Where can I find some really fancy, Medieval-lookin’ books? Or at least pictures of the covers of same? Something you’d see in a Sword & Sorcery wizard’s library is what I’m hoping to find.
I don’t know about buying them, but I just did a google image search for: medieval book covers.
I got some really great looking results.
This one is my favorite
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Do Google Image searches on:
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The Kelmscott Chaucer
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Medieval Books of Days
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the JP Morgan library - or Oxford’s Library (currently phasing on the same - is it the Balliol or something like that?)
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Custom Bookbinding…
The third edition D&D books had covers printed up to look like this… I was hoping that they would come out with special editions which really were bound in (faux) dragonhide with brass clasps and so on.
Check out the Vienna Coronation Gospels. The insides are just as pretty – gold ink on purple vellum.
My wife actually held it, years ago.
http://www.abaxion.com/books11.htm http://www.abaxion.com/books01.htm (note that this is the first page of three). Generally, if you search for “book of shadows” you’ll find various blank books for sale, and some of them are quite elaborate.
Altho’ mass produced books are wonderful–I couldn’t have the 100’s I do otherwise–we clearly don’t spend enough time making the covers attractive.
The JP Morgan library was the ticket. I found:
- Paul Bonet cover Rockin!
- Embroidered binding Incredible!
- Portfolio binding Very cool!
- Book box Excellent!
- Exactly the one I’m looking for! Almost.
I know where I’m going the next time I’m in NYC!
Now if I can just figure out a way to have my favorite books covered like that at a price less than that of a small house…
No metal corners, but you can buy some really fancy medieval-style leather books here.
The blank pages are ideal for inscribing spells 
It is pretty amazing in person if you are a bibliophile - but bring a drool cup.