Thursday, June 9, 2011

Unusual Bindings from ABE Books




Animais Peconhentos by Flavio Da Fonseca
Animais Peconhentos
Flavio Da Fonseca
Snakeskin & Velvet

We all know the old adage, but never mind what they say. Sometimes it's okay to judge a book by its cover.

We love to read, but it's an extra pleasure when the book is an object of beauty, craft or art, as well. These editions have all been thoughtfully bound in atypical materials, some in direct correlation to the subject matter, some for the sake of beauty or functionality. They have become not only literature, but art.

Bookbinding has been a skilled and lovingly practiced craft for centuries. It's an astonishing treat to see the range of materials and methods that go into bookbinding. Ranging from absolutely affordable to extravagantly expensive, here are some of the most unusual bindings found on AbeBooks, from eelskin and ivory to copper and gold, to rubber and fur, and much more.

Go on. Judge.

30 Unusual Bookbindings

Arizona Highways Magazine 1965 Bound in Pony Hide
Pony Hide


Arizona Highways Magazine 1965

Gerald A. Bergin
$125

Sentiments and Similes of William Shakespeare
Papier Mache

Sentiments and Similes of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare & Noel Humphreys
US$ 1800

Etrennes Mignonnes
Embroidered Silk

Etrennes Mignonnes
W.H. Hudson
$3825

Odilon Redon. Peintre, Dessinateur et Graveur
Different inlaid woods

Odilon Redon
Andre Mellerio
$2750

La Guirlande D'Aphrodite - Ferdinand Herold
Cloisonné

La Guirlande D'Aphrodite
Ferdinand Herold
US$ 2750

The Personal History of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Ivory

Personal History of David CopperfieldCharles Dickens
US$ 7651

Heads and Tales - Malvina Hoffman
Snakeskin

Heads and Tales
Malvina Hoffman

US$ 1400

The Sweet O' The Year: Thoughts From a Village Garden - Emily Ridgway
Mother of Pearl

The Sweet O' The Year
Emily Ridgway
US$ 2125

Enzo Cucchi Scultura 1982-1988
Latex

Enzo Cucchi Scultura 1982-1988
Martin Schwander & Enzo Cucchi
$750

Blood Brother - Elliott Arnold
Semi-Precious Gems

Blood Brother
Elliott Arnold

US$ 1800

Paa Langfart Med Snarken by Jack London
Handmade paper

Paa Langfart Med Snarken
Jack London
$75

La Route D'Emeraude - Demolder, Eugene.
Silver Filigree


La Route D'Emeraude

Demolder, Eugene.
US$ 1800

1611 King James 1st Edition Great He Bible
Copper

1611 King James Bible

US$ 119000

Batak Bark Book
Bark

Batak Bark Book

$2400

The Sermon on the Mount by Owen Jones
Silk Brocade

The Sermon on the Mount
Owen Jones

$1542

Subversive Crafts by Katy Kline
Perforated Rubber

Subversive Crafts
Katy Kline

$11

The Flounder by Gunter Grass
Eelskin

The Flounder
Günter Grass

US$ 600

Gospels of the New Testament Scriptures
Varnished Wood

The Lay of the Last Minstrel


Walter Scott

$400

La Voie du Salut ou Prieres Journalieres by Baron de Zaiguelius
Velvet with Metal Crucifix

La Voie du Salut ou Prieres Journalieres
Baron de Zaiguelius
$150

The American Coast Pilot by Edmund M. Blunt
Burlap

The American Coast Pilot
Edmund M. Blunt

US$ 450

Little Fur Family - Brown, Margaret Wise; Williams, Garth
Real Fur


Little Fur Family

Brown, Margaret Wise; Williams, Garth
$45 - $2200

The King James Holy Bible
Olive Wood

The Holy Bible
King James Version
$88

Andy Warhol's Index by Andy Warhol
Plastic

Andy Warhol's Index
Andy Warhol
US$ 1500

The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Inlaid Jewels

The Song of Hiawatha
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
$28,500

Friday, June 3, 2011