Sorenson (2023 Congress)

David W. Sorenson
(Allen Berman Numismatist)

“Some Medieval Islamic Bookbindings:
A Ghost Story”

Abstract of Paper
presented at the 57th International Congress on Medieval Studies
(Kalamazoo, 2023)

Session on “Bound But Not Gagged: The Eloquence of Medieval Book Bindings”
Part 2 (of 2):  “Diverse Regional Techniques”

Organized by William H. Campbell
Co-organized by Mildred Budny

Co-Sponsored by the RGME and
the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies (SIMS)

2023 Congress Program

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Abstract

Given the generally flimsy nature of bookbindings in the Islamic world, early bindings of well-consulted texts are uncommon, and rebound, or simply disbound, examples are all too common. Occasionally remnants of the earlier bindings remain, whether as sewing-holes and threads, remnants of binding boards — often made up of pressed leaves of earlier MSS material — or as flyleaves remaining from the earlier bindings.

In this paper we will examine some examples of these “ghost bindings”, to see what we can learn from them.

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David has frequently participated in RGME Sessions at the ICMS, and at our events elsewhere.  We thank him for his contributions.

For example:

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