Karin Scheper, Ph.D. (Leiden, 2014), is conservation specialist at the Leiden University Library. She has published on various conservation topics, but concentrates on her conservation practice and study of Islamic manuscripts.

• Preface to the Second EditionAcknowledgementsIntroduction1 Materiality MattersA Detailed Sketch of the Current State of Knowledge and Outline of the ResearchThe Information Value of Binding StructuresThe Present Situation of the Book Archaeology of Islamic ManuscriptsObstacles in the Study of Islamic BookmakingLinking Physical Analysis, Catalogue Data, and LiteratureSelection and Justification of the Corpus2 The Anatomy of the Islamic ManuscriptA Detailed Overview of the Different Methods of ConstructionVocabulary and Images as ToolsTechniques Used to Construct the TextblockCovering and Board AttachmentA Problematic Term: Case-bindingOther CharacteristicsMeaning and Validity of the Diversity3 A Comparative Study of the Historic Sources and Recent Literature on the Making of Islamic ManuscriptsHistoric SourcesSecondary Sources: Related Studies and General Reference WorksFounders of our Knowledge on the Use of Structure and Materials in Islamic BookmakingStructure as a Starting PointStructure as a Side IssueStructure as a Conservation IssueThe Sum of the Parts4 Multiplicity within the Traditionn Account of the Methodology and Quantitative Results of the SurveyMethodologySurvey Results—Quantitative Analysis5 Mapping the Variations in Time and PlaceDatable and Localisable Features and a Further Interpretation of the FindingsSewingSpine-liningEndbandingCoveringSpine-endingsInterior Covering of the BoardsThe Envelope and Fore-edge FlapMiscellaneous FeaturesSoutheast Asia as a Sub-category in the Islamic TraditionSummary6 Considerations and New PerspectivesRecapitulationDevelopment of the TraditionDiscussionConclusionAppendices1 Glossary2 Corpus3 Example of a Record of the Database4 List of Manuscripts Used in IllustrationsBibliography Index