Legatuurid

Legatuurid is the Estonian term for bookbindings, the craft and practice of assembling a book from its pages and attaching a cover. A binding holds the text block together, protects the pages, and influences how the book wears in use. Legatuurid range from simple, mass-produced formats to elaborate, hand-crafted pieces regarded as works of art.

Bindings can be classified by technique, materials, or both. Common binding methods include sewn bindings, where the gatherings (signatures) are stitched together and then attached to a spine; case bindings, in which the sewn text block is fixed inside a rigid cover made separately; and perfect bindings, a type of softcover where pages are glued along the spine. Saddle stitching, using staples through folded sheets, is typical for magazines and small-format books. Materials vary from cloth and leather to paperboard covers, with endpapers and decorative elements often used to enhance durability and aesthetics.

Historically, legatuurid evolved from early codices and manuscript bindings through medieval and early modern bookbinding techniques to modern mass production. Conservation and restoration are important fields within libraries and museums, aiming to repair damaged bindings, reattach covers, and preserve historical techniques. Collectors and scholars study bindings to understand the book’s provenance, era, and cultural context, since the binding can reveal information about production methods and regional styles.

In practice, legatuurid span functional needs and artistic expression, balancing durability with design. They remain a key aspect of librarianship, publishing, and book arts, reflecting both historical craft and contemporary preservation.