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Islamic bookbinding developed from Coptic and Manichaean models, known for their luxurious
decoration.
The book cover (specimen) has a characteristic form: the lower cover is extended into a flap which is folded around the fore-edge and tucked under the upper cover, so that the book is completely wrapped around. The gatherings are not sewn on cords in the European way but with link-stitch, using a sewing thread which is often too thin for the binding function. The spine is then lined and provided with hinges to which are attached, rather weakly, the boards of the cover, and the textblock is kept in place with the flap. The cover ornamentation (specimen) also goes back to Coptic models. Blind tooling, gilding, coloured inpainting, incising and leather cutting (specimen), medallions, geometric and floral patterns are some characteristic ornament forms. Mosaic leather technique was a specialty of Spain and a possible forerunner of the Grolier bookbindings of Europe. Moresques and arabesques were also used by European Renaissance and later bookbinders. Literature: Islamic bindings & bookmaking, Chicago 1981. |