The floral motif of this printed-pattern bookcloth nearly obscures the blind and gilt stamping on the front cover of our copy of A Description of the City of New York, published in 1847. 

Decorated bookcloth, including printed-pattern and ribbon-embossed cloth, peaked in popularity in the late 1830s into the 1840s. The trend became less popular beginning in the 1850s, when heavy gilt-stamped designs on ungrained bookcloth dominated the market. 

Browse the Library Company’s database of 19th-Century Cloth Bindings to see more!

1847, A description of the city of New York.  Holley, O. L.  New York : J. Disturnell. 10 cm x 15 cm x 1 cm

To celebrate Publisher’s Binding Thursday, we present this rare and beautiful example of early printed bookcloth. Aside from the extraordinary cloth, this book has a printed paper spine label, a common feature on books published in the mid to late 1830s. We love the abstract pattern and color of this cloth. Notice how the pattern is still visible even on the heavily-faded spine. 

Browse the Library Company’s database of 19th-Century Cloth Bindings to see more!

1838, Burton; or, The sieges. Ingraham, J. H. (Joseph Holt).  New York : Harper & Brothers.

For Publishers’ Binding Thursday, we present this ribbon-embossed cloth-bound book from 1836. 

Ribbon-embossed grain got its name from its original intention: as decoration for cloth ribbons. However, the rising popularity of grained and decorated book-cloth in the 1830s and 1840s led to the production of ribbon-embossed cloth for use as a book covering.

We love the simplicity of this binding, and the choice to let the cloth speak for itself with no additional decoration beyond the gold spine title.

Browse the Library Company’s database of 19th-Century Cloth Bindings to see more! 

1836, Phrenology known by its fruits. Reese, David Meredith. New York : Howe & Bates.

We adore this striped and dotted bookcloth on our copy of The Album of Love, published 1846. Imported from England, this bookcloth is featured on several books in our collection published in the mid 19th-Century.

Browse the Library Company’s database of 19th-Century Cloth Bindings to see more!

1846, The album of love.  Boston : Elias Howe.  1846 

The Library Company’s copy of A View of the American Slavery Question, an anti-slavery discourse by E.P. Barrows, is bound in a diamond-diaper grained bookcloth. The grain nearly obscures the words stamped on the cover, which reads: “J.S. Taylor Publisher”.

Browse the Library Company’s database of 19th-Century Cloth Bindings to see more!

1836, A view of the American slavery question. Barrows, E. P. New York : John S. Taylor.  10 cm x 15 cm x 1.5 cm

We love the true moiré pattern on this purple publishers’ cloth binding from 1833. A true moiré pattern is created by layering two ribbed fabrics, then using a calender roller to compress the layers together. The play between the two grains creates the watery effect. 

Browse the Library Company’s database of 19th-Century Cloth Bindings to see more! 

1833, The spirit of life. Philadelphia : Key & Biddle. 11 cm x 18 cm x 1 cm

For Publishers’ Binding Thursday, we present this ribbon-embossed cloth bound book from 1836. This style of decorative cloth typically featured a floral or botanical pattern, though more abstract designs have been documented.  Ribbon-embossed grain got its name from its original intention: as decoration for cloth ribbons. However, the rising popularity of grained and decorated book-cloth in the 1830s and 1840s led to the production of ribbon-embossed cloth for use as a book covering. 

We love the simplicity of this binding, and the choice to let the cloth speak for itself with no additional decoration beyond the paper spine label.  

Browse the Library Company’s database of 19th-Century Cloth Bindings to see more!

1836, Awful exposure of the atrocious plot…  New York : Printed for Jones & Co. of Montreal. 1836.