Bindings and covers of Cyrillic old printed editions of Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra publishing house

The article observes bindings and covers of Holy Dormition Pochayiv monastery publishing house editions. On the basis of copies from V. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine fonds the covering material and decoration (centerpieces, ornaments, corner pieces) of Pochayiv editions covers are analyzed. Besides that, distinctive features of Pochaiv publishing house bindings and covers are defined and described. Description of bindings enabled us to find bookbinder's chiches, which had often been put on bottom endleafs. Special attention in the article is paid to highly artistic decoration of Pochayiv publishing house bindings of Altar Gospels. In the eighties of 18th century Pochayiv publishing house printed books, ordered by Old Believers. As a rule Old Believers editions derive all their compositional elements from books of 17th century, published before the reform. Bindings of Pochayiv Old Believers editions, distinctive for its modest decoration, are not exception of this rule. Besides that, Pochayiv old printed books were sometimes binded in covers made by Kyiv Pechersk Lavra craftsmen. Centerpieces of these covers sometimes contain the image of Kyiv Holy Dormition cathedral.