The Beautifully Ornate Book Covers of Days Long Gone
I often judge a book by its cover and sometimes I’m wrong, often I’m right. But oh how I wish book covers could go back to being as deliciously detailed as they once were. Let’s take a look at some examples…
Book Cover of British Butterflies archive.org/stream/generaspeciesofb00hump#page/n0/mode/2up
The text is so ornate that it’s hardly legible! Compare this to a modern book on the same subject.
Silver bookbinding – Augsburg (?) – 17th century
This is so beautiful.
housewitch: Iran Book Binding, 18th/19th century Via: ghostsintherosegarden Source: ghostcafe
I would love to know more about this book.
The ‘Codex Rotundus’ owes its name to its round shape. It is a small book of hours (9 cm diameter) made in Bruges in 1480.
We need more round books!
17TH CENTURY,FILIGREE, BINDING,Sotheby’s,New YorkSEGRE Benaja,ITALIAN BOOK BINDINGS,Sotheby’s,New YorkHaving said all that, there are still people today making incredible books, such as this one from http://www.leslie-marsh.com/1860’s Dutch Bible, Beautiful Gauffered Edges, Ornate Double Clasps, Simply LovelySilver-gilt book-coverSilver book-claspCoronation Evangeliar cover by Hans von Reutlingen, c. 1500H Noel (Henry Noel) Humphreys 1810-1879 The history of writing or, The origin and progress of the art of writing: a connected narrative of the development of the art London: Ingram, Cooke and Co., 1853 chromolithography and gilt on paper in papier maché and parchment binding Australian Library of Art, State Library of Queensland / RB 411.09 1853Koster. Hamburgischer Taschen-Kalender auf das Schalt-Jahr 1828 Hamburg : F.H. Nestler, [1827?]. Glazed paper binding with embossed gold paper onlays and embossed cartonnage slipcase with gold paper onlays.The “Black Book of Hours” , facsimile of Codex Vindobonensis, a Burgundian Manuscript of c.1470 written and illuminated on black vellum. (Source: dndgalleries.com)
![Koster. Hamburgischer Taschen-Kalender auf das Schalt-Jahr 1828 Hamburg : F.H. Nestler, [1827?]. Glazed paper binding with embossed gold paper onlays and embossed cartonnage slipcase with gold paper onlays.](https://examiningtheodd.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/ar1.jpg)
Jay Snelling Art 
How would we even read the round ones? Lol
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Ha! I think that one is an illuminated manuscript, so I guess it has small sections of text in the centre of the pages!
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They had more substance back in the day…as well as more style
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Indeed! I guess it would be expensive to mass produce them like that though
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These are beautiful. So are the miniature book bindings and text on exhibition at the Grolier Club in New York. Incredible!
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That sounds great! I’m in the UK, so a bit far to travel – but maybe one day!
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Hello to you!
I saw amazing products on your site.
I want to know how to get the decorations for your beautiful books.
Thanks in advance
Moti
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