Our current temporary exhibition ‘Judging a Book by its Cover: Decorative Bookbinding Styles’ was launched by local bookbinder, Mr David Dunlop. The exhibition shows a range of bindings from the Library’s own collection.
Books have been bound in various ways for centuries. The main reason for binding a book is to strengthen it and to protect the contents from damage. A decorated bookbinding can also act as a mark of ownership, or attracts potential readers by creating decorated covers. Over the centuries, book bindings have been decorated in a variety of ways.
This exhibition shows a number of different bookbinding decoration styles from the late 15th century up to the 1850s. Reference is also made to decorating tools and the Library’s team was pleased when Mr Dunlop offered to add to the collection by having some of his decorating tools on display for the duration of the exhibition.
The exhibition will run until the end of December and is on display in the Library’s Long Room. For further information, please telephone Armagh Robinson Library on 028 37523142.
Speaking ahead of the launch, David, who works as a bookbinder in a Belfast bindery, said,
These witnesses (the bindings), in their materials, colours, and markings, give the book historian guidelines for dating, and judging of the binder’s craft; give a general conception of the original owner’s strata in society; give the collector variety and beauty with which to bedeck their shelves; and give the book lover and the public curiosity and interest to titillate the senses.
The Very Revd Shane Forster, Keeper of the Library, added,
The books in our collection are catalogued according to subject and author and yet the bindings of some of our older books are in themselves unique pieces of art. We are indebted to the Library Archivist, Thirza Mulder, for her meticulous work in the presentation of book bindings for this exhibition and look forward to hearing from David Dunlop about the time and skill required to create and repair such timeless masterpieces.
Present at the launch were some of the Library volunteers who undertake regular cleaning of the books, to ensure that the bindings and paper remain clean and free of infestation. They also check for signs of ageing and weaknesses and the Library’s team values their input greatly.
