The search for Peruvian bindings

We are at the beginning of a wonderful adventure to understand the typology of 17th and 18th century Peruvian book making. As we observe and record the examples, certainly those of Peruvian imprints, we have various suggestive concepts at hand.

We begin with the concept that there is an export exemplar and an export craft. This exemplar was not just displaced European books, but European books fabricated and refabricated for export to the colonies. We also begin with the expatraition of the book production trades and methods.

This premise of the export exemplar needs its own profile detailing and tabulating all aspects of paper, printing, binding materials and binding contruction. This basic profile, then, will contrast or conform in some features with examples and finally with another exemplar of the book made in the colonies.

Then we guess that there are typical characteristics of paper, printing, binding materials and binding construction that will distinguish the colonial work. We also imagine that there are specific and strange American settings for the book making trades.

Finally we visualize that legacy Peruvian book making, once better understood, can validate book hand crafts and book conservation practice in the future.