Coptic bindings
Bindings produced by the Copts, or Egyptian
Christians. The Coptic style of sewing is not
unlike that of present-day machine edition sewing,
in that it is also in the form of chain stitch
linkings appearing as so many braids across the
spine of the book. In addition, the covers of
Coptic bindings were frequently sewn or laced to
the text block by a number of hinging loops. Some
Coptic bindings had wooden boards (from about the
4th century to the Middle Ages), but the majority
had boards built up by layers of waste papyrus.
They also had lined spines with flanges, as well
as headbands. They were covered in leather as
early as the 4th century and were tooled in blind,
or by blind blocking. although decoration with
inked and painted ornaments, as well as cut-out
openwork backed with pieces of painted or gilded
parchment were also used. Decoration consisting of
openwork with parchment backing was executed
before the leather (which was already cut to size)
was attached. as was blind tooling or stamping
when the fragile papyrus boards were employed. The
tooling was in all likelihood done with unheated
tools on moistened leather. Coptic bindings make
up the oldest surviving "family" of leather
bookbindings, and represent the ultimate source of
all decorated leather bindings. (104 , 158 , 236 , 347 )
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