Aldine style ( Italian style )
A style of bookbinding originated by Aldus
Manutius but not restricted to the books printed
by Aldus or his family. Aldine bindings, which
were produced during the late 15th and early 16th
centuries, were characterized by the use of brown
or red morocco; by solid-faced ornaments with no
shading (which were similar to those used in
printing the text); and by title or author in
simple panels in the center of the upper cover,
which could be read while the book lay on a shelf
or table. Early examples of the Aldine style were
tooled in blind with an outer frame and a center
ornament. Possibly because of the Greek binders
Aldus employed, as well as the fact that gold
tooling (probably) originated in the Near East,
Aldine tools display definite signs of Eastern
origin. Early Italian bindings convey a consistent
feeling of the shape and proportion of the book,
which is demonstrated by: 1) the use of border and
panel as schemes of design; 2) a remarkable sense
of the value accorded ornamentation; 3) the areas
of leather left undecorated; and 4) restraint in
the decorative detail with the result that it was
always in proper subordination to the overall
effect of the embellishment. See PLATE IV . (124 , 172 ,280 , 334 )
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