History of the Book and Book Structures

History of the Bookand

Book Structures

April 22, 2013Brittany Fay

British Literature I

Outline•History of the book -book structures -production methods•History of bookbinding -stab binding -Coptic -medieval -girdle books -case bindings•Interplay of book structure and content

Structures

Tablet-clay or wax

Scroll-papyrus, skin, or wood

Codex-sewn binding-modern books are technically codices

Production Technology

Moveable Type Printing Press Digital Imaging

Production Technology

Woodblock and Woodcut

Engraving and Etching

Lithography Photography

Early Bindings•1st-4th centuries CE•limp covers, usually vellum or leather•vellum pages•often sewn through two stations

Coptic Binding•2nd-10th century CE•binding style originating in Egypt and surrounding area•exposed spine sewing•wooden boards sewn to textblock

Historic Long-Stitch•used through early 19th century•exposed sewing on spine•requires reinforced spine piece•decorative weaving sometimes added to exposed stitches

Girdle Books•13th-16th century•leather binding with long tail that could be attached to belt•most commonly used for religious texts

Medieval Binding•7th-14th century•wooden covers•text block sewn over cords which were then laced into cover•boards partially or fully covered in leather•clasps added beginning in 9th century

Medieval Binding Developments•15th-16th centuries -full leather bindings with tooling•16th-17th centuries -transition to paper boards -introduction of rounded-back structures

18th and 19th Century Bindings•introduction of half and quarter bindings•transition to case bindings•significant decrease in paper quality

Modern Decorative Bindings•use of everyday materials in bindings•binding integral to content of book

Book StructuresHow does the intended use of a book

influence its structure?

Further ReadingInternetUniversity of Iowa Libraries Bookbinding Modelshttp://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/binding/index.phpPrinceton University Hand Bookbindingshttp://libweb5.princeton.edu/visual_materials/hb/hb.htmlGraphics Atlas: information on different graphic techniqueshttp://graphicsatlas.org/BooksGaskell, Philip. A New Introduction to Bibliography. New York: Oxford University Press, 1972.

Greenfield, Jane. ABC of Bookbinding: an Illustrated Glossary of Terms for Collectors & Conservators. New Castle, Delaware: Oak Knoll Press, 1998.

Marks, P. J. M. Beautiful Bookbindings: A Thousand Years of the Bookbinder’s Art. New Castle, Delaware: Oak Knoll Press, 2011.

Moran, James. Printing Presses: History and Development from the 15th Century to Modern Times. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1973.

Nixon, Howard. Five Centuries of English Bookbinding. London: Scholar Press, 1978.