Historians and social scientists have long identified bureaucracy as the modern state's foundation and the reign of France's Louis XIV as a model for its development. A World of Paper offers a fresh interpretation of bureaucracy through a close examination of the department of the Sun King's last foreign secretary, Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Torcy. Torcy, who served as foreign secretary from 1696-1715, is widely regarded as one of the most brilliant foreign ministers of the ancien regime. Building on the work of his predecessors, he fashioned a skilled team of collaborators as he managed the complex issues of war and peace during the turbulent final decades of Louis XIV's reign. John Rule and Ben Trotter examine Torcy's department to depict administrative structures as they emerged through the circulating stream of paper that connected his office with provincial administrators and diplomats abroad. They explore the collection and centralization of information during Torcy's tenure through the creation of a modern state archive, discreet intelligence gathering, and the surveillance and management of the French mails. They also study the postal carriers, couriers, household officers of the royal court, genealogists hired for research, and an informal "brain trust" of experts, and advisors who carried vital information in and out of the department every day. A remarkable reconstruction of the department of Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Torcy, A World of Paper demystifies bureaucracy and explores the ways in which the modern information state developed from his labours.

Presents step-by-step instructions for folding twenty different kinds of paper airplanes and provides illustrated papers for 112 planes.

The deceptively simple supermarket choice echoed in the title symbolizes the dilemma of a society on a collision course with the planet's life-support systems. About one-third of America's municipal solid waste is packaging--at least 300 pounds per person each year--and the "upstream" costs in energy and resources used to make packaging are even more alarming. In this fascinating and timely book, author Daniel Imhoff unwraps the packaging problem and gives consumers, product designers, and policymakers the information they need to take steps toward a more sustainable future.

"Paper Cut" is a unique perspective into one of the most exciting fields of contemporary illustration. With contributions from 30 of the top papercraft illustrators, showcasing their amazing works and delving into their craft, this book will awe and inspire you. Author Owen Gildersleeve explores why these artists love papercraft, how they use it and what makes their work unique. See their ideas, inspirations and process in 250 full color photos that includes a range of interesting textured colored paper stocks dotted throughout. See exclusive works from designers like Chrissie MacDonald, Hattie Newman, Peter Callesen, Kyle Bean Helen Friel, Rob Ryan, Jeff Nishinaka and more!

A reference of detailed coverage for paper toys from the earliest times to the present-day offerings by museum gift shops and large publishing houses. Included are paper theatres, paper dolls, changeable books, paper houses, paper trains, ships, soldiers and flip books, etc.

Simply pop-out, fold and stick together each of the ten, beautifully designed paper projects, then populate your desk with them or admire on your mantelpiece.

Contains complete instructions on the art of paper airplane folding.