Some of nation's best libraries have books bound in human skin

PiKA2001 · #1 02-01-2006, 11:14 PM

This is interesting. I had always heard of this but have never seen (that I know of) it.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/rho...in_human_skin/

RACooper · #2 02-02-2006, 01:02 AM

There are quite a few here at UofT - but they are kept under lock and key, out of sight and reach of almost all undergrads - either in the Rare Books Library or the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies Library...

They are kinda weird to feel, like really soft and subtle leather.

Alpha Sig Scott · #3 02-02-2006, 03:14 PM

Why would a book, any book, be bound in human skin?

On a side note, didnt nazi concentration camps (extermination camps) make various items out of their prisoners skin? Ghastly

RACooper · #4 02-02-2006, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alpha Sig Scott
Why would a book, any book, be bound in human skin?

Alot of reasons actually - most of the books bound in this way relate to medicine, the natural sciences, or law; and date from the early 1800s to 1500s. The use of human skin was seen both as a tie-in to the subject matter, and as an expression of how valueable the book was.

For the most part, based on some of the records of binding, many of the books were bound in skin taken from medical cadavers or executed criminals. However this was not always the case, as some scholars considered it a high honour to be one with their books. One of the books I have looked at is actually bound in the skin or it's author - it was his wish to posthumously have his skin used. Another was a small devotional Bible bound in the skin of a man and wife, who 'desired that their flesh and spirit be as united in death as their devotion of God as it was in life.'

Peoples attitudes have changed greatly regarding the body and death ~ just look into some of the weird stuff the Victorians got up to... or the new thing in England were you can have a bone ring grown out of your own DNA...

lifesaver · #5 02-03-2006, 03:01 AM

All I can think of is,

"It rubs the lotion on its skin"

Creepy, indeed.

PiKA2001 · #6 02-03-2006, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lifesaver
All I can think of is,

"It rubs the lotion on its skin"

Creepy, indeed.

Ha Ha ! I was just listening to that song a minute ago.

enigma_AKA · #7 02-03-2006, 06:03 PM

"or else it gets the hose again."

enigma_AKA

Quote:

Originally posted by lifesaver
All I can think of is,

"It rubs the lotion on its skin"

Creepy, indeed.

Tom Earp · #8 02-03-2006, 07:23 PM

Not a Tree Huger, but prefer Paper Backs Myself!

honeychile · #9 02-03-2006, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alpha Sig Scott
Why would a book, any book, be bound in human skin?

On a side note, didnt nazi concentration camps (extermination camps) make various items out of their prisoners skin? Ghastly

Unfortunately, yes. At certain camps, people about to become prisoners with tattoos would would separated from the general population, and the tattooed skin would show up on books, briefcases, lampshades, etc. Brilliant example of man's inhumanity to man.