the art of bookbindings

October 29, 2004 11:49 PM

The British Library has an unmatched collection of fine and historic bookbindings. Hundreds of western European bindings have been digitized and made available to the public. The Database of Bookbindings is a searchable, high resolution collection. Search by binder, ownership mark, country, material, and more. If you have the whole weekend free, you may find this glossary of binding terms a useful resource on your journey of discovery. If your interest is seriously peaked check out these bookbinding models used to exemplify and demonstrate the various mechanisms of books. For a more American experience of bookbindings, the Redwood Library has created this exhibit. Tomorrow our journey continues inside the books
posted by Grod (4 comments total)

Absolutely beautiful. There's something fundamentally attractive about a fine, well-bound book. There are so many wonderful aspects, in addition to the knowledge contained therein, all packaged together; the words, the typography, the printing, the texture of the paper, the solidity. Its both art and engineering, something tangible you can hold and appreciate.
posted by Meridian at 1:15 AM on October 30, 2004

Art Deco bookbindings.
posted by languagehat at 8:12 AM on October 30, 2004

Grod, thank you so much for this! I'm having a lovely time drooling over covers. (And thanks to you, too, hat. Art Deco bindings = yummy!)

By the way, doesn't this one seem unexpectedly jaunty for 19th century? That Dante, huh? What a guy.
posted by taz at 9:42 AM on October 30, 2004

Another good collection of bookbindings can be found here.
posted by verstegan at 2:02 PM on October 30, 2004