# Leather book bindings **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 11, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leather-book-bindings/274284 "2004-11-11T22:22:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Avumede](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/avumede/32/7235_2.png) [@Avumede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avumede)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leather-book-bindings/274284/1 "2004-11-11T22:22:55Z")
I’ve been wondering lately whether it is possible to get books with high-quality leather (real or imitation) bindings. By that, I mean something like [this Lord of the Rings](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0395193958/qid=1100211904/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/104-2250906-2443109) book. I wish more books did this, since it looks so nice. No cheezy or irrelevant cover illustration, no prominant display that it is part of a series (like Penguin Classics), just the book in a very straightfoward manner. I’ve been thinking of buying a few classics such as The Trial, and The Three Musketeers (evidently, I’m starting with the T’s). I’ve looked at the Three Musketeers, but all the editions look pretty cheap. Obviously I could probably get a nice rare book at a high price, but I have no need for rarity. So, am I missing something, or is this kind of binding just not done anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leather-book-bindings/274284/2 "2004-11-11T22:53:33Z")
[Signature Classics leather edition of The Three Musketeers](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1582790477/103-1691029-6410236?v=glance&st=*). Then do a search on Amazon for Signature Classics for lots more leather-bound classics. The [Easton Press](http://eastonpresscatalog.com/intro.asp) also did a leather-bound Musketeers. They do nothing but leather-bound classics. > [@](#): > > Easton Press sells the world’s greatest books, bound in genuine leather and accented with 22kt gold. Each book is a Collector Edition that is as magnificent to see as it is to read. Our extraordinary books are an elegant addition to any home or office, and make the perfect gift. Of course, they’re a lot pricier than Signature Classics. For less expensive editions, try the Franklin Press: [Word About Franklin Library Editions](http://abbookman.com/ABBookman_F020904a.html): > [@](#): > > As near as I can tell, Franklin started offering limited editions in the late '60s and early '70s. They started with leather-like cloth (such as in the Franklin Mystery Series), graduated to a bonded leather (made of leather strips and scraps) when they licensed with Encyclopedia Britannica to produce the Great Books Series, and finally went to full leather with their First Edition and Limited Edition (reprints of great books of the past, signed and unsigned) series. > This evolution gave rise to the myth (which I’ve seen in many ads) that Franklins are not real leather and are somehow inferior to other publishers (especially Easton Press). A lot of Franklins are, in fact, not real leather; however most of their Limited Editions, and all of their First Editions and Signed First Editions, are full leather and, in my opinion at least, fully comparable to Easton Press. This comparison has led to a sometimes great price disparity between Franklins and Easton Press editions. I consider the Franklins to be the better investment because of this difference in price, which is why my collection is about 25 to 1 Franklins over Easton. Or go to [abebooks.com](http://abebooks.com) and enter “leather” into keyword. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leather-book-bindings/274284/3 "2004-11-11T23:58:34Z")
Easton Press doesn’t just do canonical classics; other very popular books, too. And their product is not books, but furniture–not really meant to be read, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Avumede](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/avumede/32/7235_2.png) [@Avumede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avumede)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leather-book-bindings/274284/4 "2004-11-12T01:59:32Z")
Great info, guys. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leather-book-bindings/274284/5 "2004-11-12T03:53:06Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > And their product is not books, but furniture–not really meant to be read, I think. I disagree; I’ve got a number of Easton Press books and reading them is an absolute joy. There’s just something about classic literature that smells so good. Of course, a number of people do get them just to show off their fancy leather books. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leather-book-bindings/274284/6 "2004-11-12T04:09:18Z")
Can you actually order individual books from Easton? Their website makes it look like you have to buy whatever series you’re interested in and just take each book as it comes. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2004, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leather-book-bindings/274284/7 "2004-11-12T04:29:49Z")
Go into their online catalog. The pages have lots of multi-volume sets, but if you click on an individual book an individual price comes up. And that’s in addition to the regular titles on the first page listed separately.