Beyond Bookmarks: Creating Collectible Book Cards
I wanted to create something tangible and engaging to accompany my book—tactile, visually compelling, and immersive. So, I designed a set of collectible book cards, each a tiny portal into the world of Mademoiselle Frankenstein.
Using Moo.com as my design platform, I created 4”x6” heavyweight flyers, which are thicker than postcards and feel substantial and smooth to the touch. The front of each card features the book cover, bold and striking. But the real magic is on the back: every card is different, each with a carefully chosen image—either a photograph I’ve taken or a public domain image that fits the novel’s atmosphere. Paired with these images are quotes from the book, selected for their mood and resonance. The result is a set of fifteen cards, each a fragment of the story’s world.
To package them, I opted for vintage-style string-tie envelopes—such as those belonging in an old apothecary or tucked into a leather satchel during the Revolutionary War. A small sticker with the book’s title seals the set, giving it the feel of an artifact rather than just a promotional item.
A page from Tim Foley’s book.
I was inspired by collectible card sets like McSweeney’s Author Cards, which celebrate literary figures with engagingly designed packs—Horror Authors, Sci-Fi Authors, and individual tributes to Stephen King and Toni Morrison. This approach made me think about how book-related ephemera can be more than just functional; it can be something readers want to keep, trade, or display.
Bookmarks are a book-related classic, but other options include vintage-style bookplates or literary tarot decks. There is even a book called Literary Greats Paper Dolls, by Tim Foley, with charming paper dolls of authors such as Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, and Virginia Woolf.
What are some of the most interesting book collectibles you’ve seen? Have any stood out as especially well designed or memorable? And for those who create them, what makes a great book collectible?
