Why does a book look and feel the way it does? What can it tell us about the circumstances of its creation? This is a fascinating exploration of the development of book design through some of the most treasured volumes in the British Library collections. Carefully selected by the Library’s curatorial teams and beautifully illustrated with striking new studio photography alongside images from specially digitised collections, The Book by Design includes:

The Lindisfarne Gospels • The Diamond Sutra of 868 The Arnstein Bible • The Golden Haggadah The Queen Mary Psalter • The Mainz Psalter of 1457 Hypnerotomachia Poliphili • Akbar’s Khamsah of Nizami • The Shakespeare First Folio • Tale of Genji • A Qur’an from Aceh • The Grammar of Ornament • The Buddha’s Last Birth Tale • Audubon’s The Birds of America • The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer

Flowing between these major chapters are features covering unusual book formats, interesting bindings and materials, as well as particular design elements and trends from different periods and cultures. This structure brings together works of historical importance and modern innovation to create a volume that will delight bibliophiles and anyone passionate about book design and production.