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by Joseph W. Zaehnsdorf
3rd Edition Published in London 1897
pencil the exact size of the book itself, by laying the book on
the cover, and running the point of a black lead pencil all round
it. The leather must then be “pared,” or shaved round the
edges, using the pencil marks as a guide. This paring process
is not so difficult, especially if a French knife is used, such as
may now be purchased at most material dealers. The chief
point being that a very sharp edge is to be kept on the knife,
and that the burr is on the cutting edge.
The knife is to be held in the right hand, placing two fingers
on the top with the thumb underneath. The leather must be
placed on a piece of marble, lithographic stone, or thick glass,
and held tightly strained between finger and thumb of the left
hand. Then by a series of pushes from the right hand, the knife
takes by a series of pushes from the right hand, the knife takes
off more or less according to the angle given. The burr causes
the knife to enter the leather; if the burr is turned up the knife
will not cut but run off.
right through the leather, a rather unpleasant
experience, and one to be carefully avoided. The
leather should from time to time be examined, by
turning it over, to see if any unevenness appears,
for every cut will show. Especial attention should
be
tail should be pared off as thin as possible, as there will be twice as much
thickness of leather on the back where turned in, the object of this care
being, that it must not be see. The morocco cover should now be wetted
well, and grained up by using either the hand or a flat piece of cork. This is
to be done by gently curling it up in all directions; and when the grain has
been brought up properly and sufficiently, the leather should be pasted on
the flesh side with thin paste, and hung up to dry. Should the leather be
“straight grain,” it must only be creased in the one direction of the grain, or if
it required to imitate any old book that has no grain, the leather should be
wetted as much as possible, and the whole of the grain rubbed out by using
a rolling pin with even pressure.
now largely manufactured in London and Pris; the French manufacture is the finest. Russia and calf require no setting
up of the grain, but Russia should be well rolled out with the rolling pin.
When the cover (morocco) is dry, it is to be well pasted, the squares of the book set, so that each side has its proper
portion of board projecting. The book is then laid down evenly on the cover, which must be gently drawn on; the back
is drawn tight by placing the book for its foredge and drawing the skin well down over it. The sides are next drawn
tight, and the bands pinched well up with a pair of band nippers.
and the operation of turning in may be commenced. The book must be held on its edge, either head or tail, with a
small piece of paper put close to the head-band to prevent any paste soiling the edge or head-band, and with the
boards extended, the hollow is pulled a little away from the back and the leather neatly tucked in. The leather is next
to be tightly brought over the boards and well rubbed down, both on the edge and inside, with a folding stick, but on
no account must the outside be rubbed, or the grain will be taken away. The foredge is to be treated in like manner,
by tucking the corners in for strength.
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