Abstract

Interesting preserved book bindings can be seen in the prints from the incunabula period coming from the Franciscan monastery in Skalica. In the rich library of this convention more than 70 incunabula have been preserved, currently stored in the collections of Slovak National Library (SNK) in Martin and University Library in Bratislava (UKB). The covers of this monastery are made of mostly dark leather decorated with blind printing. According to the composition, this decoration is mostly represented by brocade decoration of the mirror and decoration with stamps of various kinds. Seven binding producers were identified, five of them from the Czech lands and two from the German regions. These are mostly simple bindings, only occasionally decorated with interesting stamps in the shape of a pomegranate or a unicorn and a dragon. Partial research of the bindings from the Skalica monastery has pointed out other possibilities for research in this area.

Keywords: incunabula, book bindings, Franciscan monastery, Skalica