Exhibition "Antique Bindings"

About exhibition

In the Central Library of Volsk — a town renowned for its merchant traditions — there is the only Museum of the Rare Book in the Saratov region. The museum's interior, with its high ceiling decorated with plasterwork, antique bookcases, and soft, cozy lighting, creates a special atmosphere. The permanent exhibition "Antique Bindings: From the Private Collections of Volsk's Notable Citizens" offers a chance to engage with the rich history of the town and the Volsk Library by viewing 18th–19th‑century editions up close and learning intriguing facts about them and their former owners. To name just a few: the family of the Counts Nesselrode and merchants known well beyond the borders of the Saratov Governorate — the Pligins, the Sapozhnikovs, and the Zlobins. One section of the exhibition shows how the book's main elements — the title page, binding, typeface, and illustration — changed and evolved over time. It should be noted that, while its concept remains unchanged, the exhibition is continually improved and expanded, and the exhibits are regularly updated. For this reason, we recommend visiting the exhibition more than once.