Knowledge of book history is essential to the investigation of a single binding; a scholar can bring what she knows of a period or place to her study of a specific book. However, by necessity, history generalizes, whereas hand-bound books are as unique (and indeed idiosyncratic) as their binders. Therefore, when examining a book it is often the historical discrepancies—the oddities—that can serve as forensic keys to their histories. As books and binders are individuals, so too are those who examine them. Two scholars examining the same evidence might reach opposing conclusions about its history.

 

In her afternoon Standards session on October 15, Martha Little began her presentation with the introduction of the above ideas.