A designer binding is the most visible of all the book arts. To those artists whose medium is the binding of a book, the old adage that you can't judge a book by its cover is untrue. From colored leathers and gold foil, vellum and exotic woods, the artistry of a book is vividly on display, inviting closer scrutiny.

Rivière & Son. Una and the Redcross Knight. From the Faerie Queen by Edmund Spenser.

Doves Bindery. The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke by Shakespeare.

For centuries, fine bindings have been created and collected. The tradition of leading European binders who embellished their covers with royal and aristocratic armorial devices led to the legendary English binders of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Arts & Crafts Movement revived fine craftsmanship in bookbinding, and the exquisite full morocco bindings of the Doves Bindery remain among the most highly sought after. Sangorski & Sutcliffe, Rivière, Guild of Women Binders, Zaehnsdorf, and Kelly and Sons (the creators of the colorful "Kelliegram" bindings) all flourished during this period.

Bromer Booksellers has always been at the forefront of commissioning and selling designer bindings in both miniature and full-size formats. During the 1980s, our showroom was the site for exhibitions of The Guild of Bookworkers. For three decades, we commissioned scores of bindings, including over twenty works by Michael Wilcox, the renowned Canadian binder. We issued 35 Miniature Books in Designer Bindings and invited binders worldwide to submit anything from the traditional to the most experimental. We continue to offer and remain interested in acquiring quality bindings in fine condition, and we welcome inquiries regarding commissions.

Michael Wilcox. Fables of Aesop.