Arts Society Spring Lecture – Should You Judge A Book By Its Cover? - Reminder
Tuesday 25 January 2022 - 7.30pm
For our first Arts Society Lecture of 2022 Dr Nick Baker, former Archivist of Princethorpe College will give a presentation on ‘Should You Judge A Book By Its Cover? A fascinating look at book bindings through the centuries.
The lecture will cover:
Does it matter what a book looks like? We often take book bindings for granted, but they can tell us so much about the past. Generally speaking, books have only been sold ready-bound since the nineteenth century. Before then, loose sheets of printed or written text were bound to serve the taste, needs and the means of the patron or purchaser. Various materials, including leather, were employed to protect precious volumes, and they were frequently decorated with metalwork, paint and ink. Hot metal tools were sometimes used to stamp the covers with elaborate designs.
What is a girdle book? What is russia leather? What is tree calf? We will consider these, and other weird and wonderful terms, in the course of the evening. Book bindings can tell us so much about past owners, printers and publishers, and provide insights into changing fashions and tastes. Above all, many book bindings are simply works of arts to be treasured and enjoyed.
The talk will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 25 January 2022 in the Sixth Form Lecture Theatre followed by wine and light refreshments in the Atrium.
Tickets cost just £5 each, Princethorpe, Crackley Hall and Crescent School pupils are free of charge. To book your ticket please go to Princethorpe Connect. Tickets will also be available on the door.
Our Spring Arts Society Lecture is the third in the series on Italian poet, writer and philosopher, Dante, by former Deputy Head, Pastoral and Art Historian, Margaret-Louise O’Keeffe on Tuesday 29 March 2022 – please save the date.