History of the Book and Book Structures April 14, 2014 Kai 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 TypePrinting PressDigital Imaging

Production Technology Woodblock and Woodcut Engraving and Etching LithographyPhotography

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

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

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

Medieval Binding 7 th -14 th 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 9 th century

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

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

18 th and 19 th 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 Structures How does the intended use of a book influence its structure?

Further Reading Internet Guild of Bookworkers University of Iowa Libraries Bookbinding Models Princeton University Hand Bookbindings Graphics Atlas: information on different graphic techniques Books Clemens, Raymond. Introduction to Manuscript Studies. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, Gaskell, Philip. A New Introduction to Bibliography. New York: Oxford University Press, Greenfield, Jane. ABC of Bookbinding: an Illustrated Glossary of Terms for Collectors & Conservators. New Castle, Delaware: Oak Knoll Press, Moran, James. Printing Presses: History and Development from the 15 th Century to Modern Times. Berkeley: University of California Press, Nixon, Howard. Five Centuries of English Bookbinding. London: Scholar Press, 1978.