A contemporary tradition in British binding leads back to the text itself, creating a dialogue with the text, and extending the range of the images that accompany it. The ultimate goal of this type of binding is a fusion of all facets of the book into a unified aesthetic whole.

The British bookbindings featured in this online exhibition were commissioned in 1972 from twenty-three leading artists and craftspeople in Great Britain to show the impressive range of artistry in British bookbinding. This exhibition serves as a basis for the study of the best in contemporary fine binding in Britain.

View the original version of The Fine Art of British Bookbinding on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.