Central ornaments, described as such for their location on the covers of a binding, serve as decorative devices to delight the eye. These decorations may also contain information regarding the content and provenance (history of ownership) of the book.

Year: 1895
Reference: A. H. Bullen, ed. Musa Proterva: Love-poems of the Restoration. [n.p.]: Privately printed, 1895. 128 p. 20 x 16 cm.
Description: Bound in blue morocco with gilt central ornament and single gilt fillet border on covers. Raised spine bands. Gilt title and ornaments on spine. Gilt decorative roll on turn-ins. Top edge gilt.
Gift: Charles Deering
Catalog Record: http://ibisweb.miami.edu/search/o?SEARCH=3436819|

Year: 1679
Reference: William Penn. An Address to Protestants Upon the Present Conjuncture. Im [sic] II Parts. [n.p.]: Printed in the year 1679. 148 p. 20 x 15 cm.
Description: Bound in brown morocco with gilt armorial ornament depicting coat of arms of William Henry Miller in center of front cover. Raised spine bands. Gilt title on spine. Gilt fillet on turn-ins. All edges gilt.
Signed binding. Tooled in gilt: Bound by W. Pratt.
Binder: Pratt, W.
Catalog Record: http://ibisweb.miami.edu/search/o?SEARCH=5949486

Year: 1879
Reference: Grammaticus Musaeus. Héro et Léandre. Paris: A Quanti, Imprimeur-Éditeur..., 1879. 135 p. 15 x 10 cm.
Description: Bound in green morocco with gilt floral ornament and single gilt fillet border on front cover. Raised spine bands decorated with gilt fillets. Title and ornaments in gilt on spine. Gilt decorative roll on turn-ins.
Gift: Charles Deering
Catalog Record: http://ibisweb.miami.edu/search/o?SEARCH=17740169|

Year: 1855
Reference: Horace. Quinti Horatii Flacci Opera. Parisiis: Ex Typo graphica Firminorum Didot, 1855. 199 p. 15 x 10 cm.
Description: Bound in green morocco with central ornament done in red leather inlay decorated in gilt. Gilt decorative roll borders and fillets on covers. Raised spine bands. Gilt lettering and ornaments with red leather inlays on spine. Top edge gilt.
Signed binding. Tooled in gilt: Bound by Zaehnsdorf. Binder's device tooled in gilt on inside of back cover.
Binder: Zaehnsdorf
Gift: George W. Rosner
Catalog Record: http://ibisweb.miami.edu/search/o?SEARCH=2944512|

Year: 1779
Reference: Francisco da Conceiçao. Director Instruido ou Breve Resumo da Mystica Theologia para Instrucçao dos Directores,... Offerecido ao Director dos Directores, Mestre, de Exemplar das Virtudes Jesus Christo Crucificado... Coimbra: Na Real Imprensa da Universidade, 1779.
Description: Bound in full red calf. Elaborately tooled ornaments and decorative borders in gilt. In the center of the covers is the royal (Braganza) arms of Portugal. Raised spine bands. Gilt ornaments, fillets and title on spine. All edges gilt. Gauffered edges.
The black on the covers could either be silver (tarnished to black) or paint.
Catalog Record: http://ibisweb.miami.edu/search/o?SEARCH=38009425|