Lovely in Leather

Beautiful Books and Boxes
from the Special Collections Unit, Robert L. Carothers Library

Participating exhibit,
Rhode Island Center for the Book
2010 Art of the Book Program: 
Bound in Leather: Leather Book Bindings in Rhode Island Collections

Now, until end of October, 2010
2nd Floor, Reading Room hours M-F 8:30-4:30

Pictured left is a 2 vol. set beautifully bound at the Doves Bindery in limp vellum  and boxed in a leather slip case,  of  Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, (Doves Press, 1902)

This imprint of the Divine Comedy (Milano : U. Hoepli, 1925), also pictured left,  is bound in calf, trefoil motif with two leather straps simulating exposed binding cords; two Clasps on the upper boards complete this modernized interpretation of medieval style.  Unknown binder.

Pictured below is Fifty "Bab" ballads : much sound and little sense (London:Routledge, 1884) is pictured below was bound at Kelliegram Bindery.

Kelliegram bindings were innovated by the binders Kelly & Sons. Often, one of the illustrations were reproduced on the cover, either onlaid (leather glued on top)  or inlaid (leather glued next to another) giving a mosaic effect.

detail of page in which the reproduced  image is located

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detail of inside front cover pastedown & decorative double guilt border in the turn in

binders stamp , found on inside back cover turn in.