It is well known that bookbinders make boxes for books. And there are many types of them dedicated for different occasions. But cardboard boxes, in general, were a prominent part of bookbinder’s trade as well.

I thought for some time whether to share these photos here or not. I found the box at a vintage store, and both the seller and I are not sure when it was made. The cloth is pretty generic, and the box has a lot of wear marks. I found some leftovers inside, but these are coupons from the 2000s. Not helping to date it at all.

Of course, it may have been made not by a bookbinder, but by some other artisan. It may even be a mass-produced item (there are no labels, though.) Still, it may efficiently serve as a sample of something a bookbinder can make. Something that bookbinders were making for many centuries.