The Washington times., 1901-10-27
HISTORY OF BOOKBINDING.
Progress of the Art for Many Cen
turies Illustrated.
From the Pnpyrus Roll of Biblical
Times to Elaborate Work of To-
day-MnEnificence of Middle Ages.
Various Styles of Ornamcntntion.


The nucleus of an exhibit in the Ma
tional Museum designed to illustrate
the art Of bookbinding and the fact that
that art is becoming more or less of a
fad suggests a resume of its nature
and history CLEANED from the account
Of an expert.
As the term 'bookbinding' is defined
as the art by which the parts of a book
are connected for convenience and pro-
lection. the first form in use was prob
ably the ancient method by which the
scroll was attached to a cylinder,
around which it was wound and secured
by thongs. A Greek, named Phillatius. is
said to have invented the glue by which
the strips of skin or papyrus were fas-
tened together and TO have been honor
ed by a statue for the invention. 1t is
common TO hear the roll or scroll al
luded to as Egyptian binding, but re-
cent Investigations show that it was
used in very early times in many coun-
tries of the East. Moreover, rolls are
mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures at
least seven centuries before the Chris
-
which the books of the law are pre-
served in the synagogues. some of these
documents, especially those upon goat
skin, being probably very ancient. The
convenience of the square OF oblong
page for common use seems to have led
to its introduction at an early date
among the scholarly classes of all
countries, and it was a short and nee
essary advance to attach the sheets of
skin or papyrus to each other, and to
an outer or heavier page of skin or
wood as a stin further protection. This
once done, the art of bookbinding, in
its modern sense, was begun.
The art reached a high status during
the first centuries of the Christian era
The Roman books were covered with
leather, colored in tints of red, yellow,
green, and purple. The Gospels and mis-
sails of the early church were fastened
in wooden boards, often nearly an inch
thick, and carved and adorned with
metal In the sixth century certain
dignitaries of the Irish church are men
toned for their skill in binding in gold
and precious stones. Pope Gregory III,
in A. d. 7S1. had copy of the Gospels
bound in plates of gold weighing fifteen
pounds. The Bible, given by Alcuin to
Charlemagne, was written on yellum
and bound in velvet, with a frontis
piece and numerous illustrations paint
ed in gold and colors. During the sew
enth, eighth, and ninth centuries the
art and industry of Christian scholars
were layished upon copies Of the Scrip
lures and books of devotion, written
with exquisite care upon vellum of yell
low or purple tint, and often in letters
of silver and gold. with illuminations in
colors, and bound in velvet, gold, and
ivory studded with Jewels. The Jewish
scribes made magnificent copies OF the
Old Testament, distinguished especially
by the beauty of the writing. The
Saxon monks excelled in caIHgraphy
also, while the Italians and Spanish
were famous for the beauty OF Their IL
lurninations, and the Greek scholars for
the luxury of their books.
Specimens of the binding of the four
teenth century are still extant, and in
excellent preservation, exhibiting the
care and industry with which the oaken
boards were covered with yellum.
Books were then magnificer- ly covered
also. with velvet and daInask, with
corners, clasps, and decorations of solid
gold. White yellum also was stamped
with gold, and morocco and calf were
inlaid and adorned in all Imaginable
ways. Printed books toward the close
of the fifteenth century were bound fire.
quenly in calf with oaken boards and
stamped with gold. a curious book of
indentures between Henry VII of Eng
land and the Convent of St Peter.
Westminster, has a cover of crimson
Genoese velvet edged with crimson silk
and gold thread with tassels of the
same at each corner. the inside being
lined with crimson damask. On each
side of the cover and five bosses made
of silver, wrought and gilt; those in
the middle have the crown and support
ers gilt and enameled, and at the cor
ners the figures of the portcullis in a
similar style. 1t is fastened by two
silver hasps enameled with the red rose
of Lancaster
The rivalry in magnificence between
Henry VIII Of England and Francis l
of France was in favor of the latter in
the matter of bookbinding. Francis
was the personal friend of Robert
Stephens, the famous English book
binder Grollier a nobleman sent bv
the French King as Ambassador 10
Rome, was one Of the most celebrated
patrons of the art This nobleman Is
said to have been the first to introduce
lettering upon the back II is a re-
markable fact that the enthusiasm in
the art of bookbinding displayed by
Anne Boleyn, Mary Stuart, and Queen
Elizabeth is exempIified today in the
royal family Of England IN the person
of one of the Kings sisters. |
AS regards the modern status Of tbe
Srt it may be said to have received
great impetus from the interest that
bas been to such a large extent awak- |
med. The style of ornamentation de- |
pends, Of course, upon the taste and
hexterity of the artist and the fancy of |
the purchaser. and. as these are varied. |
there can hardly be said to be any
limit to the variations in the decoration
OF a book The popular verdict has |
been for long time in favor OF what |
Is styled half-binding as the best COM |
bination of economy, durability. and
neatness The back and edges hefnp
covered with leather renders it very
strong. while the better quality of mar
bic paper, with which the sides are |
usually covered, is as durable as the |
leather itself. In full binding the I,e- |
a