New book on historical bindings

I  am delighted to announce the publication of Books Will Speak
Plain: A Handbook for Identifying and Describing Historical
Bindings, by Julia Miller.

Miller, a book conservator turned researcher, provides a broad
introduction to the structural and technical history of bookbindings
and an extensive glossary of terms. The concluding chapters cover
guidelines for writing descriptions of bindings, whether in the
context of a MARC record, a sales catalog, or a private collection.
Extensive illustrations in the text and nearly fifteen hundred
searchable color images with descriptions on the accompanying DVD
make the handbook a rich reference source for conservators,
librarians, booksellers, bibliophiles, and students of the history
of the book.

The book has an unabashed ulterior motive: appalled by the losses
and damage inflicted on historical bindings by ill-informed but
well-meaning caretakers and repairers, Miller has written an
accessible guide to help everyone involved appreciate the
significance of even mundane-looking bindings.

    Julia Miller.
    Books Will Speak Plain: A Handbook for Identifying and
    Describing Historical Bindings. Ann Arbor: The Legacy Press,
    2010. ISBN:  978-0-9797974-3-9 $80-00-592pp., 374 illustrations
    in the text, many in color, bound in cloth and sewn.
    Accompanying DVD with 1,471 color images and captions
    (searchable).

For additional information and orders:

    <URL:http://www.thelegacypress.com>

Contents:

    Preface and Acknowledgements

    Introduction.   The Purpose of This Handbook

    Chapter 1.      The Early History of the Codex

    Chapter 2.      The Medieval Manuscript Book and Beyond

    Chapter 3.      1450 to 1800: The Book Changes Radically

    Chapter 4.      The Book from 1800 to 1900

    Chapter 5.      Identifying Binding Materials and Applications

    Chapter 6.      Describing Historical Bindings: a Template for
                    Action

    Chapter 7.      The Task Ahead and Conclusion

    Appendix 1.     Historical Bindings: Structure and Style
                    Hierarchy

    Appendix 2.     Sample Survey Suggestions and Description Case
                    Studies

    Appendix 3.     Stacks Maintenance and Physical Condition
                    Assessment Guidelines

    Glossary
    Bibliography
    Index
    Permissions
    Colophon

Shannon Zachary
Head, Preservation and Conservation
University Library, University of Michigan


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 24:29
                Distributed: Tuesday, December 14, 2010
                       Message Id: cdl-24-29-009
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