[Ads-l] drop-spine box

[Bill Mullins]

The Mar 2026 updates to the OED included a number of terms using "drop" as part of a compound word or phrase.  "Drop-spine box" was not included, and the OED has no entry for it.



1982 C. C. Morrow Conservation Treatment Procedures 19

Although not strictly correct, “solander” box is a term often used by conservators to describe a box that encloses a book completely. Other names include drop-spine box, clam-shell box, three-piece folding box, standard rare book box, etc. The Solander, named after David Solander (d. 1782), a Swedish botanist working at the British Museum, was actually a leather-covered wooden case intended for the protection of botanical specimens.

https://archive.org/details/conservationtrea00morr/page/19/mode/1up?q=%22drop+spine%22




1983  G. M. Cunha, D. G. Cunha  Library and Archives Conservation: 1980s and Beyond Vol. 1 163

Many different designs of book boxes and containers have been used: slip cases, telescopic cases, presentation boxes, Solander cases, drop-spine boxes, etc.

https://archive.org/details/libraryarchivesc0000cunh/page/163/mode/1up?q=%22drop+spine%22





1988  Mapline #49 Mar 7/2

The facsimile gores and the hardbound monograph are contained in cloth-covered, drop-spine box of archival quality.

https://archive.org/details/mapline4919herm/page/7/mode/1up?q=%22drop+spine%22



1992 M. T. Simpson M. Huntley Sotheby's Caring for Antiques 145/2

The most satisfactory design is a drop-spine box with a pressure flap, and if the book has deep squares or is particularly thick, the tail wall of the base (which carries the text-block support) must hinge away.

https://archive.org/details/sothebyscaringfo0000unse_o4h2/page/6/mode/1up?q=%22drop+spine%22




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