Description of the Most Principal Mineral Ores and Mining Methods

A photograph shows a side profile of the thick, closed manuscript. The view focuses on the fore-edge of the text block, which is dark and weathered by age. The binding consists of a light colored material, likely vellum or tawed leather, visible on the top and bottom covers and the rounded spine at the right. A few pages at the very beginning of the volume are slightly separated from the main body of the text.

binding: the protective outer cover of the book
fore-edge: the edge of the pages opposite the spine
vellum: a high quality parchment made from calfskin used for durable book covers
text block: the gathered and sewn pages of the book before the cover is attached