All Sorts Of Bindings

For the most part the most important part of a book is it's content.  The story, information or idea that gets passed through the written, typed, printed, scanned, digitally downloaded word is what makes book so very very very important (I'm really into grouping words, phrases, sentences today).  The other great things about books is there variety, the plethora of genre's the zillions of stories within each category  it's mind boggling. Another place this diversity can be seen is in how a book is bound.  Here are a few examples of books that are bound using a variety of materials and techniques.

Bamboo Binding

This version of The Art of War is bound in bamboo

Apple Binding

Looks good enough to eat

Silver Binding

This book is bound in silver worked by a silversmith

Leather/Stick Binding

Mixing mediums creates a beautiful and unusual cover

Snakeskin Binding

This is a one of a kind snakeskin binding...could be an interesting conversation starter.

All of these cool and unusual bindings just goes to show you sometimes you can judge a book by it's cover, in fact sometimes all a book needs is a cool binding to make it worth sitting on your bookshelf.

What is the most unusual binding you have ever seen?  Do you like your book bindings to be pretty or practical   Would it totally creep you out to have an animal covered book staring at you from your bookshelf?