I’ve heard about these in Lovecraft, ghost stories and the like, but never a real-world example: http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/05/us/harvard-book-human-skin/index.html?hpt=hp_t2. At least the skin appears to have been, er, collected post mortem.
The Boston Athenaeum has one too - bound in the skin of its author. It’s even noted on the catalog listing:
“Bound by Peter Low in Allen’s skin, treated to look like gray deer skin; bears the cover title “Hic liber Waltonis cute compactus est,” stamped in gold upon a black leather rectangle.”
I’ve seen the collection of them at the Mutter Museum, most fascinating (in an utterly creepy way.)
Can’t find any reference to them using their search engine. Little help?
Tangentially related: Cecil’s column on lampshades
The British Library has at least one that they use in exhibits now and then.
The Jewish Museum in London has one in their current holocaust exhibition. It’s pretty grim even though it’s unlit in a cabinet.
I’ve got the kindle edition.
I’ve always assumed most old collections have several and just don’t realize it. I mean, it’s not like they’ve got tattoos or anything.
They’re probably all books of evil. Just to be safe, I’ll just say the magic words to end the curse.
Klaatu Barada N… Necktie… Neckturn… Nickel… It’s an “N” word, it’s definitely an “N” word! Klaatu… Barada… N… [cough] Okay then… that’s it!