Leather and Chains
The study of the manuscript book as a physical object is known as codicology – from codex, a Latin word for "book," especially one whose pages can be turned, as distinguished from a scroll. Codicology is concerned with writing surfaces (parchment and paper) as well as the covers, stitching, etc. that make up a binding. Since bindings bore the brunt of wear and tear, the leaves that they protected have tended to outlast them; it is not uncommon for manuscripts to have been rebound several times. But, as the following examples show, a book’s original covers can preserve important clues to a text’s origin, owners, or how and where it was read over time.
Flap Binding
This codex is a good example of a flap binding. It has a soft cover, lacking boards under the leather. Its lightweight design made it ideal for portability — a desirable characteristic for a commonplace book. The worn condition of the cover suggests that the owner, Johannes Wintzler, often carried the book around with him.
Purchased for the A. D. White Library in 1925.
Chained Binding
This book provides a rare example of an original 15th century binding. It is made up of wooden boards covered with tooled pigskin, with a chain attached to the back cover. The chain indicates that the book was once owned by an institutional library, which stored this book attached to a shelf. Codex manuscripts were expensive and scarce, and libraries took measures to protect them from theft or loss.
Obtained in 1891 by A. D. White.
Metal
This 15th century binding shows the care and craftsmanship that went into the production of manuscript books. This manual would have had to withstand frequent handling for liturgical services. The metal bosses on its elaborately tooled leather cover were designed to absorb most of the wear.