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| | UNT Libraries: Rare Book & Texana Collections, Victorian Bookbinding Exhibit, Introduction |
 | | Prior to 1820, all books were bound by hand in the traditional manner: each printed gathering was sewn to cords, the cords were threaded through the front and back boards, and the cover (usually leather or leather and marbled paper) was wrapped around, being adhered to the spine and the boards. |
 | | As machines were invented that could stamp in ink, gold, and colors; that could deeply emboss both leather and cloth; that could "paint" cloth; and that could reproduce "artistic lettering," the effect was cumulative: the more of these techniques a book cover displayed, the stronger its appeal to the book-buying public. |
 | | Thus many book covers from the 1880s are deeply embossed cloth, with stamping in ink, gold, and colors, and with lettering of fanciful shapes. |
| www.library.unt.edu /rarebooks/exhibits/binding/introduction.htm (840 words) |
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