A History of the Art of Bookbinding

It seems right that a book about bookbinding would have a beautiful cover. But it does not seem right that a book about bookbinding would have a loose binding! A History of the Art of Bookbinding gives a detailed overview of bookmaking methods from ancient times, like Egyptian papyri and Roman scrolls, up to the time of its publication in 1894. It features photographs and illustrations of particularly interesting bindings, such as the carved ivory cover of a 12^th century book shown on the frontispiece. Some of the noteworthy bookbindings are covered with jewels, embossed leather, or embroidery. One chapter focuses on English Royal Bindings, books that were specially created for kings and queens, including images of several made for Queen Elizabeth I.