Bookbindings
An Illustrated History
$74.75
- Hardcover
272 pages
- Release Date
30 September 2026
Summary
Bindings have been an essential – and often beautiful – component of books since the codex form was invented 2,000 years ago. They make books work, but they also provide an opportunity for binders to display their skills. Until book trade processes were industrialised in the nineteenth century, every binding was a unique handcrafted object, no matter how simple or elaborate it now looks from the outside. Bindings have been made of all kinds of materials – calfskin, parchment, vellum, ivory, e…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781851246458 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1851246452 |
| Author: | David Pearson |
| Publisher: | Bodleian Library |
| Imprint: | Bodleian Library |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 272 |
| Release Date: | 30 September 2026 |
| Dimensions: | 259mm x 237mm |
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Critics Review
[This] book is a lavishly illustrated, accessible guide to the development of bookbindings from Roman times to the present day.
– Salon, Society of Antiquaries of London * Newsletter *…both an appealing introduction for newcomers to early printed books and, for bibliophiles and book historians, a handsome reintroduction to old friends.
– Zachary Larsen‘Bookbindings: An Illustrated History’ is full of beautiful images of bookbindings from the beginnings of the codex right up to the present day. The volume’s beauty is matched by David Pearson’s encyclopaedic knowledge of the subject.
– Sara J Charles * Great Cover Story *’…an attractive, instructive guide to the history of bookbinding as a significant craft, presented by a genuine expert.’
– Sara J Charles * Great Cover Story *David Pearson
David Pearson is a leading authority on the history of books, after a lifetime spent working with them, writing about them and owning them. His previous books include Provenance Research in Book History and Speaking Volumes: Books with Histories.
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