Difference between revisions of "Characteristics of C19 Rebindings"
From Commonplace Book
(Created page with "Session with Sandra, 7/20/17 Characteristics of later rebindings of EM texts: * date on spine bottom - later than first EM binding (could be date of original publication) * M...") |
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* Handle tools would be earlier (in blind) | * Handle tools would be earlier (in blind) | ||
* Stuck-on headbands: stuck with glue, not actually woven into binding structure | * Stuck-on headbands: stuck with glue, not actually woven into binding structure | ||
| − | + | ** if you can see little knots, it’s probably a good headband | |
* Spine: individual handle letters on title vs a palette (all in one) - take a ruler to look at unnevenness (palette would be later and individual handle letters might still have been used to give the appearance of age) | * Spine: individual handle letters on title vs a palette (all in one) - take a ruler to look at unnevenness (palette would be later and individual handle letters might still have been used to give the appearance of age) | ||
* Label title on spine: dating by this is tricky, but often rebindings have leather labels that don’t match the binding leather | * Label title on spine: dating by this is tricky, but often rebindings have leather labels that don’t match the binding leather | ||
| − | + | ** date on label is not necessarily indicative of a rebind (like tooled date on spine) | |
* stained leather (with acid: blotchy or wavy Rorschach-y pattern): again, later | * stained leather (with acid: blotchy or wavy Rorschach-y pattern): again, later | ||
* Pebble-grain leather: later, machined to look like goatskin (it’s calf - you can tell because it breaks down like calf) | * Pebble-grain leather: later, machined to look like goatskin (it’s calf - you can tell because it breaks down like calf) | ||
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* if marbling patterns inconsistent between cover and endsheets, or on the edges of the textblock, it’s been rebound | * if marbling patterns inconsistent between cover and endsheets, or on the edges of the textblock, it’s been rebound | ||
* redrot: late C19 calfskin | * redrot: late C19 calfskin | ||
| − | + | ** binders complained about this: they couldn’t get any better materials | |
* rubbing pattern: | * rubbing pattern: | ||
| − | + | ** calf is smooth and shiny, structurally like a cracker, brittle - it scars easily. If calf isn’t scarred, the book hasn’t really been used. | |
| − | + | ** goat is structurally like an orange rind, wants to stay together | |
* You can tell if decoration is tooled or stamped: if it’s exactly the same on all sides of the binding, or between books in the same edition, by measuring, it’s been stamped rather than tooled | * You can tell if decoration is tooled or stamped: if it’s exactly the same on all sides of the binding, or between books in the same edition, by measuring, it’s been stamped rather than tooled | ||
Good examples | Good examples | ||
* The Life of Lt. Gen. Sir John Moore (London: John Murray, 1834) | * The Life of Lt. Gen. Sir John Moore (London: John Murray, 1834) | ||
| − | + | ** Example of a good-quality 1830s binding (not a publisher’s binding) | |
| − | + | ** Goatskin: you can still see it’s patterned under the decoration (calf would just look flat) | |
| − | + | ** probably stamped decoration because of uniformity on both sides | |
* Faerie Queen/Shepherd’s Calendar (printed 1611, rebound probably 18th century) | * Faerie Queen/Shepherd’s Calendar (printed 1611, rebound probably 18th century) | ||
| − | + | ** Good headbands | |
| − | + | ** Calfskin wearing pattern at spine | |
| − | + | ** Spine characteristics described above | |
| − | + | ** Match between endpapers and acid burn from leather | |
| − | + | ** Acid-stained leather | |
Revision as of 12:48, 21 July 2017
Session with Sandra, 7/20/17
Characteristics of later rebindings of EM texts:
- date on spine bottom - later than first EM binding (could be date of original publication)
- Marbled paper on cover - C19 at least
- Look for match/mismatch between endpapers and textblock paper (even mismatch between acid burn of leather and endpapers)
- library buckram - post-1900 (often in composite with earlier materials for conservation)
- cardboard-type material beneath leather: pressboard (waste paper) would have been used until the 19th cent
- Handle tools would be earlier (in blind)
- Stuck-on headbands: stuck with glue, not actually woven into binding structure
- if you can see little knots, it’s probably a good headband
- Spine: individual handle letters on title vs a palette (all in one) - take a ruler to look at unnevenness (palette would be later and individual handle letters might still have been used to give the appearance of age)
- Label title on spine: dating by this is tricky, but often rebindings have leather labels that don’t match the binding leather
- date on label is not necessarily indicative of a rebind (like tooled date on spine)
- stained leather (with acid: blotchy or wavy Rorschach-y pattern): again, later
- Pebble-grain leather: later, machined to look like goatskin (it’s calf - you can tell because it breaks down like calf)
- watch for raised bands on spine not matching the sewing impression (or look to see if you can see under the endsheets)
- handwritten labels on spine: 1810s (transition between book issued in sheets and early publishers’ bindings)
- handmade endpapers and handmade textblock paper = contemporary to each other
- look for issues with collation at the beginning and end: they might be out of order
- if marbling patterns inconsistent between cover and endsheets, or on the edges of the textblock, it’s been rebound
- redrot: late C19 calfskin
- binders complained about this: they couldn’t get any better materials
- rubbing pattern:
- calf is smooth and shiny, structurally like a cracker, brittle - it scars easily. If calf isn’t scarred, the book hasn’t really been used.
- goat is structurally like an orange rind, wants to stay together
- You can tell if decoration is tooled or stamped: if it’s exactly the same on all sides of the binding, or between books in the same edition, by measuring, it’s been stamped rather than tooled
Good examples
- The Life of Lt. Gen. Sir John Moore (London: John Murray, 1834)
- Example of a good-quality 1830s binding (not a publisher’s binding)
- Goatskin: you can still see it’s patterned under the decoration (calf would just look flat)
- probably stamped decoration because of uniformity on both sides
- Faerie Queen/Shepherd’s Calendar (printed 1611, rebound probably 18th century)
- Good headbands
- Calfskin wearing pattern at spine
- Spine characteristics described above
- Match between endpapers and acid burn from leather
- Acid-stained leather
