Chemise binding made of chamois leather photo 5

Gothic bookbinding, anonymous bookbinder, Teutonic Prussia, 1st half of the 15th century. Bound: manuscript – Teutonic biblical epic; Rudolf von Ems, Barlaam und Josaphat, 1st half of the 15th century. University Library in Toruń, sign. Rps 40/IV.
The original most likely featured a chemise binding made of chamois leather, i.e. skin from a wild animal. At an unspecified stage of use, however, the leather flaps protruding beyond the book block were turned in and rather carelessly glued to the inner sides of the covers, or more precisely – to the original pastedowns. The almost complete brass fittings are valuable examples of the evolution of these binding
elements in the form of prominent repoussé bosses on quadrangular plates with decoratively cut edges. Despite the buckling of the leaves, a gilded plant scroll outlined in black, stretching along the entire length of all three text block edges, is still clearly visible.

View of the upper edge of the binding (upper cover)