Historical bindings the structure of which originatied in Coptic monasteries in Egypt, known to have been made from the 4th to the 11th centuries CE. They feature boards made of wood or pressed papyrus, leather covers, gatherings sewn through the folio usually by chain or kettle stitches without sewing supports, and lined spines with flanges and headbands. They make up the oldest known family of leather bookbindings and represent the ultimate source of all decorated leather bindings.
