DOCUMENT RESUME ED 232 698 IR 050 352 AUTHOR Roberts, Matt T.; Etherington, Don TITLE Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books. A Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology. INSTITUTION Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO ISBN-0-8444-0366-0 PUB DATE 82 NOTE 318p.; Photographs will not reproduce. AVAILABLE FROM Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 (LC 1.2:864/3). PUB TYPE Reference Materials - Bibliographies (131) reference Meterials - Vocabularies/Classifications/Dictionaries (134) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC13 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Archives; Biographies; *Books; Definitions; *Preservation IDENTIFIERS *Book Binding; Rare Books ABSTRACT Intended for bookbinders and conservators oflibrary and archival material and for those workingin related fields, such as bibliography and librarianship, this dictionary contains definitions for the nomenclature of bookbindingand the conservation of archival material, illustrations ofbookbinding equipment and processes, and biographical vignettes of notable binders. Detailsof the history of bookbinding and discussionsof materials used are included, where applicable, in the definitions.In addition, definitions provide answers to questions,e.g., the best treatment for leather bindings, and useful items ofinformation, e.g., the standard sizes of paper. It is notedthat the definitions were drawn, whenever possible, from the most authoritativesources available. Sources for definitions are indicated by numberswhich refer to the 373-item bibliography included atthe end of the dictionary. A series of 13 color photographs of various bindingsand endpapers is also included. (ESR) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRSare the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION ELUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 4.This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quafity Points of view or opinions stated in this docu ment do not necessarily represent official ME position or policy. co BOOKBINDING ,0 AND THE CONSERVATION (NJ OF BOOKS A DICTIONARY OF DESCRIPTIVE TERMINOLOGY Matt T. Roberts and Don Etherington Drawings by Margaret R. Brown LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Washington 1982 A NAHONA1 PlaSURVAI'ION PROGRAM P11111 ICArION library of ('ongress Cataloging in Publalition Robots, Matt, 1929 Bookbinding and the conseivinion of books; A dictionary of descriptive ternUnology. Bibliography: p, 289 Supt. of Does, no.: 11 1,2:15M/1 I. Bookbinding,Dictionaries, 2. Books Conservation and testorationDictionaties. I.Mhoington, Dom11,Thk, Vol site by Z266.7,R62 686,3'03 81607974 the Superintendent of Dociunrnis, I J S ( ioveininenI Planing °Owe MIN 0.8444,0,166-0 AACR2 Washington, 1)(' TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD BY FREDERICK R. GOFF vii P REFACE ix A DICTIONARY OF DESCRIPTIVE TERMINOLOGY 1 PLATES facing page134 SOURCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY 289 a FOREWORD The old saw that you can't judge a book by its cover is these original covers. We know, for example, thata not precisely true. Actually, it cannot be appliedto the number of copies of Johann Gutenberg's famous Bible earliest known form of the book,the Codex. Many sur- of 1455 were bound not at Mainz, where this Bible viving Codices possess bindings which are almost an was printed, but at Erfurt; and we also know thatone integral part of the text. Their fundamentaldesigns and of the binders in that communitywas named Johannes the frequent sumptuous embellishment of the covers with Fogel, since one of the blind stamps usedto embellish gold and silver mounts encrustedwith jewels or semi- the leather stretched over the original wooden boards precious gems or enamels offer compelling insight into contained his own name. Other bindings ofa slightly the contents of the books theyprotect. These magnificent later period carry on their leather coversa stamp which survivor's of many centuries ofuse and adoration are is a recognizable portrait ofan early printer, Johann de among the great bibliophilic treasures of those fortunate Westphalia; another group reveals thearms of the city libraries and museums whopossess them. It is a matter of Cologne, providing valid evidence of theplace of of great regret that inmany instances the bindings have binding. Indeed, the study of the basic designs of early been stripped, stolen, or otherwise removed fromthe bindings and the blind stamps used to decorate them texts they encased, for such bindings frequently offer has become the object of intensive bibliographicre- valid evidence of their places of execution.What would search. The late Ernst Kyriss devotedmany years of we not give to know what kind of binding originallywas productive scholarship to documenting thesources of placed on the noble Book of Kells,since it might well innumerable early German bindings carrying blind have provided the missing cluesto the earliest history stamps. For the early years of the sixteenth century, and provenance of this great manuscriptof the Gospels. Konrad Haebler performed a similar service bycategor- In many instances certain bookcovers artistically ad- izing and classifying the numerous rolls usedon German mired for their craftsmanship in theuse of ivory, silver, bindings of that period. The bindings of other countries and, at a later date, leather remain as single objects, and have also received careful attention, but muchmore we can only spec:date about the texts they encased. We work remains to be done. owe a great debt to the Egyptian Christians, the Copts, It is not surprising to find early German books in who most probably were the firstto use leather as covers contemporary Italian bindings, and early Italian printed for their scriptural texts. Once introducedit became the books in German or French bindings, indicating that most common material used for bookbinding throughout the book trade was quite mobile. Stylistically, it is often Europe; it was not supplanted essentially until the nine- possible to identify early and also later bindings by their teenth century when cloth bindings becamecommon. country and even their city of origin. It is also true that Velvet had, of course, been used much earlierfor em- rich al-id affluent bibliophiles such as Matthias Corvinus broidered bindings. (King of Hungary), the King of Naples, and later Jean Early on binding developed as a craft, and itbecame Grolier of Lyons and Paris, one of the greatest of all a highly skilled craft, one which has endured to this day. bibliophiles, took great pains to have their librariesap- Over the years as books proliferated the needfor book- propriately and sumptuously bound. Books from these binding increased; the invention of printingprovided a and other great collections are easily recognizedand new impetus to the craft and probably revolutionized it. highly prized by their present-dayowners. England and, The earliest printed books were issued by theirprinters especially, France have produced countless royal bind- in unbound sheets; those who purchasedthem arranged ings of extraordinary interest and variety. to have them bound according to their individualre- The art of fine bookbinding is well represented in quirements. That isone of the reasons why the study France, where it continues to flourish. One must not and investigation of fifteenth-century bindingscan re- lose sight of the lacquered bindings from Islam (asepa- veal such interesting details about the early history of rate chapter in themselves), the embroidered covers vii executed by Fnglish needleworkers in the seventeenth he cares to peruse ii, about the contents of the textit century, or the beautiful silk bindings found on Chinese introduces. The text of the present book is not a history and Japaiwse books of all periods. There isinfinite of bookbindingalthough there is a great deal of his variety to lw found in tlw study of this historic craft, tory about the craft contained herein, and it also dis 'I'hete is also much to be said about early binding in cusses the materials used, the notable binders whose this country and much more to be written. Although in names illuminate it, and other useful information. It is its earliest period it was frankly derivative and with cer rather an up-to dale dictionary. tain exceptions can hardly be regarded as distinguished, The succinct definitions anu explanations, as well as there were attempts at refinement. the biographical vignettes, contained in this dictionary there has been a tionendous interest in the history will be a boon to those who seek this kind of infor of bookbinding in this country in recent years, stimu- mation. 'Mose concerned, whether they are practicing bY die late Dorothy Miner's monumental binders, technicians, rare book librarians, collectors, exhibition of bindings, principally from American col or simply laymen, will find this a welcome source of lemons, which was handsomely mounted at the Balt'', answers to their questions. Not the least of these is the more Museum of Art in145'7. Over seven hundred one frequently asked of ine during my long, service in exceptional bindings, covering more than fourteen cen theI ibrary of Congress as Chief of the Rare Book lurk's, were on display. It was a delight for all those Ilow can Ibest treat the leather bindings in who shared in it or saw it, and its impact is