Book Binding Articles

I have gathered together what I sincerely hope will be some features on lesser known areas of bookbinding.

Here you will find articles covering such subjects as;

Sheepskin, a closer look at this oft maligned book binding leather, and some very good reasons to take this material more seriously.

Bookclasps, a short history of the subject together with two manufactures of these book fittings in Europe and the USA.

Calf Marbling, an illustrated guide to the various forms of marbled calf covers.

Foredge painting. A look at the work of Clare Brooksbank, an expert miniature artist working as a foredge decorator.

Named for the long stitches visible on the spine, the Longstitch binding, which involves sewing directly through the covering material, is an ancient bookbinding method that has become popular in Europe and America since the 1980’s.

Visit a 19th century bindery and it is likely the only two bookbinding adhesives you would see in use would be animal glue and a paste made from bread flour.

Binders managed very well for many centuries using these two adhesives.

But now things are more complicated, man made bookbinding adhesives are now used. And glues and pastes have been refined and redefined.

What may be the first image of a lying press is in the baggage of a travelling binder in an early 14th-century manuscript. The press has not changed in basic design right through to the present day.

With the press (and its accessory backing boards, cutting boards, gilding boards, tub, and plough) the binder could press pages flat before sewing, hammer-back the sewn book, trim book edges and boards, and gild edges.

EVERY MONTH I SEND OUT THE BOOKBINDERS DIGEST. WHICH AIMS TO BRING YOU INTERESTING ITEMS CONCERNING THE WORLD OF BOOKBINDING AND RELATED CRAFTS. IF YOU WOULD CARE TO SUBSCRIBE PLEASE JUST MAIL ME PUTTING "EDEN" IN THE SUBJECT LINE.

edenworkshops@orange.fr