Medieval on the go : the girdle book / Karen Hanmer.
Type
Book
Authors
Category
Publication Year
2015
Publisher
Karen Hanmer, United States
Pages
24 pages
Subject
Bookbinding -- History
Abstract
The girdle book is a medieval binding structure featuring a long extension of leather which could be attached to a travellers belt. The leather extension often terminates in a decorative knot or hook. This leather extends from the tail of the book so the text can be read while the book is still attached to the reader's belt. The twenty-three extant girdle books date from 1454 to 1579. There are hundreds of representations of these bindings in paintings and other visual arts. These books were small with a normal range of 90-160mm tall up to 50,, thick. Half of the extant bindings are on vellum, half on paper. Eighteen are manuscripts, five are printed works.
Number of Copies
1