Leather Book Binding

Bookbinding in leather was supposed to have been practiced by the Copts in Egypt. Surviving examples of Coptic bindings in red and brown leather from the 8th and 9th centuries, show a variety of techniques that would indicate experience in bookbinding that probably developed over hundreds of years. Unlike European bindings of later times, specialists must have executed them in diverse forms of leather decoration. They display a wide range of artistry including tooling, piercing, and working with a stylus.

In Europe, the earliest known decorated leather bookbinding is that of the Gospel, which is certainly an English binding of the 7th or 8th century. European binding took on its own characteristics by the 10th century and had progressed along totally different lines from that of the Levant. Some of the main differences were in the manner of sewing and embellishment that was developed along different lines, almost always being in the form of blind tooling executed with individual tools. By 1538, Morocco leather was being used in France. The tools used in this era of French bookbinding were derived by way of pattern books for embroidery or metalwork from Oriental or Arabesque models. Most of these designs incorporated interlacing strap-work.

From about 1840 to 1880 there was more emphasis on delicacy and precision in tooling. The 19th century witnessed a severe decline in the quality of both paper and leather produced for the manufacture of books. This is because of the deterioration of leather due to quality and age of the original skin as well as the tanning process by which the stability of the leather was achieved. Leather produced before the 17th Century was of fine quality and very long lasting but that produced since the late 17th Century frequently showed rapid and severe degradation.

A few limited companies still deal with leather bookbinding. One the most popular is the Felton Bookbinding. They specialize in fine limited-edition binding and the conservation of priceless volumes. These books are housed in both public and private libraries worldwide. The handcrafted results of their labors have become the standard that many established book collectors prefer for presenting their classics.