Todd Pattison, “Good Enough to Read: The Myth of the Temporary Binding“

There are many references to the idea that American paper-covered bindings of the late 18th and early 19th centuries were considered temporary, that after purchase, customers would take them to their bookbinder and have them bound in the style that they wanted. While some of these bindings were replaced, was there really an expectation that all of the books would be rebound? Pattison’s talk discussed the role of paper bindings during this time period and challenged the notion of temporary binding in American book production.

About the speaker: Todd Pattison – Pattison, Conservator at New England Historic Genealogical Society, is a Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation, the incoming vice president of the Guild of Bookworkers and a member of the American Antiquarian Society. Since 2014, he has taught a one-week course, American Publishers’ Bookbindings (1800–1900), at Rare Book School in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Co-sponsored by the Bibliographical Society of America and the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA).