Leather bound books, as the name implies, are books that have covers made of leather. This bookbinding technique has been used for centuries and was once a common practice for all books, regardless of their value or age. Over time, however, it has become more closely associated with luxury and high-end editions.
People appreciate leather binding because they think it signals quality and durability. A leather-bound book is generally considered a smarter investment that should last longer than a paperback or hardcover book. As a bonus, a rich-looking cover can give even an inexpensive edition of a classic novel some class.
Not just any old cowhide will do for making these durable products; there are quite a few kinds of leather suitable for binding books – including goatskin, pigskin, and calfskin – along with lots of colors available to dye them in and designs they can be embossed or tooled with.
The costlier price tag on most leather bound books accounts not only for the material itself but also for the work involved in turning it into something useful. That said, many consumers feel that the extra expense is worth it, given how nice these items look compared to others.
To this day, those who buy them often see such volumes as status symbols (and sometimes gifts) despite prices that are usually high; lately, though, there have been more affordable options on store shelves.
This kind of thing matters within the industry because when you make reliable products out of higher quality materials like Leather Bound Books, then you’re likely providing your customers with something that’s going to last many years — potentially decades — which is what some buyers want: They’d like to keep their purchases in good shape for ages so they’ll still be valuable later on down the line.