Tuesday 18 June 2013

The Prettiest Publications of the Past

Tales from Shakespeare
by Charles & Mary Lamb

Being exposed to images of books day in and day out here at AbeBooks means we come to appreciate books not only for their content - the joy of reading and education that books bring us - but also for their value and beauty as objects. Positive response to features about attributes such as beautiful bindings and gilt decoration encourage us to keep admiring and sharing the most aesthetically pleasing books we come across. How has book design changed over the years, decades and centuries? What books are most pleasing to the eye, and why? Our ideas of beauty are highly subjective but one thing is certain - they are constantly changing.

Whether the motifs are Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Avant-Garde or none of the above, book designers have been taking tremendous care with the look and feel of their treasures for a very long time. Different leathers, decorated cloth, gilt, embossing and debossing and so much more - these are the books you place on your bookshelf facing outwards, to admire day after day.

This selection of beautiful books span the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most are surprisingly affordable, and all are an absolute pleasure to behold, perfect for beautifully adorning any bookshelf.

Please note: Quantity on rare books is extremely limited; copies on display, or copies with exact cover pictured, may sell quickly.