Frederick Hendrick van Hove, The history of ye Old & New Testament in Cutts (London, printed by Wm R for Iohn Williams in Crosse-keyes Court in Litle Brittaine, 1671), John Emmerson Collection, State Library Victoria

This illustrated history book is encased in its original gilt-tooled black morocco binding, with distinctive clamshell clasps. The edges of the text block have been gilded. When books were manuscripts written on animal skins (vellum and parchment), which would react to humidity by expanding and contracting, clasps were necessary to contain and protect the springy pages. Although paper books do not need clasps in the same way, they survived as a decorative feature.

Feuillets d'art [Art Leaves], no 1 (Paris, Condé Nast, October–November 1921), Rare Books Collection, State Library Victoria

Feuillets d'art aimed to find 'in the taste of the moment all that is traditional and durable'. Each issue contained articles on contemporary literature, theatre, music and fashion. A pochoir print by a leading artist – including Georges Lepape, George Barbier and Édouard Halouze – was inserted 'for beauty alone'. Marcel Proust, Paul Claudel, Jean Giraudoux, Paul Valéry, Jean Cocteau and Anatole France were some of the magazine's prestigious literary contributors.

Nesumi Takenosuke, Somemoyo hinagata: nakadachi kodachi [Book of dyeing patterns for children's furisode kimono] (Osaka, Maekawa Zenbe, 1891), Rare Books Collection, State Library Victoria

This book is a catalogue of decorative designs for children's kimono. Production of pattern books like this began in the 17th century, reflecting the importance of and increasing interest in all aspects of dress in Japanese society. As living standards increased during the Edo period (1603–1868), more people could afford luxury items such as custom-made clothing, and artists turned their hands to the design of kimono fabrics and other accessories of dress.