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Paper is one of the main markers of a book's age. Until the mid-19th century, so-called 'rag' paper, made from linen or cotton, was used for printing. It is durable, elastic to the touch, and often has a characteristic mesh-like structure visible when held up to the light.
Paper is one of the main markers of a book's age. Until the mid-19th century, so-called 'rag' paper, made from linen or cotton, was used for printing. It is durable, elastic to the touch, and often has a characteristic mesh-like structure visible when held up to the light.
With the advent of wood pulp, paper became more brittle and over time turns yellow and deteriorates due to acidity. An important element of authentication is watermarks, or filigrees—unique marks of the paper manufacturer that help date the publication with high accuracy.
| Binding Type | Characteristics |
| Leather | Often has tooling (blind or gilt), metal clasps, darkens and cracks over time. |
| Parchment | Stiff, light-colored, can warp from moisture over time. |
| Cloth (bookcloth) | Appears in the 19th century, more prone to soiling and wear on the corners. |
| Half/Quarter-bound | Spine and corners are covered in leather or cloth, while the boards are covered with paper. |
The binding not only protects the book block but also carries information about the time of its creation and its history of use. An original, 'native' binding significantly increases the value of an edition. Experts analyze the materials it is made from and the technology of its creation.
Early bindings were often made from wooden boards covered with leather (pigskin, calfskin) or parchment. Later, cardboard and fabrics such as bookcloth or morocco leather were used. It is important to pay attention to signs of wear—they should be natural and consistent with the supposed age of the book.
Later restorations or a complete replacement of the binding (a modern replacement) can be identified by fresh materials, the use of modern glue, or a binding style inconsistent with the book's publication era.
The printing method and font type are key elements for dating a book. Early editions (incunabula) are characterized by manual typesetting, which is why letters may have slight variations in placement and impression. The impression from the metal type was often pressed into the paper, which can be felt by touch.
Fonts also evolved over time. The Gothic script, characteristic of early printed books, was replaced by Antiqua during the Renaissance. Later, specific fonts appeared, such as the Civil Script of the Petrine era in Russia. The presence of anachronisms in the font is a sure sign of a forgery.
Over time, technologies changed. Woodcuts (xylography) gave way to more detailed copper engravings (etching, line engraving), and later to lithography. The nature of the illustrations and their execution method must correspond to the stated printing time of the book.
Modern technologies allow for the creation of high-quality forgeries, but careful analysis helps to identify them. Facsimile copies, unlike originals, are often printed using modern methods that do not leave a relief impression on the paper.
Restored or inserted pages are another common problem. Forgers often add missing pages from another, less valuable copy, or print them anew. Such pages can be identified by several signs.