This binding is one of the more common iterations of a hand-bound leather book still found in collections. It has a very neat, precise, and geometric style. A half leather binding consists of the spine and corners being covered in leather whereas the majority of the boards are covered in (often marbled) paper. This era of bookbinding saw an increase in the mechanization of book production. Publishers began to take control of the entire book-making process, from printing to binding. This industrialization meant that there was a decline in material quality as well as the adoption of techniques that streamlined the bookbinding process. Red rotted leather, broken spines, and detached boards are common conservation issues seen with these types of volumes.

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This model features decorative marbled endpapers and sides, silk endbands, and goat leather over 5 false raised bands. The textblock was sewn on 3 recessed cords with all-along sewing. The spine has a paper Oxford hollow.

 

This model was made during the Historical Book Structures Practicum, a month-long summer 2022 LACE workshop taught by Jeff Peachey.

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Key Features (exceptions apply)

• Two-on sewing on recessed cords

• Half-leather cover with low quality leather pared extremely thinly