of those who shaped the way we live today. Pull-out memorabilia includes excerpted copies of notebooks, blueprints, patent applications, and diaries, and timelines explain the development of each invention. (Nb: the 2019 edition does not have removable documents.)
Andre Deutsch, 2010. 9780233003085. Napoleon was a second lieutenant at 16, a brigadier general at 24, and ruler of France by 30. 20 removable facsimiles include military orders, battlefield reports, political proclamations, and love letters. (Nb: I'm not sure if the later 2019 edition includes the inserts.)
Whitman, 2010. 9780794832087. The experience of the Haitian earthquake produced with the Salvation Army. Removable items include letters, currency, and other mementos.
Carlton, 2009. 9781847323149. Tells the story of the greatest rivalry in cricket, and includes 20 facsimile reproductions of Ashes memorabilia integrated into the pages including scorecards, match tickets, scorebooks, souvenir booklets, trading cards and personal correspondence from the MCC Museum at Lord's Cricket Ground.
Carlton, 2009. 9781847322951. Contains facsimiles of important memorabilia from the Olympic Museum's exclusive archive: founding documents, tickets and programs, collector cards, full-size posters, and Presidential correspondence. (Feels like there should be a matching one for the Summer Olympics but I've never seen it.)
Chronicle, 2009. 9780811868983. Until his inspiring life was tragically cut short, John F. Kennedy commanded the world's attention. Removable documents include everything from doodles and diary entries to drafts of major addresses and a CD of his speeches.
Union Square, 2009. 9781402769801. Traces our quest to explore this final frontier. Removable facsimile documents include Werner von Braun’s 1964 design for a space station, a 1969 issue of the USSR newspaper Pravda, celebrating the success of Soyuz 4 and 5, the official NASA photograph of the Apollo 7 flight crew and more. (Nb: The 2018 reprint uses augmented reality rather than removable items.)
Sterling, 2009. 9781402773457. The story of The Beatles as they transformed the face of music, youth, and popular culture. Removable facsimiles include their 1962 contract, a Liverpool Jazz Society flyer, a Brian Epstein handwritten tour itinerary, posters, programmes and more.
Metro Books, 2008. 9781435104686. Removable reproductions of important documents in Jane's life, including a handwritten letter to her sister Cassandra, pages from the rough draft of Persuasion, and a quirky “History of England” written by Jane as a schoolgirl and illustrated by her sister.
Metro Books, 2008. 9781435104693. Removable memorabilia from Edgar's life in cellophane envelopes, including his parents' marriage certificate, letters between Poe and John Allan, his army enlistment records, the newspaper appearance of “Manuscript Found in a Bottle”, the first printing of “The Raven”, and more.
National Geographic, 2008. 9781426203596. The story of intrepid explorers from the travels of Erik the Red to the heroic attempts of Livingstone and Scott. Over 30 removable facsimiles include emovable documents put history directly into readers’ hands: Hernán Cortés’s hand-drawn map of Tenochtitlan, David Livingstone’s watercolor of Victoria Falls, a dinner menu featuring Ernest Shackleton’s sketch of his planned trip to Antarctica, and more.
Simon & Schuster, 2007. 9781416542100. McCullough illustrates his riveting account of the year in the war that made America (text is abridged from the original) with maps, portraits and reproductions of broadsides and newspaper ads. Facsimile reproductions are scattered throughout in vellum envelopes, such as letters from George Washington to Martha, an ambrotype of Continental soldier Ralph Farnham as a centenarian, and the text of a vow of allegiance to the king.
Leatherwood Press, 2006. 9781599920061. Leads readers on a discovery of ancient Preclassic ruins, featuring flaps, foldouts, and removable letters in envelopes.
Presidio Press, 2006. 9780891418993. A glimpse into the birth of a nation. Military, political, and social events are explored through the text and audio CD plus 30 facsimile items.
Chronicle Books, 2003. 9780811835176.
Created with the cooperation of Yoko Ono Lennon, who opened her archives for this project, the book offers insightful details about every era of John's life, along with a live recording of Imagine, along with 40 removable facsimiles of archival photographs and reproductions of John's handwritten song lyrics, drawings, memorabilia, and personal papers.
Villard, 2002. A biography with removable letters and documents, newspaper clippings and photographs, and all manner of Elvis paraphernalia culled from Graceland's vast archives that can be pulled out of envelopes on the page. Also includes an audio CD.
Crown, 2002. 9780609609040. Devotes a double-page spread to each of the successive waves of Jewish immigration to America. Removable facsimiles include letters by George Washington, handwritten poetry and lyrics, a quiz and more.
Chronicle, 2002. 9780811830508. D-Day is one of the significant turning points in wartime history and was the largest single military operation ever launched. Removable artifacts are facsimiles from the collection of the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans, and include personal letters and journal entries, secret dispatches, pages from code books, and strategic battle plans and maps.
Chronicle, 2002. 9780811833608. A young soldier, mortally wounded, pens a last letter to his beloved father from the battlefield. A former slave writes a letter to his wife, ringing with hope for a future of freedom together. These and others from the Civil War (20 intital), are reproduced here in facsimile for readers to open, remove, and read.
St Martin's Press, 2002. 9780312287153. A color scrapbook of American World War II letters and other documents. Contains twenty removable facsimiles of letters written by soldiers to their loved ones.
Crown, 2001. 9780609605530. The story of the men, women, and machines that changed the world by turning a dream of flying into a thrilling reality. Removables include letters, diaries, tickets, stickers, and more.
Crown, 2000. 9780609605547. An interactive history featuring documents and memorabilia from the National Basebal Hall of Fame, including removable tickets, contracts, letters, newspaper clippings and photographs.
Crown, 1999. 9780609602553. A collection of removable letters, memoirs, newspaper clippings, and photographs from the American civil war. Removable inserts include a spy wheel, the note John Brown wrote on the way to his execution, and a selection of Mary Chesnut's original diary pages.