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by Joseph W. Zaehnsdorf
3rd Edition Published in London 1897
Nearly all modern books are bound with hollow backs, except
where the books are sewn for flexible work or otherwise meant
to have tight backs.
Much of the paper used at the present day is so hard, that the
binder is almost forced to make a hollow back, in order that the
book may open.
The head-band is first set with glue, if worked, by gluing the
head and tail, and with a folder the head-band is made to take
the same form as the back. This is to be done by holding the
book in the left hand with its back on the press, then a pointed
folder held in the right had is run around the beading two or
three times to firm it; the silk on the back is then rubbed down
as much as possible to make all level and even, and the book is
allowed to dry. When dry it is put into the lying press to hold it,
and the back is well glued all over; some paper, usually brown,
bone from the ribs of beef is a good as anything. The overplus of the paper is now to be cut away from the back,
except the part projecting head and tail. A second coat of glue is now put on the top of the brown paper and another
piece is put on that, but not quite up to paper and another piece is put on that, but not quite up to the edge on the
left hand side. When this is well rubbed down it is folded evenly from the edge on the right side over to the left, the
small amount of glued space left will be found sufficient to hold it down; the top is again glued and again folded over
from left to right, and cut off level by folding it back and running a sharp knife down the fold. This is what is generally
termed “two on and two off,” being of course two thicknesses of paper on the back and two for the hollow; but thin or
small books need only have one on the back and two for the hollow. Thick or large books should have more papers
used in proportion to their size. Books that have been over-cast in the sewing should have rather a strong lining-up,
so that there be not such a strain when the book is opened. When the whole is dry, the overplus of the paper, head
and tail, is to be cut off close to the head-band. I need hardly say that the better the paper used the more easy will
be working of it. Old writing or copybook paper will be found to be as good as any, but good brown paper is, as I
have said before, mostly used.
The book is now ready for putting the bands on. These are prepared beforehand by sticking the glue two or three
pieces of leather together or on a piece of paper, well pressing it, and then allowing it to dry under pressure. The
paper must then be glued twice, allowing each coat to dry before gluing again. It should then be put on one side for
future use, and when wanted, the proper thickness is chosen and cut into strips of a width to correspond with the
size of the book. The book is now to be marked up, five bands being the number generally used, leaving the tail a
little longer than the other portions. The strips of band are then to be moistened with a little hot water to cause the
glue upon the paper to melt. Each piece is then to be fixed upon the back just under the hoes made with the
compasses in marking-up. This will be found to be a far better plan than to first cut the strips and then to glue them.
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