European bookbinders in the late 15th century developed ornate book edges with textured scrolls and indentations, known as gauffered edges. The small literate class desired elegant books with gold lettering, ribbon closures, and gold edges covered in real gold leaf. Beveled edges were most abundant from 1590 to 1650, and a gauffered edge revival occurred in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Publishers sought to elevate books to works of art enjoyed by generations to come.
The brushed edges of a bound book were decorated with textured scrolls and indentations, usually in combination with gilding. European bookbinders developed this highly ornate means of ornament during the late 15th century which continued into the 15th. They used heat, tools and rollers, to create jagged patterns or wavy designs above the gilding.
Also known as chiseled or embossed, gauffered edges come from the French word for “honeycomb.” With the invention of printing presses, the small literate class wanted to own a book that was as elegant and elaborate as possible. Therefore, they featured gold lettering, ribbon closures, embroidered fabric covers, and gold edges covered with a thin layer of real gold leaf. To further embellish the thick pages, the edges were delicately carved or impressed with tools called pointillé.
The delicate and repeating patterns might remind you of colored wallpaper. The design isn’t achieved through ink, though, but a variation on embossing. Gold plating is not only available in the quintessential bright gold color, but in other metallic shades. One technique involved layering gold leaf in different colors and imprinting or scraping the design at different depths to simulate the inks. Another technique used single point pointillé to create shapes from a series of points. Pastiches of flowers, vases and ribbons decorated the borders.
Historically, beveled edges were most abundant from 1590 to 1650. The recent advent of printing encouraged the craftsmanship of books which the small literate class valued as works of art. For example, there was an exquisite edition of a Latin New Testament with leather binding, woodcut illustrations, and gilt and brushed edges.
A gauffer revival of sorts occurred much later, in the late 18th and 19th centuries. While there was a large educated European and American population, lavish special editions of Bibles, Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, or poems countered the popularity of cheap, speedy novels. Publishers sought to elevate the book to a work of art that would be enjoyed by generations to come. Nostalgia created tomes that reminded readers of a time when things were handcrafted with great care.
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