S.A. Klepikov.

FROM THE HISTORY OF RUSSIAN BOOK BINDING

Summary

S.A. Klepikov's article gives a history of Russian book binding, both secular and ecclesiastical, from the 12th to the early 20th century.

The work gives special attention to early bookbinding, a period, which is hardly dealt with at all in special literature. The fine inherent mastery of the binder in the era prior to Peter I, and the gradual influence under the pressure of the ruling classes (who were the bookbinder’s chief clients) of the West on the art of book binding during and after the time of Peter I — all this is convincingly illustrated by the author.

By means of a detailed analysis of each binding, the author determines by specific signs the definite period (on a broad chronological scale) to which a given binding may be classified.