George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives

Blissful Books and Bindings

Publishers' bindings

Early in the history of commercial printing, books were issued either in light boards or paper wrappers. Purchasers could then decide how, or whether, to bind the volume. In the early 19th century, perhaps as early as 1820, publishers began producing books bound in hardcover before sale.

These publishers' bindings range from very simple brown cloth to, later in the century, ornate gilt and/or colored decorated cloth. By the middle 1800s, most books were so issued.

Havard, Henry, 1838-1921, ed     La France Artistique et Monumentale / ouvrage publié sous la direction de M. Henry Havard ... Paris : Librairie illustrée, [1892-95]
    6 v.

Bound, as issued by the publisher, in the original gray-blue cloth pictorially decorated in gold and lettered in dark blue and gold; with gray-blue end papers and gilt top-edges.

The Shakespeare Head Press Booklets. 2nd ed. Stratford-On-Avon : [Shakespeare Head Press], 1906.
    6 v. in 1

 The volume contains: Ancient Carols, Festive Songs for Christmas (2nd edition), Shakespeare's Songs, The Nutbrown Maid, More Ancient Carols and A Lover's Complaint & The Phoenix and Turtle.
    Bound in the publisher's original vellum binding, with hand painted decorations and lettering, and stitched-down leather bands.