First edition (S-K 2174). The Chester Beatty Library in Dublin has one of the largest collection of bookbinding examples in the world. Many books had been published on bindings of various countries of Western Europe, but none on oriental bindings until this book was published. The bindings are divided into three sections: Christian bindings of the Near East (plates 1 to 14), Islamic bindings (plates 15 to 53) and the bindings of non-Islamic Asia (plates 54 to 70). Some plates illustrated in full color, some in black-and-white. A list of bindings describes each one. Fine condition.