Professor Matthew Kapstein wins the 2024 Toshihide Numata Book Award in Buddhism for his edited book, Tibetan Manuscripts and Early Printed Books, Vol. 1: Elements (Cornell University Press, 2024)! The announcement was made last week by the Numata Center for Buddhist Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

Elements is a capstone for Kapstein and his fellow international specialists, who provide a thorough introduction to the book making process for a wide range of Tibetan texts. It examines the material and aesthetic components of these works and presents findings alongside an impressive gallery of color images. Kapstein and his colleagues delve into the history of paper and ink manufacturing, the creation of templates and formats, script styles, embellishments, and the modernization of printing. The volume also explores book preservation practices, including digital technologies that are used today to repair and archive traditional works.