Girdle Books: a popular accessory to medieval costumes
only twenty-six known examples survive
Girdle books were small portable books worn by medieval European monks, clergymen and aristocratic nobles as a popular accessory to medieval costume, between the 13th and 16th centuries. They consisted of a book whose leather binding continued loose below the cover of the book in a long tapered tail with a large knot at the end which could be tucked into one's girdle or belt. The knot was usually strips of leather woven together for durability. The book hung upside down and backwards so that when swung upwards it was ready for reading. The books were normally religious: a cleric's daily Office, or for lay persons (especially women) a Book of Hours.1
Today there are just 26 girdle books known in the world.2
Girdle Books in Art
There are hundreds of artistic representations of girdle books. The Virgin Mary is shown reading one in such famous paintings as the Ghent Altarpiece and Mérode Altarpiece, and Saint Catherine reads one in the painting with Mary Magdalene by Konrad Witz.
The Medieval Girdle Book Project
Read about the The Medieval Girdle Book Project
Smith, Margit J., and Jim Bloxam. "The Medieval Girdle Book: A Most Ingenious Device." The International Journal of the Book, Volume 7, Issue 4, 2010.
A comprehensive review of girdle books, exploring their construction, historical context, and cultural significance. It compares their design to modern mobile devices, emphasizing their portability and accessibility. The authors, Margit Smith (a librarian and bookbinder) and Jim Bloxam (a conservator), draw on their extensive research, including Smith’s visits to examine surviving examples.
Smith, Margit J. The Medieval Girdle Book.
Publication: Oak Knoll Press, 2017. ISBN: 9781584563686.
Description: The definitive scholarly work on girdle books, written by Margit Smith. It examines all 26 known surviving girdle books, detailing their construction, materials, provenance, and historical context. The book includes over 290 color photographs.
Duffy, Eamon. Marking the Hours: English People and their Prayers 1240 - 1570. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006.
Go Medieval by Attaching a Book to Your Belt They’re incredibly rare today, but portable girdle books were once very handy. by Sarah Laskow. Atlas Obscura April 19, 2018.