An Essay in the History of Gold-Tooled
Bindings by Herbert P. Horne
London 1894
12
fore edge towards the workman. It is then held in such a manner by the left hand that the
upper sections of the book may be drawn over, giving to the back a circular form. The workman
now takes a backing hammer, not unlike a shoemaker's hammer, in his right hand, and begins to
strike the back of the book with the face of the hammer, directing his strokes away from the
centre of the back. As he strikes, he still draws over, with his left hand, the upper sections, until
the whole length of the book has been treated in this way. It is then turned over, and the same
process is repeated on the other side until the proper circular form has been given to the back,
which will require the book to be turned over several times, before it can be rounded with
correctness. It is very necessary, that a book should be uniformly rounded, as the fore edge,
after it is cut, will take the same shape as the back j and any defect in the rounding will thus
appear on the fore edge. The degree of roundness to be given to the back of any volume should
be determined by its thickness, considered in relation with its height and breadth j the
roundness approaching nearer to a semi-circle, in proportion as these dimensions relatively
increase. French binders, at the present day, give to their backs a greater curvature, than is
either necessary, or elegant. Only that degree of roundness should be given to a book, which is
requisite to prevent its back from becoming concave: for in this one consideration consists the
whole reason for rounding the back of a book. A flat back has an indisputable charm j but a book
treated in this manner, and subjected to much use, will eventually assume a concave form. Yet
in this, as in every other such particular of the bookbinder's art, taste is the best arbiter, and
above all rules. Even a concave back may become charming in a small and thin volume.
The next operation consists in backing the book j that is, in forming the grooves, along the back
edge of its outer sections, in which the boards are to rest, and their hinge is to be formed. This
is affected by means of two strips of hard wood, which are sometimes faced with steel, called
backing-boards. These are rather longer than the book j and their upper edges are somewhat
farther apart than their lower ones, so that the section of the boards is nearly in the form of an
inverted isosceles triangle.
Two of these backing-boards are placed, one on either side of the book, with their upper edges
parallel with the back edges of the outer sections, and distant from them rather less than the
thickness of the boards. In this position, both the books, and the backing-boards, are lowered
into the lying-press, until the upper edges of the boards are level with the cheeks of the press;
the whole is, then, securely screwed up. By reason of the triangular section of the
backing-boards, the entire pressure of the lying-press is now directed against the sides of the
book, exactly where it is intended to form the groove. The back of the book is then struck with a
circular motion, away from the centre of the back; in order to bring over the backs of the outer
sections, on either side, to the backing-boards, which have been so placed, that their upper
edges slope away from the book. This process is begun with gentle strokes, the back of the
hammer being used: but in finishing, the face of the hammer is employed with somewhat
greater force, that the sections may be brought well over, and the groove truly made. A dent
upon the back, or a wrinkle in the book, when it comes to be opened, is a sign of bad
workmanship.