Publishers’ bindings, also known as trade bindings, are the decorative casings created for mass market books (those made for sale to the general public) from the early 19th century onward. These casings were generally cardboard, covered in cloth or leather, and stamped in gilt and/or one or more colors. Less often, bindings were made from unusual materials such as wood, papier-mâché, celluloid or gutta-percha. The decorations were originally created by anonymous engravers; later, this work was done by professional book designers, as well as some of the leading artists of the day. Publishers’ bindings reflect the artistic styles of their times, from the Aesthetic Movement through Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau to Art Deco. Though the emphasis in trade book design since World War I has been on the dust jacket, Some publishers are producing handsome bindings even today.

Prior to about 1910, most books were issued without dust jackets. Even then, the dust jacket was just that— a modest covering intended to protect books from wear prior to sale. In the years leading up to World War I, highly decorative jackets came into vogue, primarily as a cost-saving measure. Eventually, they eclipsed decorative bindings altogether. Since most of our books date from the turn of the 20th century or earlier, most lack jackets. We do, however, preserve original dust-jackets (or boxes) when they occur; we also carry a selection of interesting and unusual Art Deco and mid-20th century jacket designs.

Only a small percentage of our books are listed on the website at any given time. If there is something you seek but do not find here, please do not hesitate to ask if is available. Because of the brief lead-time necessary to update our database, please note that all books are subject to prior sale. However, we may have another copy available of any book that has been recently sold.

Handsome Books gladly accepts returns of books for any reason. Please return books in the original packing materials (or equivalent) and in the same condition as purchased, within 10 days of purchase, for a full refund.

Some of our books are available for commercial photography, cinematography, or for retail displays. Please inquire about our rates. Rental fees may be waived for crediting Handsome Books.

We use the following standard abbreviations to describe the dimensions of our books. There is variation within these ranges, so modifying terms such as “small octavo” are useful. The numbers refer to how many times a standard printer’s sheet was folded to create the signatures of the text block; thus, the higher the number, the smaller the book.

Elephant Folio - Up to 23" tall.
Folio - Up to 15" tall.
4to - (Quarto) Up to 12" tall.
8vo - (Octavo) Up to 9 3/4" tall.
12mo (Duodecimo) - Up to 7 3/4" tall.
16mo (Sextodecimo) - Up to 6 3/4" tall.
24mo - Up to 5 3/4" tall.
32mo - Up to 5" tall.
48mo - Up to 4" tall.
64mo - Up to 3" tall.

We use the following terms in the our book descriptions:

As New: This term is only used to describe a book that remains in the same crisp condition as it was when published. It is quite uncommon— but not impossible— to encounter antiquarian books in this condition.

Fine (F or FN): To be graded as Fine, a book should have no defects, such as missing or torn pages, and no rubbing or staining to the boards. The jacket, if present, should have no chipping or tears.

Very Good (VG): A Very Good book is one that has major defects (such as such as missing or torn pages) but may show signs of wear, such as a modest amount of rubbing or bumping. All such defects are be noted in the description.

Good (G): This term describes a book in average, used condition, with all leaves, plates, maps, et c. still present.

Fair: A book that shows serious wear to the binding, but retains the complete text, as well as any maps or plates. A book in Fair condition may have missing or damaged preliminaries (end papers, half-title, et c.).

Poor: A book is described as Poor if it is missing any element of the text block, including maps or plates. An otherwise intact book with particularly bad slanting, shaking, rubbing, or stains can also be categorized this way.

Handsome Books is strongly opposed to the practice of “book- breaking”, the disbindinding of books for their illustrations or plates. If we encounter a valuable book in a poor state of preservation, we generally rebind it in an appropriate fashion, preserving as much of the original binding as possible. We may occasionally offer plates that have come to us from books that have been disbound in the past. Please do not purchase any books from Handsome Books for the purpose of disbinding them.

Handsome Books does not generally stock books from the deluxe reprint publishers, such as Easton Press, Franklin Library, Heritage Press, the Limited Editions Club, the Folio Society, et c. However, we are glad to obtain sets or individual books from any of these publishers for clients who seek them.

The name of our company, Handsome Books, is derived from a common booksellers’ term. In the parlance of the trade, a “handsome book” is a volume that looks especially attractive on the shelf.