These Books Have An Amazing Secret You'd Never Expect

by N/A, 10 years ago | 1 min read

Books just got so much better.

Fore-edging is the greatest secret in books since, well, probably ever.

The intricate illustrations appear when the pages are curled up and disappear into gilding when they lay flat.

The technique has been around since the Middle Ages,

but reached its peak between the 17th and 19th Centuries.

Most artists didn't sign their work so it's difficult to make proper attributions.

But in any case,

these masterpieces are amazing.

Most books with fore-edging paintings are now preserved in libraries.

And The Boston Public Library has an extensive collection of more than 200 fore-edge paintings.

They have been recently digitized with high-definition pictures

and many videos showing the reveal.

Browse the entire gallery of secret paintings here.