Bindings & Covers

Bindings and covers are integral to book production, protecting pages from damage, and holding them firmly in place. They are also of great importance for book design, sometimes echoing the style of the work within. The Chester Beatty collections include a wonderful range of decorated bindings and covers revealing a variety of formats and techniques.

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Genji words and pictures (Genji kotobae)
1688
Japan
CBL J 1126

Highlights

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Detail of stamped gilded leather book cover, for the Cream of Histories (Zubdat al-tawarikh)
Luqman-i Ashuri
Istanbul (Turkey)
CBL T 414
1 / 9
Filigree leather book cover, for the Five Poems (Khamsa) of Amir Khusrau
1485 (890 AH)
Herat (Afghanistan)
CBL Per 163
2 / 9
Genji words and pictures (Genji kotobae)
1688
Japan
CBL J 1126
3 / 9
Great Encyclopedia of the Yongle Reign (Yongle dadian)
1562-1567
China
CBL C 1756
4 / 9
Life of the Buddha
mid-19th century
Burma
CBL Bu 1207
5 / 9
Iris, painted lacquer album cover
Delhi (India)
c. 1850
CBL In 27
6 / 9
Stamped leather binding, Gospel book
13th century
Hromkla
Cilicia (modern Turkey)
CBL Arm 558
7 / 9
Wooden binding boards
200-300
Egypt
CBL Cpt 803
8 / 9
Wotton’s Element of Architecture and Vitruvius’ De Architectura, translated
Michael Wills (active c. 1721–1777)
bound by Edward Beatty (d. 1794)
binding c. 1755
manuscript c. 1770
Dublin (Ireland)
CBL W 192
9 / 9