Overturned Edges and Clasps

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Tersteegen, Gerhard. Geistliche brosamen: von des Herrn tisch gefallen, von guten freunden aufgelesen. Reading: Jhann Ritter & Co., n.d.

The use of clasps on books dates back to the earliest codices. Affixed to the fore-edges, clasps stabilize a book, preventing the vellum or paper leaves from fanning out and the boards from warping.

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Ovidii Nasonis Operum tomus tertius, S.I.: s.n., 1661.
Nicolai Heinsii D. F. notae in Metamorphoses P. Ovidii Nasonis, S.I.: s.n., n.d.
Nicolai Heinsii D. F. notae in Heroïdas P. Ovidii Nasonis, S.I.: s.n., n.d.
Nicolai Heinsii D. F. notae in sex libros Fastorum P. Ovidii Nasonis, S.I.: s.n., n.d.

An early owner of these 17th century editions of Ovid's works had them bound in vellum with overhanging edges that protect the fore-edges.