Early Leather Folio Binding
- Regular price
- $525.00
- Sale price
- $525.00
- Regular price
-
A remarkable surviving early book binding, dating to approximately the late 16th to early 17th century, retaining its original leather-covered wooden boards, decorative blind tooling, brass corner mounts, central brass boss, and clasp hardware.
The warm, timeworn leather is extensively decorated with intricate blind tooling in a repeating floral and foliate pattern, centered by an ornate diamond-shaped brass boss. Four substantial brass cornerpieces feature raised bosses and engraved decoration, while two original clasp fittings remain along the fore-edge. The spine retains its original raised bands and leather covering.
The binding is characteristic of the substantial European book bindings produced around the turn of the 17th century, when books were commonly constructed with wooden boards and embellished with brass furniture and clasps.
The original text block is no longer present; this is the surviving binding and covers only. Fragments of early printed material remain attached to the interior, including portions of blackletter text, adding another fascinating layer to its history. The binding shows considerable age and wear throughout, including losses and tears to the leather, worn tooling, surface wear, and deterioration to the interior coverings, all consistent with its considerable age.
A beautiful and highly decorative piece of early book history, equally compelling displayed as a historic artifact, incorporated into a library or study, or used as an unusual decorative object.
Circa: c. 1580–1680; possibly taken from King James Bible.
Materials: Leather, wood, brass.
Dimensions: 19" L x 15" W.
Condition: Antique condition with extensive age-related wear, losses to corners and clasps, and deterioration. Please see photographs carefully. No interior pages/text block are present.
Please note: While the construction and decorative elements are consistent with early English/European bindings of this period, the original contents of the volume cannot be definitively identified from the surviving binding alone.