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Collection highlights /

A chained book

This volume from the 1490s, with its hand-wrought chain to secure it to a shelf, is one of a few existing examples of a chain binding.

The front of a book bound in brown leather. In each corner are diamond-shaped pieces of metal, each with a flower engraved on them. In the center of the cover is a metal flower. A short chain is attached to a loop of metal at the top of the book.
The front of a book bound in brown leather. In each corner are diamond-shaped pieces of metal, each with a flower engraved on them. In the center of the cover is a metal flower. A short chain is attached to a loop of metal at the top of the book.
The front of a book bound in brown leather. In each corner are diamond-shaped pieces of metal, each with a flower engraved on them. In the center of the cover is a metal flower. A short chain is attached to a loop of metal at the top of the book.
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The back of a book bound in brown leather A short chain is attached to a loop of metal at the top of the book. There are five small circles with small holes in the center on the back cover that look as though something used to be attached there but is now gone. A close-up image of the clasp attached to front cover and the leather strap holding the book closed. The clasp is engraved with a design, possibly letters. The pages of the closed book are red at the edges. A closer image of the top right part of the cover of the book. There is a floral design tooled on the leather that is more obvious here. The book's title in Latin is handwritten inside a metal frame centered at the top of the cover. A close-up image of the metal piece at the corner of the front cover of the book, viewed from the side. The pages of the closed book are red at the edges.

Thomas à Kempis. Opera. Nuremberg, Kaspar Hochfeder, [November 29,] 1494. [And] Saint Albertus Magnus. Compendium theologice veritatis. [Strassburg, Johann Prüss], 1489. Folger call number INC T320.

This volume, one of a few existing examples of a chain binding, still retains the remnant of the hand-wrought chain which fastened it securely to a shelf. At the time of the publication of this book in the 1490s, books were so valuable that they were often chained in place to foil thieves.

The book, which contains two works, is bound in blind-tooled pigskin over shaped wooden boards and embellished with protective brass clasps and bosses. An inscription appears on the front cover protected by a thin piece of transparent horn mounted in a brass frame.

See catalog record