Cover rub-through
In binding research, the cover rubbing describes a technique for the graphic illustration of the decorations on book covers and the underlying bookbinding tools . A distinction is made between full rub-through, which depicts an entire book cover , and stamp rub- through, which is used to represent individual stamps, rolls and plates. It can be viewed as a special form of brass rubbing .
function
The rub-through is an instrument for the comparative examination of bindings, because the stamp comparison is essential for the temporal and spatial location of a binding. However, since binding researchers usually only have access to a limited selection of original bindings, they have to make use of the possibilities of detailed reproduction in order to gather sufficient reference material in one place.
Photographs can only be used to a limited extent for this. Firstly, they usually do not represent the real size, secondly, perspective distortions can result from the angle of view and thirdly, depending on the incidence of light, depressions can appear as elevations. Accordingly, photography is more suitable for conveying an overall impression and a color concept than for the original reproduction. The technique of tinfoil imprints is also only suitable for constant use to a limited extent due to the time required and the unwieldiness in use. Binding rub-throughs, on the other hand, are an inexpensive, quick and easy alternative.
Manufacturing
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In order to create a rub-through, a sheet of paper that is as thin and smooth as possible is placed on the cover parts to be reproduced. By quickly painting or hatching with a soft pencil, the motifs are transferred to the paper true to scale (rubbed through). In the case of complete rub-throughs, less dense hatching is usually required in order to provide an overall idea of the division and arrangement of the individual stamp imprints, while stamp rub-throughs, which have to withstand the precise comparison, should depict all details clearly.
Collections and digitization
Collections of rub-throughs are now collected and managed in various German libraries, such as the Berlin State Library , the Württemberg State Library in Stuttgart, the Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel and the Bavarian State Library . The cover database (EBDB) offers digital access to these collections , in which numerous individual copies of stamps, rolls and plates as well as complete copies in scanned form are available, together with the associated descriptions.
Important collections of rubs
| Collection name | person | institution | In EBDB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyriss collection | Ernst Kyriss (1881–1974) | Württemberg State Library Stuttgart | Yes |
| Wolfenbüttel Collection | Helmar Härtel (* 1942) | Duke August Library Wolfenbüttel | Yes |
| Collection Munich | Ferdinand Geldner (1902–1989) | Bavarian State Library, Munich | Yes |
| Schunke Collection | Ilse Schunke (1892–1979) | Berlin State Library - Prussian Cultural Heritage | Yes |
| Schwenke Collection | Paul Schwenke (1853–1921) | Berlin State Library - Prussian Cultural Heritage | Yes |
| Darmstadt Collection | Hermann Knaus, Kurt Hans Staub | University and State Library Darmstadt | Yes |
| Floerke Collection | Anna Marie Floerke (1887–1961) | Rostock University Library | Yes |
| Rhine collection | Adolf Rhein (1885–1964) | University and Research Library Erfurt / Gotha | No |
literature
- Helwig, Hellmuth: Introduction to binding knowledge . Anton Hiersemann, Stuttgart 1970, pp. 178-183, ISBN 3-7772-7008-3 .
- Rhein, Adolf: The rub-off process for book covers . In: Yearbook of the art of binding. Volume 1, 1927, pp. 133-137.