In situ Fragments in Beinecke Library Incunabula

Abstract

This article describes the results of a survey of the Beinecke Library’s over 3,400 incunabula for in situ manuscript fragments. It offers a benchmark for the incidence of manuscript fragments in bindings (7–8%) and considers the relationship between in situ fragments and book size. It also suggests further avenues for the study of in situ binding fragments with implications for studies of provenance, binding techniques, and the formation of North American collections.