J. Willard Marriott Library Blog |

A pair of hands holds a book with marbled edges, revealing an intricate painting of 18th-century street life, depicting men, horses, and carriages.

Oct 10, 2025 The Business of Books: Fore-edge Painting

Posted at 09:00h in Now on Display!, Rare Books, Special Collections by lyuba 0 Comments

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Some books have secrets… Have you ever noticed the decorated edges of your old books? Sometimes gilded, marbled, or speckled in red, these embellishments give the book a more precious appearance, but also add an additional protective layer for the text block. If you look more...