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book covers

Embroidered Book Covers

February 17, 2010

17th century embroidered satin book with floral motif.

While researching book bindings for a project, I've been coming across these gorgeous embroidered book covers and bindings from the 16th and 17th century. Thought I'd make a blog post out of these exquisite works of art.. The original scans for the books are scattered throughout The British Library Database of Bookbindings. I've just selected, ...

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Plate XL

"We now come to a beautiful and loquacious race of animals, that embellish our forests, amuse our walks, and exclude solitude from our most shady retirements. From there man has nothing to fear, their pleasures, their desires, and even their animosities, only serve to enliven the general picture of Nature, and give harmony to meditation." Yet ...

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Undine

January 21, 2010

Undine (frontispiece) 1897

I found this Victorian Era copy of Undine by Friedrich de La Motte Fouque in the toss away bin on one of my recent book hunts. This copy, published in 1897, is illustrated by Rosie M. M. Pitman. The cover and binding are water damaged but the pages and pictures are in pretty good shape. ...

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An Art Made by Time

December 16, 2008

These fascinating time-worn book pages and covers are the latest additions to my early reader collection. The two 19th century primers were discovered on a recent treasure hunting expedition to the local antique market.

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