The Importance of Binding for the Home Library

If you collect rare and antique books, you are well aware that binding a book can significantly affect its value. Over time, the art of book weaving has evolved, and modern conservatives often use both modern and ancient methods to restore and preserve antique books. These methods date back much longer than you might think!

If your rare books need repair or protection, contact us! We are pleased to offer our services for the restoration or binding of your books. We are happy to advise on any issues that you may have.

Leather vs other materials

Leather-bound books can create a certain image for many people - pouty, pretentious, valuable volumes that line the walls in a huge intellectual home library. However, leather has been used in the binding process for hundreds of years in many different cultures and regions, so much so that the skin binding subcategories are quite extensive and varied. Since the material is durable, malleable and has large reserves, bookbinders manipulated the material in various ways, creating many interesting and artistic bookbinding methods, including:

The calf skin is probably the most common leather-based material used in binding. Its soft texture and little visible grain also make it one of the most popular binding methods in rare book collections. In addition, the calf has versatility, which manifests itself in a number of visually interesting ways, such as marbling, which can add depth, complexity and texture to the cover of the book.

Morocco. As for goat leather bindings, Morocco has been used since the 16th century and is another popular binding method that can significantly increase the value of a book. Morocco, like Calf Skin, is a fairly versatile material and goes well with the addition of color. For this reason, Moroccan mounts and covers are often treated with bright, bright dyes.

Vellum was originally made primarily from calf skin; however, more modern versions use lamb or goat skin. In some respects, due to differences in the origin of the skin, the quality can vary greatly, and you should take this into account when evaluating the binding of a book.

You've probably heard the saying - never judge a book by its cover. Nevertheless, the artistic effect of the cover and binding of the book helps us in many ways to decide what we like about the book and why.