Leather Bound Books

Some collectors value old leather bound books as a purely aesthetic element, using them for decor in a living room or study. They're often special editions of certain books which have been published with leather bindings. While real leather was commonly used before the 20th century, many bindings since then have been 'leatherette,' a compound made by mixing powdered leather with a glue of some type, then applying it to fabric.

Leather, while handsome to look at it, is not necessarily the best binding for books, as it can get eaten away easily. This is one reason that old leather books in good condition can be worth as much as they are.