What is anthropodermic bibliopegy and why was it practiced?

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Anthropodermic Bibliopegy: The Practice of Binding Books in Human Skin

Anthropodermic bibliopegy refers to the practice of binding books using human skin. This method, while now considered ethically problematic, was once a relatively common practice. One notable example involves a copy of the 19th-century book Des Destinées de l’Ame, a meditation on life after death.
Origin and Motivation for the Practice

The practice gained attention through the book Des Destinées de l’Ame, whose first owner, Dr. Ludovic Bouland, sourced the binding material from a mentally ill woman. This woman had died of a heart attack at the hospital where Dr. Bouland worked. Bouland's stated motivation, as conveyed in a note to the author Arsene Houssaye, was that “A book about the human soul deserved to have a human covering.” This sentiment suggests a symbolic or philosophical reasoning behind the choice of material for a text concerning the soul.
Historical Context and Harvard's Involvement

Harvard University, which held a copy of Des Destinées de l’Ame for over 90 years, recently removed the human skin binding. The university acknowledged that its past stewardship of the book, including its public discussion of the discovery in 2014, had "failed to meet the level of ethical standards." At the time of the 2014 discovery, Harvard had described the find with a tone that sensationalized the practice, noting it was "good news for fans of anthropodermic bibliopegy, bibliomaniacs and cannibals alike."
Ethical Re-evaluation and Disposition of Remains

The university's decision to remove the binding signifies a shift in ethical standards regarding the handling of human remains in collections. Following scientific confirmation that the binding was indeed human skin, Harvard stated it was consulting with French authorities to determine a respectful final disposition for the remains. This action reflects a broader trend of institutions re-evaluating their collections and ethical obligations, as evidenced by Harvard's 2022 report identifying over 20,000 human remains across its various collections.

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What is anthropodermic bibliopegy and why was it practiced?

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