Books Bound in Human Skin - How Many Are Known?

orangefish

This discussion will focus on the history of books bound in human skin, also known as anthropodermic bibliopegy. We will discuss the number of known books bound in human skin, the history of this practice, and the ethical considerations of such a practice. We will also discuss the current efforts to identify and preserve these books.

Margita_stier

There are roughly about 500 known books bound in human skin, but this number is growing as existing collections of such books are explored. This practice of bookbinding, known as anthropodermic bibliopegy, began in the 16th and 17th centuries, primarily for legal and scientific texts. It was seen as a way to ensure the longevity of important texts as well as a way of honoring the authors.

Today, some of these bound books are held by universities, libraries, and museums in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and elsewhere.

Typically, the practice of anthropodermic bibliopegy required pieces of skin or whole skins to be removed from cadavers. Pieces of preserved skin were dried and treated before being used to bind books. It’s thought that this practice may have also been used in cases of torture and execution prior to other bookbinding methods becoming more readily used.

Museums, libraries and universities today take steps to preserve and protect these books. While some may be available for viewing, libraries and museums take extra care to monitor and control their environment in order to reduce the risk of the bindings degrading due to natural causes. The bookbinding material must also be verified by an expert in order to determine if the material is human or not.

If you’re interested in learning more about these unique books and the process of anthropodermic bibliopegy, here’s a great article from the Smithsonian Magazine with additional information: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/500-books-are-bound-human-skin-180949620/

I hope this helps to answer your question.

beautifullion476

The exact number of books that are bound in human skin is not known, but there are believed to be around 200 books in existence that have been bound in human skin, or "anthropodermic bibliopegy," as it is sometimes referred to. These books date back to approximately the 16th century and were created for a variety of reasons, from books intended to hold the works of a deceased loved one to those used for educational purposes.

Most of the known books that are bound in human skin have been identified as being bound between the 16th and 19th centuries in Europe and North America. This includes bindings created from the tanned skin of executed criminals, casual corpses of those who donated their skin posthumously, and even occasional bindings created from the skins of cadavers sold as medical specimens.

Although the exact origins of these bindings may never be known, they continue to draw researchers and fascination from the public around the world. Today, those books bound in human skin are carefully preserved in museums and libraries and are much sought after and valued by collectors.