ABC of Bookbinding: An Illustrated Glossary of Terms for Collectors and Conservators

by Jane Greenfield

Reprint of the first edition of 1997. For the first time, Jane Greenfield has provided a unique glossary of terms, styles, structures, and names related to conservation and bookbinding through the ages illustrated with over 700 line drawings. Locating accurate descriptions of bookbindings from various periods has previously been frustrating for those who work with rare and antiquarian books, especially conservators, librarians, book collectors and antiquarian book specialists. However, this frustration will abate as Greenfield's work takes place alongside John Carter's ABC For Book Collectors as well as Don Etherington's and Matt T. Roberts' Bookbinding and Conservation of Books. Ms. Greenfield, a master in the field of bookbinding and conservation, examines the book's development from the earliest periods and in different places. She has provided names and drawings for almost every conceivable part of the book as well as a multitude of styles, bindings, and decorations. She literally takes apart the structure of the book and illustrates the many and varied facets and definitions that clearly outline the historical development of the book's structures and styles.

Genres: Reference, Books About Books, Nonfiction

183 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1998

Reviews

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

By far the best part of this book is its illustrations. In the glossary sections, the majority of the text entries are accompanied by small drawings, and in the sections on bindings by time and place, each binding has one page of written description and one page of diagrams of the structure. While this book does not cover much beyond a very basic level on terminology and book structure (though it does have a very detailed glossary of different binders), it is a perfect introductory text or quick reference guide.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a dictionary, but I had to read it straight through for a bookbinding class. It certainly has detailed coverage of embellishment styles through the ages, particularly for leatherbound volumes, but in most other areas I knew anything about, I was underwhelmed.

[Cacology · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome overview of bookbinding through time. As many have said before, the pictures are to sketchy to be amazingly useful, but the text is great.

[Dương Sinh · Rating 4 out of 5]

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