Hand Bookbindings from Special Collections in the Princeton University Library
A New Online Exhibition

This online exhibition will allow viewers to closely examine historic bookbindings from the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections at Firestone Library. "Hand Bookbindings From Special Collections in the Princeton University Library: Plain and Simple to Grand and Glorious" includes more than 200 books. Two major themes are illustrated. First, many of the books offer examples of the elements that make up a book's binding, such as sewing, endleaves, cover attachment, clasps and tooling. Readers learn not only what these elements are but also see specimens dating from different eras and locales. Second, numerous examples highlight historic national technical styles and "bespoke" bindings for famous collectors, as well as specialty styles such as those with fully silk-embroidered covers. Examples date from as early as the 12th century and come down to the end of the 20th. The entire show is arranged in virtual cases, represented by 26 thumbnail images on the Web site's opening page.

Access exhibition here