Synopsis
First edition. This book is an exploration of what the physical appearance of 19th and 20th century books can teach us, not only about the history of publishing but also about economic and social history and the career of authorship. It examines changes in binding styles from boards through cloth to paperbacks, noting trends in design, and studying the inception and subsequent virtual extinction of pictorial cloth bindings. It follows the evolution of the dust-jacket from simple protective wrapping to elaborate artifact. Changes in publishing practice come under review, as do the effects of two world wars on book production. Coomparisons are drawn between English and American treatment of specific titles.
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