Thread by @BerinoJulia, A fun! interesting! informative! thread on the history and evolution of handmade [...]

The History of Handmade Book Covers

BerinoJulia

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A fun! interesting! informative! thread on the history and evolution of handmade book covers

But first! A brief background and history of how exactly books came to be in the first place

It was in around 3500 BC when Sumerians of Mesopotamia produced the earliest written records on movable materials such as stone and clay tablets using cuneiform, the earliest known writing system.

(Sumerian cuneiform tablet, Mesopotamia, c. 3100-2900 BCE)

Egyptians are thought to have been using papyrus scrolls as early as 3000 BCE. They were the first people to produce illustrated manuscripts, which featured both words and pictures.

(Book of the Dead for the Singer of Amun, Nany, c. 1050 BCE)

Soon, alphabets around the world were formed and established. Parchment and wax tablets were utilized as new writing surfaces by the Greeks and Romans. These tablets could be bound together between sheets of wood or metal to form what was called a codex.

These codices slowly replaced traditional scrolls. They were less expensive and allowed bindings to be both protective and decorative.

This soon followed by the invention of paper and the discovery of printing in China around 105 CE. However, Cai Lun, eunuch and high government official, is only generally acknowledged for this. It isn't really known if he truly did or if he just furthered an earlier invention.

By around the same time, the first bound books containing religious sutras were being made in India using palm leaves. The leaves were split, dried, rubbed with ink and bound with twine. As one of the oldest mediums of writing, they have no definite origin.

(Sinhalese charm)

Around 400 CE, the use of leather for book binding comes into play, especially for medieval bindings (usually using the skins of unwilling calves or pigs). It proved quite sturdy being water-repellent as well as opening a new artistic space, allowing for various patterns.

By this time, the age of illuminated manuscripts would have already started mostly in Europe and Islamic countries. Design and detail were more displayed inside the actual book, implementing the use of gold leaf which gave birth to its name thanks to its luminosity.

Many of these manuscripts contained sacred text for religions such as Christianity and Islam and so much time and effort was put into these visual embellishments.

L: The Book of Kells (c. 800)
T. right: Saint Dominic, Taddeo Crivelli (c. 1469)
B. right: Yusuf wa Zulaykha (1574)

However detailed these illustrations were though, it didn't mean that less effort was put into the covers of these sacred pages. When metal made its way into bookbinding around 550, it allowed for more protection.

(Cover of a Sacramentary, Belgian, c. 1100s)

As books became more common over the years, especially for private use, these processes and materials became too expensive and so alternatives were developed such as cloth covers instead of leather and paper boards instead of wood. This gave way to embroidered covers as well.

It was around 1450 when typography was developed in Europe and printed books replaced manuscripts thanks to Johannes Gutenberg and his invention of the movable type, which led to the creation of The Gutenberg Bible, known as the first major book to be printed.

As you can see, the start of this printing revolution did not act as an impediment to detailed design in books. In fact, it allowed for endless design possibilities and cover printing techniques including embossment and multi-color lithography.

Being cheaper to produce also meant that these works could be distributed among more people, following the rise of literacy rates. Because of its comeback as a mass-produced product instead of handmade, covers also became an avenue for designers and illustrators to thrive-

both in creative freedom and design and career possibilities.

TL: Practical Taxidermy, Montague Browne, 1878
BL: The Floral Kingdom, Cordelia Harris Turner, 1877
TR: The Water Babies, Charles Kingsley, 1886
BR: Spectrum Analysis, Henry. E. Roscoe, 1869

The revolution of the book and its cover paved the way for so much of the design inspiration, creativity and possibilities that followed it as well as what we see around us today (but also because capitalism saw its potential and exploited it).

Alright, end of thread, thank you!

Text sources:
- "Meggs' History of Graphic Design" by Philip B. Meggs & Alston W. Purvis (2016)
- The Evolution of the book. SFBook, nonprofit book review website. (n.d.) https://sfbook.com/the-evolution-of-the-book.htm
- Illuminated Manuscripts. Mark, J. J. (2019, December 13) https://www.ancient.eu/Illuminated_Manuscripts/

Illuminated Manuscripts

Illuminated manuscripts were hand-made books, usually on Christian scripture or practice, produced in Western Europe between c. 500-c. 1600 CE. They are so called because of the use of gold and...

https://sfbook.com/the-evolution-of-the-book.htm

- The macabre world of books bound in human skin. BBC News Magazine. (2014, June 20). https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27903742
- There's a book bound in human skin in Bristol - and you can go see it. Chipperfield, D. (2019, June 22). https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/theres-book-bound-human-skin-2999585

There's a book bound in human skin in Bristol - and you can go see it

The macabre book has an arguably more gruesome tale to tell

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27903742

- A Quick History of Book Binding. Masters, K. (2019, June 4). https://blog.bookstellyouwhy.com/bid/230074/a-quick-history-of-book-binding
- Europe's Oldest Book Was Found in the Tomb of a Saint. Flatley, H. (2018, September 30). https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/09/30/europes-oldest-book/

Europe’s Oldest Book Was Found in the Tomb of a Saint

Europe’s oldest book is soon to go on display in a new exhibition at London’s British Library. Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War will feature a number

https://blog.bookstellyouwhy.com/bid/230074/a-quick-history-of-book-binding

- Medieval books in leather (and other materials). Khan Academy. (n.d.). https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/medieval-world/medieval-book/making-medieval-book/a/medieval-books-in-leather-and-other-materials
- What is an illuminated manuscript?. Khan Academy. (n.d.). https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/getty-museum/getty-manuscripts/a/what-is-an-illuminated-manuscript

What is an illuminated manuscript?

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/medieval-world/medieval-book/making-medieval-book/a/medieval-books-in-leather-and-other-materials

Image sources:
- Sumerian cuneiform tablet, probably from Erech (Uruk), Mesopotamia, c. 3100–2900 BCE; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. https://www.britannica.com/place/Sumer
- Book of the Dead for the Singer of Amun, Nany
ca. 1050 B.C. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/548344?

Book of the Dead for the Singer of Amun, Nany | Third Intermediate Period | The Met

https://www.britannica.com/place/Sumer

- Sinhalese charm, 18th to the early part of the 20th century. http://www5.kb.dk/en/nb/samling/os/Sydost/palmeblade.html
- St. Cuthbert Gospel, Gospel of St John. (formerly known as the Stonyhurst Gospel) is the oldest intact European book, 7th century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Cuthbert_Gospel#/media/File:The_St_Cuthbert_Gospel_of_St_John._(formerly_known_as_the_Stonyhurst_Gospel)_is_the_oldest_intact_European_book._-_Upper_cover_(Add_Ms_89000)_(cropped).jpg

- Cover of a Sacramentary, 1100s and later, unknown, Belgian, hammered, engraved, and gilt silver, brass, and niello. https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/getty-museum/getty-manuscripts/a/what-is-an-illuminated-manuscript
- Page in The Book of Kells, c. 800. https://art85adethlefsen.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/book-of-kells-art-or-design/sv_bok_16_big/
- Saint Dominic, Taddeo Crivelli, c. 1469. http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/3820/taddeo-crivelli-saint-dominic-italian-about-1469/

Saint Dominic (Getty Museum)

https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/getty-museum/getty-manuscripts/a/what-is-an-illuminated-manuscript

- An illustrated and illuminated manuscript of Jami's Yusuf wa Zulaykha, signed by 'Ali Reza Al-Katib, Herat or Bukhara, Safavid, dated 982 AH/1574 AD. http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2011/arts-of-the-islamic-world-l11220/lot.242.html
- Page Of The Gutenberg Bible, 1455. https://fineartamerica.com/featured/1-page-of-the-gutenberg-bible-1455-photo-researchers.html

Page Of The Gutenberg Bible, 1455 by Photo Researchers

Page Of The Gutenberg Bible, 1455 Photograph by Photo Researchers

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2011/arts-of-the-islamic-world-l11220/lot.242.html

- Practical Taxidermy, Montague Browne, 1878
- The Floral Kingdom, Cordelia Harris Turner, 1877
- The Water Babies, Charles Kingsley, 1886
- Spectrum Analysis, Henry. E. Roscoe, 18691886. https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-art-of-book-covers-1820-1914

The Art of Book Covers (1820–1914)

Selection of book covers produced during the bookbinding revolution of the 19th century and beyond.

https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-art-of-book-covers-1820-1914

Profile picture:
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/345580971404431185/

Header:
Crucifixion with Carolingian. Angels and Mourning Figures. Lindau Gospels. c. 870-80. http://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2017/09/11/35665866.html

New exhibition at the Morgan Library & Museum explores rare luxury books of the Middle Ages -...

Jeweled Cover of the Lindau Gospels, France, ca. 875. Gold repoussé Crucifixion and ten mourning figures, including personifications of...

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/345580971404431185/

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