The Dracula Binding

“ Between me and the moonlight fitted a great bat, coming and going in great, whirling circles.” 

-Bram Stoker 

Easily one of the most iconic titles in the history of literature, and as one of my favourite books of all time, it was an absolute DREAM to have the opportunity to create a special binding for this copy of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. 

First reading Stoker’s masterpiece in my adolescence, it was difficult to understand some of the more potent and mature themes in the text. Returning to the book over the subsequent years, as for many great literary works, the words became enhanced in their power. The magnificent film performances of Max Schreck, Bela Lugosi and Gary Oldman deepened this power. 

For the front cover, a cauldron of bats swirl high above a Carpathian mountain-scape. A full, dead, cold, moon illuminates the sky. A tremendous and malevolent dark-spire Schloss towers over a vast gorge. 

The winged mammals’ path of origin can be traced over the spine, onto the back cover. They are finally released, after countless centuries under the control of Count Dracula. The Texan’s bowie knife is buried deep into the chest of the Great Vampyre, his decrepit, gnarled hands in a state of horrific tension... he embarks into a realm of supernatural release. 

Commissioned by Peter Harrington Rare Books

Design and photography by A. von Hemmersbach

Assembled by Felton Bookbinding