Bookbinding and The Care of Books
Douglas Cockerell with Drawings by Noel Rooke and other
Illustrations New York 1902
Bookbinding Chapter 1 Part 5
simple. It should be as strong and durable as the original old bindings, and,
like them, last with reasonable care for four hundred years or more. To this
end the old bindings, with their stout sewing cord, wooden boards, and claps,
may be taken as models.
The question is constantly asked, especially by women, if a living can be made
by setting up as bookbinders. Cheap binding can most economically be done
in large workshops, but probably the best binds can be done more
satisfactorily by binders working alone, or in very small workshops.
If any one intends to set up as a bookbinder, doing all the work without help,
it is necessary to charge very high prices to get any adequate return after the
working expenses have been paid. In order to get high prices, the standard of
work must be very high; and in order to attain a high enough standard of
work, a very thorough training is necessary. It is desirable that any one
hoping to make money at the craft should have at least a year’s training in a
workshop where good work is done, and after that, some time will be spent
before quite satisfactory work can be turned out rapidly enough to pay,
supposing that orders can be obtained or the books bound can be sold.
There are some successful binders who have had less than a year’s training,
but they are exceptional. Those who have not been accustomed to manual
work have usually, in addition to the necessary skill, to acquire the habit of
continuous work. Bookbinding seems to offer an opening for well-educated
youths who are willing to serve an apprenticeship in a good shop, and who
have some small amount of capital at their command.
In addition to the production of decorated bindings, there is much to be
done by specializing in certain kinds of work requiring special knowledge.
Repairing and binding early printed books and manuscripts, or the
restoration of Parish Registers and Accounts, my be suggested.
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