The Archaeology of Medieval Bookbinding
J.A. Szirmai
In the past, studies of history bookbinding were mainly concerned with exterior decoration. This book focuses attention primarily on physical aspects binding and its construction principles. It is an expanded version a series lectures delivered by author while Visiting Professor at University Amsterdam in 1987, supplemented results ten years intensive research major libraries Continent, United Kingdom USA. surveys evolution structures from introduction codex two thousand ago to close Middle Ages. Part I reviews scanty evidence Mediterranean heritage, early Coptic, Islamic Ethiopian their interrelation those Byzantine realm. II devoted detailed analysis Western techniques, distinguishing carolingian, romanesque gothic wooden-board bindings as main typological entities; structure function compared contemporary limp bindings. The illustrated over 200 drawings photographs contains comprehensive bibliography.