LL’Editions Bat Cap

For the past two centuries, two colonies of bats have protected the books at the Joanina Library in Coimbra, Portugal. Taking up residence behind the bookshelves, the bats emerge at nightfall to consume flies, gnats and other pests that would otherwise feed on manuscript pages.

“Since the end of the 18th century, two small colonies of bats have lived behind the shelves of the Joanina Library. We consider them ‘honorary librarians’ because they eat insects that infest books. They always arouse the curiosity of visitors to the old building (1728), but they do not exempt us from using modern conservation routines, such as a nitrogen anoxia chamber and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.”
– António Eugénio Maia do Amaral, Joanina Library’s Associate Director, in conversation with Lundgren+Lindqvist

This cap is the second in a series celebrating the unsung heroes of the book world. Available in very limited quantities.

Marine blue cap in sturdy 100% cotton. ll’Editions is embroidered in tonal stitching, with book scorpion illustration overlapping in contrasting stitching. The cap is unisex, one-size-fits-all and adjusts at the back. Designed by Lundgren+Lindqvist and embroidered in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Size: Unisex, One-Size-Fits-All
Material: 100% Brushed Cotton
Design: Lundgren+Lindqvist
Brand: ll’Editions