ALEKSANDER SEMKOWICZ: BOOKBINDING WITH A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF BINDING ORNAMENTATION AND 89 ENGRAVINGS IN THE TEXT [1948].

Description

“Bookbinding” by Aleksander Semkowicz is a fundamental publication devoted to the art of bookbinding – a unique work both for its substantive value and its historical context. Published in 1948 in Cracow by the publishing house “Wiedza, Zawód, Kultura” and T. Zapióra, the book is the first such comprehensive and modern study of the bookbinding craft in Polish after the war.

The author, a prominent bookbinder and educator, presents in an accessible way not only the techniques and materials used in bookbinding, but also the rich history of binding ornamentation, dating from the Middle Ages to modern times. The work is enriched with 89 engravings in the text, which are excellent illustrations of the issues discussed, making it not only a textbook for students of bookbinding art, but also a valuable source of knowledge for bibliophiles and book historians.

The presented copy has a special collector’s value – it contains a dedication by the author himself, Aleksander Semkowicz. It is not only a textbook, but also an authentic document of the era, showing attempts to rebuild Polish handicrafts after the devastation of World War II.