Nineteenth-Century Dust-Jackets

the long version

Nineteenth-century dust-jackets' is a comprehensive general history of publishers' dust jackets during the first century of their use. From the earliest known jacket issued in 1819, the author surveys the entire field of British, American and European jackets and documents a part of publishing history that was nearly lost to the nineteenth-century custom of discarding dust-jackets so that the more decorative bindings could be seen. The book examines when and why publishers began to issue dust-jackets, the subsequent growth of their use, and the role they played in marketing. Included are the rare all-enclosing jackets that were issued on some annuals and trade books, ornate Victorian jackets, binders' and stationers' jackets, and many others. A chapter on Lewis Carroll's jackets includes letters he wrote to his publisher on the subject, which are published here for the first time.