19th century book covers

Titles by austen, shakespeare, and dickens that have crossed into the public domain are part of a neverending assembly line of cheap reprints saddled with bafflingly ugly covers. The fifty books on this list were all published more than a hundred years ago, and yet remain fresh and exhilarating reads. Thus, books began to be sold with the covers already bound onto them. Not only were the new types of bookcovers less expensive to produce, they were also printable, using multicolour lithography, and later, halftone illustration processes. The art and social history of 19th century book cover. The 19th century saw some of the greatest stories ever told, so famous that they and their covers have lived in our libraries, our hearts, and our imaginations for over a hundred years. The 19th nineteenth century was a century that began on january 1, 1801, and ended on december 31, 1900 the 19th century saw large amounts of social change. Theresa goodman 12 this exhibition traces the evolution of book cover design and technology from. Deadly poison discovered on medieval book covers could. Nineteenth century british and american book covers. The concept for this biographical book cover series was centered around the authors place of origin, and features elements that directly reference those places. From a historical perspective, this makes it easier to date bindings from that period.

Constrained by the tools and technology available to them. Victorian book design bindings, type, and page design. They say dont judge a book by its cover, but book makers have always known that platitudes aside, the cover of the book is often what. And the rest of the weeks best writing on books and related subjects. Feb 16, 2019 the best book covers from 1820 to 1914 include a sweet potato doing a pinup pose. A worthwhile and enjoyable hobby for everyone from age 1 to 101, collecting stamps has long been an american pastime as well as a popular hobby in all different parts of the world. Late 19th century history of bindings exhibits msu libraries.

In the early part of the 19th century book cover design was somewhat restricted. The best book covers from 1820 to 1914 include a sweet. Sexual indulgences should be kept to a minimum the british library has unearthed a victorian selfhelp book for single women that covers the benefits of. Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the joint committee on eastern europe publication series, no. Europe underwent colossal political, economic, and social change in the long century between the fall of the bastille in 1789 and the assassination of archduke ferdinand in 1914, and this volume in the short oxford history of europe provides an expert and entertaining overview of the principal developments.

Theres a temptation, of course, to mutter the names dickens, tolstoy, and twain and assume youve covered the 19th century but a deeper dive proves the novel was alive and well in the 1800s. Spectacular book covers of the 19th century denver public library. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. How mormon polygamy in the 19th century fueled womens activism pulitzer prizewinning historian laurel thatcher ulrich says that for mormon. May 24, 2010 yellowbacks were cheap, 19th century british literature sold at railway book stalls, with colorful, sensational covers to attract buyers. Jessica roberson explores the bibliomania, patriotism, and issues around gender so. Reclaimed furniture furniture decor stone tiles home decor items book covers 19th century book art tile floor decoupage.

At the time and until the 19th century, a book was bought uncovered with only a temporary seam, and wrapped in paper. For hundreds of years, book bindings functioned as a protective device for the expensively printed or handmade pages, and as a decorative tribute to their cultural authority. History of publishing, an account of the selection, preparation, and marketing of printed matter from its origins in ancient times to the present. As publishers took control over the entire book making process, they began to see the cover as integral to the. Jessica roberson explores the bibliomania, patriotism, and issues around gender so central to the revival. The late 19th century saw designs bursting the bounds of the cover and becoming almost garish. The 1890s did, however, witness a last blaze of glory for the goldstamped binding, before the twentieth century triumph of the dust jacket sounded its death knell. Sexual indulgences should be kept to a minimum the british library has unearthed a victorian selfhelp book for. They may say you cant judge a book by its cover, but some book covers have become iconic and inseparable from the words they adorn. Eu, seine inferieure, france, 35th div to lawson, ok 1918. Fashioned after tiles found in th century abbey in england.

Tradition and transformation in 19thcentury bookbinding. In its heyday, all types of materials, even book covers and clothes, could be coated in paris green for aesthetic reasons. This pair of french history books are an example of 19th century trade bindings. Most are surprisingly affordable, and all are an absolute pleasure to behold, perfect for beautifully adorning any bookshelf. While some were wellknown books such as sense and sensibility, many of the yellowbacks were obscure titles by authors unknown today. Spectacular book covers of the 19th century denver. Techniques borrowed from the nineteenth century posterartists gradually infiltrated the book industry, as did the professional practice of graphic design. But between 1830 and 1910, cloth covers were the first thing a customer saw, and bookbinders worked to make the covers attractive. Nineteenthcentury british and american book covers exhibitions.

Fashioned after tiles found in th century abbey in. Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book of codex format from an ordered stack of paper sheets that are folded together into sections or sometimes left as a stack of individual sheets. The advent of goldstamped decoration, circa 1832, was perhaps the most important factor in the acceptance of publishers bindings during the 19th century as it mimicked goldtooled leather bindings associated with the preindustrial era. Download 19th century books from emory libraries website. The nineteenth century saw a wide range of decorative designs, fueled by the evolution of technology and taste. The flying islands of the night, by james whitcomb riley. Books from 100 years ago with beautiful covers presented by abebooks. In 2020, lets bring back these 19th and 20th century book cover trends.

Most europeans likely discovered paper marbling through this style, which they might have encountered in istanbul. These 19th century childrens books are certainly classic. The boards are beveled and the covers blind tooled. The best books published during the 19th century january 1st, 1801 through december 31st 1900. The development of edition binding in the 19th century, and the. Launched in 1857, harpers weekly became popular during the civil war and continued to remain influential for the remainder of the 19th century. Late 19th century history of bindings exhibits msu. They say dont judge a book by its cover, but book makers have always known that platitudes aside, the cover of the book is often what catches peoples interest and influences their decision to make a purchase. In the 19th century, marbling became widely popular, and was frequently used in england for decorating book covers, end papers, and even the edges of books. Draws on indexes such as the nineteenth century short title catalogue, the wellesley index, pooles index and periodicals index online to create integrated bibliographic coverage of over 1. The 19th century saw some of the greatest stories ever told, they and their covers have lived in our libraries, hearts, imaginations for over a hundred years. Theresa goodman 12 this exhibition traces the evolution of book cover design and technology from 1830 to 1910, the heyday of cloth bindings in america. The stack is then bound together along one edge by either sewing with thread through the folds or by a layer of flexible adhesive.

This cover does not carry an officers signature in the lower left attesting it did not go thru unit censorship and was mailed thru the divisional post office and dispatched through the french post office in eu. Techniques borrowed from the nineteenthcentury posterartists gradually infiltrated the book industry, as. In addition to providing protection for the inner pages their original purpose covers became increasingly representative of. Although this is a 17th century book, the style is.

The book covers on display were arranged by decade. These tales have survived the test of time, and will likely continue to do so more than a hundred years to come. The 1890s did, however, witness a last blaze of glory for the goldstamped binding, before the twentiethcentury triumph of the dust jacket sounded its death knell. The best book covers from 1820 to 1914 include a sweet potato doing a pinup pose. During the civil war, in an era before photographs could be printed in magazines and newspapers, the illustrations in harpers weekly were the way many americans witnessed the civil war. But the term board stuck and is still used to describe the covers of a book. Wood slowly was phased out as the material for the cover, replaced by pasteboards made from layers of glued together paper. It is rather difficult to make a list of 19th century books that you havent heard of. Book covers of literary classics from the 19th century. Of course, continuous skin contact with the substance would lead to symptoms of exposure. Nineteenthcentury british and american book covers.

A papercraft technique was used to create a three dimensional landscape scene which would enforce the idea of the authors setting and help achieve a sense of cohesiveness through out. Vintage book covers vintage books old books antique books book cover art book art bible art illustration art nouveau beautiful book covers. Jan 21, 2020 resources for the study of 19th century u. Fashionable in the 16th and 17th century, the art of embroidering unique covers for books saw a comeback in late 19thcentury england, from the middleclass drawing room to the arts and crafts movement.

Exhibition date, spring semester 2014this gallery exhibit highlights some great examples of decorative, cloth book bindings from 19th century british and american book publishers. Many parents want to read what they consider to be classic childrens books. Not only were the new types of book covers less expensive to produce, they were also printable, using multicolour lithography, and later, halftone illustration processes. Aug 02, 2017 the fifty books on this list were all published more than a hundred years ago, and yet remain fresh and exhilarating reads. Although this is a 17th century book, the style is much more reminiscent of the 16th century. But by the second half of the 19th century, the toxic effects of the substance were more commonly known, and the arsenic variant. In 2020, lets bring back these 19th and 20th century book. For sale on 1stdibs a book cover made during the 16th century. How mormon polygamy in the 19th century fueled womens. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Oct 11, 2016 thus, books began to be sold with the covers already bound onto them. Exhibition date, spring semester 2014this gallery exhibit highlights some great examples of decorative, cloth book bindings from 19th century british and.

These book covers are so terrible you wont believe they. Birth of the modern book books began to become smaller and were easier to bind. Alternative methods of binding that are cheaper but less. There is no shortage of terrible book covers for the classics, and scrolling through these abominations on the internet is always good for a laugh. This selection of beautiful books span the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mar 16, 2016 this pair of french history books are an example of 19th century trade bindings. Here is a gallery of some especially nice decorative book covers. To sell those books, publishers produced beautifully decorated covers reflecting the tastes of the age. Medieval floor tiles recreated with decoupage of book cover from 1800s, varnish, waxes and stone tiles. Jan 17, 2017 how mormon polygamy in the 19th century fueled womens activism pulitzer prizewinning historian laurel thatcher ulrich says that for mormon women living in. Before the early nineteenth century, books were handbound, as in luxury medieval manuscripts using materials such as gold, silver and jewels. Selection of book covers produced during the bookbinding revolution of the 19th century and beyond.

As publishers took control over the entire bookmaking process, they began to view the cover as being integral to the whole. Theres a temptation, of course, to mutter the names dickens, tolstoy, and twain and assume youve covered the 19th centurybut a deeper dive proves the novel was alive and well in the 1800s. May 19, 2018 many parents want to read what they consider to be classic childrens books. Known as decorated publishers bindings, they were bound in colorful fabric and elaborately decorated in silver and gold. The art and social history of 19th century book cover design. The examples here were published between 1804 and 1903. If someone were to map out all the science fiction and fantasy book covers of the past decade. Yellowbacks were cheap, 19th century british literature sold at railway book stalls, with colorful, sensational covers to attract buyers.