Miniature Tacketed Binding Ornament–Alum-Tawed Goatskin

Description

Leather wrapper is alum-tawed goat skin.

This miniature tacketed binding measures 1 1/2″ X 2 1/4″ and comes with a loop for hanging.

Tacketed bindings were common roughly from the 16th-18th centuries, but older examples can be found. This miniature model features one thick signature of pages held in the limp, leather wrapper by threading a thin piece of twisted vellum through holes pierced in a leather stay and the signature. The vellum is wet when threaded through, and as it dries, it shrinks and hardens to form a strong attachment (rather like a very old fashioned staple). A long, thin piece of leather is sewn to back edge of the leather wrapper, and wrapped around the book to hold it closed. The front page of the textblock has a small label explaining the features of this miniature, historical binding.