Bookbinding and The Care of Books
Douglas Cockerell with Drawings by Noel Rooke and other
Illustrations New York 1902
Book binding Chapter XI Part I
HEAD BANDING
or cord sewn on to the head and tail of a book
with silk or thread. They resist the strain on the
book when it is taken from the shelf. The vellum
slip or cord must be of such a depth, that when
covered with silk it will be slightly lower than the
square of the boards. The cut edge of the vellum
always slants, and the slip must be placed in
position so that it tilts back rather than forward on
the book.
the top edges of the leaves. If this is not done the silk catches on the projecting edges as the
band is worked. Stand the book in a finishing press, fore-edge to the worker, and tilted forward
so as to give a good view of the headband as it is worked. The light must come from the left,
and well on to the work. A needle threaded with silk is put in at the head of the book, and
through the centre of the first section after the end papers, and drawn out at the back below the
kettle stitch with about two-thirds of the silk. The needle is again inserted in the same place, and
drawn through until a loop of silk is left. The vellum slip is placed in the loop, with the end
projecting slightly to the left. It must be held steady by a needle placed vertically behind it, with
its point between the leaves of the first section. The needle end of silk is then behind the
headband, and the shorter end in front. The needle end is brought over from the back with the
right hand, passed into the left hand, and held taut. The short end is picked up with the right
hand, brought over the needle end under the vellum, and pulled tight from the back. This is
repeated; the back thread is again drawn up and over the band to the front, the needle end
crosses it, and is drawn behind under the vellum slip, and so on. The crossing of the threads
form a “bead,” which must be watched, and kept as tight as possible, and well down on the
leaves of the book. Whenever the vellum or string begins to shift in position, it must be tied
down. This is done when the needle end of silk is at the back. A finger of the left hand is placed
on the thread of silk at the back, and holds it firmly just below the slip. The needle end is then
brought up and over the slip, but instead of crossing it with the front thread, the needle is
passed between the leaves and out at the back of the book, below the kettle stitch, and the thread
gradually drawn tight, and from under the left-hand finger. The loop so made with hold the
band firmly and the silk can then be brought up and over the slip and crossed in the usual way.
The band should be worked as far as the end papers, and should be finished with a double “tie
down,” after which the front thread is drawn under the slip to the back. Both the ends of silk
are then cut off to about half an inch, frayed out, and pasted down as flatly as possible on the
back of the book.
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