Our twenty-fifth anniversary issue of the magazine is a collection of essays on the theme of Surprise & Wonder. Past and present Hand Papermaking staff selected and invited twelve authors included in this issue—all of whom have written for the magazine in the past—to expound on the surprising things they have learned in their forays into papermaking over the years. We begin appropriately with Amanda Degener, co-founder of the publication, who is surprised that she and her business partner Bridget O’Malley continue to make paper “year after year.” Winifred Lutz describes conferva, an intriguing “natural paper” she harvested in South Dakota. Eugénie Barron shares photos from the momentous Ox-Bow gathering in 1983. Penny Carey-Wells reflects on thirty years of papermaking adventures, Tom Balbo tells us about early technical discoveries that have endured in the studio, and Helen Hiebert recounts the surprising lessons she has learned from the process and her colleagues. Helmut Becker presents excerpts from conversations he had in China in 1990 that have served as the foundation for his papermaking practice. Helmut contributes a beautiful paper sample inspired by the principles he gleaned in China. Melissa Potter gives us a narrative and “graphic” account of bringing handmade paper to Serbia, replete with excerpts from Pulp, A Love Story, her comic book illustrated by Vladimir Veljasevic. Jill Littlewood recollects her reaction to John Risseeuw’s powerful and startling paperworks, Jane Farmer wonders who really invented papermaking,and Sandy Kinnee marvels at the surprise of paper in the making.

In this issue, we are pleased to present Ann Montanaro’s excellent essay, which accompanies our ninth limited-edition portfolio Handmade Paper in Motion, illustrated by early historical paper movables and reproductions of all fourteen pop-up creations included in the portfolio. Inspired by the portfolio and the anniversary theme, we have a surprise in store for you—a special paper sample tucked into the magazine. In addition, twenty-five copies that will be sent out to the subscriber base will include a prize. A bit Willy-Wonka, we admit, but we couldn’t resist.

‍