Harvard University’s Houghton Library is housing a book titled Des destinees de l’ame, which can be translated as "On The Destiny Of The Soul." Fittingly, this book about a human soul has a human covering: skin.
Based on a note found inside of the book by the author's doctor friend Ludovic Bouland and scientific research, the book's binding was confirmed to be made up of the skin of a woman who suffered from a mental illness and died of a heart attack. According to Bouland, you can even see the pores of her skin upon a close glance.
Using skin of the dead to construct book bindings is actually a legitimate practice called anthropodermic bibliopegy. However, usually only the skin of criminals is used. The criminal skin bindings would be perfect for a Stephen King novel.
Skin-Bound Books
'Des destinees de l’ame' is an Antique Book with a Fleshy Side
Trend Themes
1. Anthropodermic Bibliopegy - The use of human skin as book bindings is an antique and legitimate, but now an outlandish practice that might find new applications and interpretations in the art and design industries.
2. Medical Ethical Concerns - The idea of using human body parts for decorative or designed purposes puts into question our definitions of respect, sanctity, and propriety, and has ethical implications demanding attention from medical professionals.
3. Public Morality and Aesthetic Perception - Skin-bound books create a trolley problem of balancing historical preservation, artistic beauty, and public opinion that might spark conversations among social and behavioral researchers.
Industry Implications
1. Antique and Rare Books and Manuscript Collectors - The technique of anthropodermic bibliopegy poses new problems of provenance, ownership, and legal issues, challenging collectors and preservationists in these industries.
2. Art and Design - The use of unconventional materials and methods, particularly that elicit strong feelings and reactions, is a common marker of creativity, innovation, and artistic flair that can be explorable by the art and design industries.
3. Medical and Legal Practitioners - The discovery of skin-bound books requires expertise in forensic analysis, materials identification, medical ethics, and intellectual property laws, which can be opportunities for these professionals to contribute to interdisciplinary research and apply their knowledge in unexpected ways.