FINE AND HISTORIC BOOKBINDINGS FROM THE FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY

FINE AND HISTORIC BOOKBINDINGS

For the first time, the Folger Shakespeare Library iu Washington D.C. - one of the most importent repositories of rare books in the United States - presents a selection of its finest bookbindings, from the 15th century to the present. Among the earliest bindings displayed is one on a volume of the works of Thomas à Kempis, printed in Nuremberg in 1494. A six-link iron chain is attached to the top edge of the book. When printing was still relatively new and books were costly, they were often attached to their shelves by chains.

One of the most exquisite bindings is of red velvet decorated with raised silver thread and hundreds of seed pearls forming a floral arrangement. It covers a manuscript in the hand of Ester Inglis, a noted 17th century calligrapher. Shakespeare is represented by a First Folio bound sometime between 1780 and 1790 - with the original binders bill included.

Fine and Historic Bookbindings includes more than 150 examples of the binders craft, each fully annotated by the curatorial staff of the Folger Library. Anthony Hobson, the leading authority on the historic bookbinding , has written the introduction, providing af brief history of the subject.