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A huge thank you to all who donate; 2026 Q3 Web hosting $42.02 / $400.
Galleries: index · 
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![[picture: Dumbledore's Wizarding Spell-book]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/pictures-of-old-books/tn/img_9008-old-leather-book-with-brass-clasps-q90-500x311.jpg "[picture: Dumbledore's Wizarding Spell-book]")
Here are some public domain pctures of old books. You can do whatever you like with these, although you shouldn’t say that you made them! I (Liam R E Quin) do retain the moral right to be identified as author/creator. The one with the shelf visible was taken by my partner, who also explicitly assigned copyright to the public domain.
There are some more pictures from old books taken from an old book, too.
There’s something about leather-bound books; a lot of people collect leather books. For my own part I’m more interested in what’s inside the book than the fine bindings, but since some of these antiquarian books still look rather pretty, I thought I’d share some pictures!
Title: Pictures of old books
City: Toronto
Date: 2003
Total items: 33
Out of copyright (called public domain in the USA), hence royalty-free for all purposes usage credit requested, or as marked.
![[picture: 1581 Psalter with Rose]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/pictures-of-old-books/wm/big/cimg5142-psalter-with-rose-267x200.jpg "[picture: 1581 Psalter with Rose]")
![[picture: Out of Sorts - Pieces of Type]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/pictures-of-old-books/wm/big/img_3177_pieces-of-type-q80-267x200.jpg "[picture: Out of Sorts - Pieces of Type]")
These pieces of lead type (actually the metal is a lead-based alloy) were cast for me on a Monotype machine; they print less-than and greater-than signs. The slot helps the Monotype machine to set the type, but it also helps a hand compositor because when the type is held in the composing stick in the hand the slots all line up [...] [more...] [$]
![[picture: He was taking notes until he died]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/pictures-of-old-books/wm/big/img_0105-33percent-cropped-q75-267x200.jpg "[picture: He was taking notes until he died]")
He was taking notes until he died
A relief pen (an old-fashioned dip-pen for writing), with a steel nib and an ivory handle, lies on an open book; a written manuscript lies below. Leather-bound books litter the oaken desk. [more...] [$]
![[picture: Old Books 1: Chambaud's French/English Dictionary]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/pictures-of-old-books/wm/big/cimg0493-oldbooks-01-q75-267x200.jpg "[picture: Old Books 1: Chambaud's French/English Dictionary]")
Old Books 1: Chambaud’s French/English Dictionary
Close-up of the tops of three volumes from Chambaud’s Dictionary of English and French. Leather-bound books are always photogenic. I’ve made this image available in lots of sizes; please use the size most appropriate. You might also [...] [more...] [$]
![[picture: Old Books 3: Chambaud Close-up]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/pictures-of-old-books/wm/big/cimg0492-oldbooks-03-q75-267x200.jpg "[picture: Old Books 3: Chambaud Close-up]")
Old Books 3: Chambaud Close-up
Chambaud’s Dictionary, close-up view showing the leather binding and the gold leaf used for the lettering on the spine. [$]
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