The Acquisitions Table: The Bridal Keepsake

AAS member (and publisher’s cloth binding expert) Steve Beare regularly alerts us to interesting bindings he spots on eBay. Thanks to his deeply appreciated referrals, over the past two years we have added many unusual bindings to the AAS collection. Perhaps the most remarkable of Steve’s finds is this gift book binding of fine-ribbed white satin finish cloth, printed in no fewer than four colors, with a deeply blind-embossed ornate frame on each cover, gilt-stamped floral centerpiece on front cover, richly gilt-stamped spine, gilt edges, and gold-printed glazed paper endleaves. Although modestly dulled by time, the overall effect is spectacular, and unlike any other binding we know of at AAS