'The Binder' [H Haas]
Sheep and goat skin parchment
Bound by P Schrijen, 1983
'Das Unheimliche Buch'
Morocco leather
Bound by Karl Ebert, 1914
'Contes de Perrault'
Beige calf and black morocco leather
Bound by Henri Creuzevault, 1950
'Book of Ruth'
Morocco leather
Bound by Michel Marius, 1880
'The Song of Solomon'
Silverfoil and morocco leather
Bound by KT Miura, 1987
'Cowper's Poetical Works'
Goat skin and red maple wood
Binder unknown, 1874
'Tulips and Tulipomania'
Morocco leather
Bound by Jean Gunner, 1982 (USA)
'New Testament'
Silver metal on black leather
Binder unknown, 1710
'The Bible'
Sharkskin and silver metal-ware
Binder unknown, 1775
'Book of Hours of Catherine de Medici'
Black morocco leather and plated enamel locks
Binder unknown, 1565
'Augustine and Heinrich manuscript'
Calf leather and brass
Binder unknown, 1440-1460
'Notebook' [of some sort]
Embroidered silk
Binder unknown, 1775 (France)
'Religious Devotional' [of some sort]
Painted parchment
Bound by Christian Engelmann, 1715 Germany
The Memory of The Netherlands site has digitised a representative sampling of one thousand book bindings from the holdings of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (Royal National Library of The Netherlands). The collection includes luxurious hand-made binding examples from over 800 years up to the 21st century. Except where stated, all book bindings above were produced in Holland.
Previously vaguely related: bookart. [via Het Archiefforum]
I love this!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeletethese are gorgeous. i would love to own one of these and display it in my room.
ReplyDeleteWow really like the art. Amazing these books are the age they are and the binders still seem to be in great shape.Guess they really do not make them like they used to.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding collection presented here! I'd love to take classes in some of these techniques! Regardless of what's inside these beauties their covers alone make them wonderful artworks.
ReplyDeleteAny more information on "Cowper's Poetical Works"? It seems like a sunprint was done on the maple wood, but how? Perhaps it's a cyanotype, but I would have assumed that the chemicals required for this process would hurt the wood.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good question Joey.
ReplyDeleteThat maple surface is decorated with what's known as Mauchline Ware (after the Scottish town where it was first popularised - developed by accident - in the 19th century) which seems to be made with transfers and application of lacquer. [I say 'seems' simply because I couldn't find, on quick look, a good definition]. My guess is that a print was first made on paper and that paper was applied to the wood or it was used as a tracing guide.
See the preview pages from 'Mauchline Ware and associated Scottish Souvenir Ware' by John Baker, 2004 on google books [Amazon]
The back cover [source] of Cowper's Poetical Works is here. [see also here & here for Mauchlineware background]
I wonder if they could bind my laptop in goatskin?
ReplyDeletethat would be so awesome!
Really awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteMeh, doesn't look all that nice to me. I hope this comment box isn't for "fans only", but I was expecting something truly beautiful. With a couple of exceptions, most of these don't like much.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful. That embroidered notebook is exquisite!
ReplyDeletethese are so lovely. it makes my heart ache not to be able to hold these books.
ReplyDeleteAh, they really are ravishing. Kindle reader, anyone?
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing- thanks for sharing this link and pics! I esp love 'Cowper's Poetical Works'
ReplyDelete-wow!
If you like these - you might enjoy Publishers' Bindings Online: http://bindings.lib.ua.edu/
ReplyDeleteFind out more about the project itself: http://www.spellboundblog.com/2007/09/22/saa2007-publishers%E2%80%99-bindings-online-digitization-collaboration-standardization-and-community-building-session-707/
Thanks Jeanne. I have to admit I can't recall whether I've seen that site or not (my bandwidth is throttled for a couple more days because of zealous youtube activity so I'm reluctant to have a good look around at the mo'). Also, it's about time I added your blog feed to my reader and the site to my links page! Cheers.
ReplyDeleteCapas como obras de arte!
ReplyDeleteFantastic!
ReplyDelete:-))
ReplyDeleteStunning, I love the tulip book :)
ReplyDeletePido permiso para robarlo y colocar este post en mi blog, es realmente increíble. Mi madre tiene un misal también precioso en piel y metal, bastante antiguo, enviare foto. Gracias de antemano.
ReplyDeletemojadopapel: OK!
ReplyDeleteWow. Really beautiful craftsmanship. Leather-bound book with metal hinges and locks? Yes!
ReplyDeleteI keep coming back to look at this post - all of these books are so beautiful! I especially love the ghostly leaves on "Cowper's Poetical." GAW-geous!
ReplyDeleteI never thought id say it but im inlove, with this blog, the book bindings are so random but intriguing!
ReplyDeleteYael
I ADORE the 'Das Unheimliche Buch' one, as well as 'New Testament' and 'The Bible.' Ironically I'm not very religious.
ReplyDeletesome stunning work here
ReplyDeleteI will follow you, your signs, your thoughts...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing them....Best wishes from Romania!
Love Love Love!
ReplyDeleteMarvellous ¡
ReplyDeleteCan I use some bookbindings of you blog for my vlok Biblioaprenent ( +- Bibliolearner).
Thanks all.
ReplyDeleteBiblioaprenent: sure, but just note that they belong to the Royal National Library of The Netherlands.
OK, I think that if I write that the bookbindings belong them it won't be problems, but I`ll write to the Royal national Library to ask permission.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
So artistic and valuable
ReplyDeleteWhat a very rare book collection
wow i love it... i want to have one :)
ReplyDeleteI do believe I'm in love with this page for sure! There are members of my family who have there own little collections of treasured items books and covers they love. This page reminds me of them. Thank you, this is very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDo you own 'Das Unheimliche Buch' bound in Morocco leather?
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me if it is one of those 50 limited editions that were bound in parchment?
Sorry Björn, I don't own any of these books. The bindings are/were all online at the Dutch Nat Library.
ReplyDelete