side-loading slip cases (Q938)

Rectangular enclosures that are open on one edge for the insertion of a book. The open edge may either be at the top (top-loading slip cases) or on one side (side-loading slip cases). The early examples often have flexible leather sides (collapsible side-loading slip-cases), but entirely rigid, leather-covered top loading examples (rigid top-loading slip-cases) had been used for fancy pocket books and almanacs from at least the mid-eighteenth century and, covered in printed and decorated paper, were widely used for such books in the early nineteenth century.