There are several ways of doing this. The book may have raised bands, and these may be finished by the pallet or the roll in the manner just spoken of. The portion of the back between the bands may then be finished with centre and corner tools, or the back may be without bands, and finished as at Fig. 128. Here the pallet shown at Fig. 129 is made to do the whole of the work by being' used in the different positions, so as to cover the back with squares, as at Fig. 128. If carefully selected pallets are used, this style looks very nice. A gouge (of which the binder should possess an assortment, of different sizes) is worked on each side of the lettering piece. Fig. 130 shows another style of back.

This is done with six tools, worked as shown, and a single-line pallet and gouge worked around the lettering.

Fig. 131 shows another back done with four tools; and Fig. 132 another, in the execution

FIG. 128.-FuLL-GiLT "MITRED" BACK.

of which only three tools and some line pallets and gouges are required. Fig. 128 is known technically as "mitred" back.

There is a style now very popular for post octavos and other small books. The lettering-piece is placed near the head of the book, and a pallet worked over the whole of the back below it. A similar effect can be produced by working a repetition of any small tool, but of course this takes longer.

We may here quote, as a pendant to that of Dr. Dibden in our last chapter, the very sensible advice given in the

Bibliopegia" of James Hannett, who viewed the matter from the standpoint of a practical bookbinder:

"It is a subject of the utmost importance, in the selection of the tools for gilding, that the party have a good knowledge of the style of binding peculiar to the day, and a quick perception of the beauty of this kind of ornament, the general bearing of the designs towards each other, and their geometrical fitness for application when combined, so as to produce a series of patterns from the same tools. Without this, as may be seen in many

offices where judgment has not presided in the selection, It. large and expensive collection of tools may be provided, which cannot be blended together without offence to the eye of taste from the defect presented in the complete designs, which even one misfit tool will cause." So important a point in finishing is the combination of tools, that the novice should spare no pains to make a good working selection, as no man can finish satisfactorily without a judicious selection of good tools, such as will combine to form an extensive series of scroll ornaments, flowers, &c.

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