History of Text Technologies

The book uses hollow back binding (the binding is basically separate from the sewing structure of the text block). Here, the text block has been attached to the three cords on the spine. The book has endpapers of a recycled illuminated manuscript on parchment. You can see sewing marks on the manuscript leaves from where they were previously bound. This is an excellent example of hair side (recto) and flesh side (verso) for front endpapers.

Has an odd, flexible vellum binding with covers not attached to a separate strip of vellum that is the spine. The upper and lower covers are basically part of the gathering structure, with visible tabs between first and second gathering (for upper cover) and third and fourth gathering (for lower cover).

This is an example of tree calf binding in which the calf binding is highly polished and stained to produce a dark tree-like pattern along the front and rear. It originated in the late 18th century. The book has a flat spring and one can feel the cords to which the binding is attached on the inside cover. Calf is really evident here as binding material (soft, characteristic rubbing, as opposed to the rips in sheep). The style is really characteristic of mid-18th century binding, though by 1787, this binding would have been conservative and almost out of style.

This book has a speckled calf binding. This consists of leather treated with acid to form patterns of small dark spots or specks. It also has blind tooled frames (fillets that are either double or repeated singly fillets). Contains corner decorations with individual tools. It is an example of mid-market binding.

This book contains a fore-edge painting and is bound in straight grained morocco (goat).

This book also contains a fore-edge painting and made of green straight grain morocco (goat).

This is an example of cheap tan sheep binding with characteristic rips and wear. It was originally tanned in a tree(ish) calf pattern. Binding befitting the cost of the book. The spine is divided into 5 compartments: two red and black leather pastons with embossed title “British Poets Volume 23” in the second compartment and “Watts & Selections” in 4th compartment. The paper headbands are pasted on.

This is an example of sheep binding with characteristic rips. It has plain upper and lower covers. It has six spine compartments divided by raised bands. The printed leather label with title is in the second compartment–calf, not sheep.