Flyleaves and pastedowns
Check out this exhibit of hand bookbindings through the ages from Princeton University Library. Among the highlights: disappearing fore-edge decoration (scroll to the bottom of this page for an explanation of how it’s done); books meant to be attached to your belt; a sixteenth-century book satchel from Ethiopia; lovely embroidery; and recycled manuscripts used as bindings. Someday I want to learn bookbinding in my spare time.
Reason #42 why digitizing library collections is worth the effort: how many of us, otherwise, are going to get a chance to hold up a magnifying glass to a rare French incunabule?
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