As with several other explanation pages in this site I am not expert enough to define a Fine Binding. If there is such a ~ reliable ~ definition somewhere then there is no point in my repeating it, and I will gladly provide a link to it. My understanding of fine binding may well be markedly different from the public understanding. I am not out to educate them. So this page is just an excuse to waffle a bit, in my bloggy way, but also to show some examples of what must surely classify as Fine Bindings by any standards.
I hate being pedantic, but must point out that there is surely a difference between a finely bound book and a finely decorated book. Since I have no great personal interest in fine bindings ~ I am a bookcrafter ~ not a bookbinder ~ interested primarily in function ~ I can only show samples culled from the WWW rather than from my own gallery. I acknowledge the source where it is known. Please ask me to add your credentials, or delete, anything that is rightfully yours to control ~ [mail me].
For further interest readers may care to browse the many samples on the WWW under fine bindings, and we also have illustrations of ~
~ one of the oldest surviving bound books [117143]
~ a double tragedy of fine bindings twice lost forever[115032]