INSIDES AND OUTSIDES

Because of the prominence of book covers, the history of bookbindings has long been synonymous with the history of bookbinding decoration. These “outsides” of books carry plentiful information, but so do their often-ignored “insides,” since bookbinding structures and materials changed with time and geography. Beautiful decorations catch the eyes of many, but binding structures can also be read as full of historical information. New technologies make old books available in an unprecedented manner, but in configurations that have mostly ignored their original forms: complete book digitization requires more than photographs and transcriptions. The digital now offers new possibilities: books can be presented in the manner of the cubist painter, offering their outsides and insides concurrently. Through digital means, books as objects can begin to be read more wholly, leading to a better understanding of the big picture of the history of the book.