14 interesting books of the past and present (15 photos)

Unusual books that prove that book art can go beyond traditional formats and ideas.





It turns out that books are not only fascinating stories that can immerse us in other worlds. Some writers and publishers are trying to show that book art can go beyond traditional formats and ideas. It is curious that such experiments were resorted to in ancient times, and not just by our contemporaries. Here are some of the fruits of their crazy creativity. These books invite the reader to try something completely new and interact differently with the text and illustrations.

Round miniature book - Codex Rotundus



This small round book called "Codex rotundus" was made in 1480. In terms of content, this is a liturgical book in Latin and French. It includes 266 pages, and its diameter is only 9 centimeters.

Belt book





The belt book has a knot that is part of the cover. It made it possible to conveniently tuck a book into your belt and read it without taking it out, since it was hung upside down.

Double-sided book



This type of reverse binding was called “dozado”. The “Siamese twins” books had 2 different covers, but in terms of the meaning of the publication they complemented each other. For example, such a binding was typical for the Bible - the Old Testament on one side and the New on the other.

One of the smallest bibles in the world



The book measures 5 by 5 millimeters and is bound in leather. It is impossible to read it without additional magnifying tools.

Horn book



The children's book on a wooden leg was made in the 12th century. Its content is the alphabet and short texts for children to read. Such a book could be dropped as often as desired - a thin stratum corneum protected it from any damage.

Book in the shape of a heart



“The Book of the Heart” is a collection of 83 love ballads. This amazing and creative publication was written in the 1550s at the court of King Christian III of Denmark.

Encyclopedia of Mechanics



And this is what the harbinger of the first e-books looked like. This miracle book was patented in 1949. Spanish writer Angela Ruiz Robles endowed her invention with a mechanism that allows you to enlarge fragments of text and turn pages using compressed air without using your hands.

A cookbook called "Well Done" that needs to be baked



In order for the text to appear and be readable, the book must be wrapped in foil, placed in the oven and baked at 100° for 25 minutes. If you do not strictly follow the instructions, the collection of recipes will simply burn. Here's a little test for all cooks.

Designer books in the shape of pistols



Mirror book



It was published by Circle Press in 1985. Accordingly, the book has no text. It consists entirely of mirrored pages made of foil. The book allows you to engage in self-knowledge, because apart from your own reflection you will not see anything else in it. Interesting philosophical idea.

The world's largest book, the height of which reaches almost 2 meters



It was presented by the Amsterdam merchant Johannes Klenke to the English King Charles II after his restoration to the throne in 1660.

Biography books in the shape of faces



Volume books with 360 degree rotation



Japanese graphic designer Yusuke Oono creates amazing “living” books that will be interesting for adults and children to study.

Heat-sensitive edition of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451



To read the text of this book, you need to bring a sufficiently powerful heat source to it.