Smith is fortunate to have received a major collection of 19th-century American decorated bookbindings assembled by Harvey and Myrtle Finison of Northampton.

The collection consists of more than 2,000 highly decorated volumes, mostly novels, from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bound in embossed, colored, stamped and gilt cloth. These bookbindings, which were prized for the dazzling beauty and inventiveness of their designs, document American publishers' dramatic departure from the more somber and understated style of bookbinding of the earlier 19th century.

Present in the collection are bookbinding designs by more than 130 American and English designers, some among the most famous commercial artists of the day and some obscure and unidentified designers known only from a tiny signature in the form of an initial letter or monogram hidden somewhere on the cover design.

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