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by Joseph W. Zaehnsdorf
Published in London 1897
Book Plates & Maps
first thing after ascertaining that the letter-press is perfect,
is to see that all the plates are there, by looking to the "List
of Plates," printed generally after the contents. The plates
should then be squared or cut truly, using a sharp knife and
straight edge. When the plates are printed on paper larger
than the book, they must be cut down to the proper size,
leaving a somewhat less margin at the back than there will
be at the foredge when the book is cut. Some plates have to
face to the left, some to the right, the frontispiece for
instance; but as a general rule, plates should be placed on
the right hand, so that on opening the book they all face
upwards. When plates consists of subjects that are at a
right angle withe the text, such as view and landscapes, the
inscription should always be placed to the right hand,
whether the plate face to the right or to the left page. If the
plates are on thick paper they should be guarded, either by
adding a piece of paper of the same thickness or by cutting a
hinge: the space between the guard and plate should be more than equal to the thickness of the paper. If the plate is
almost a cardboard, it is better and stronger if linen be placed both back and front. Should the book consist of plates
only, sections may be made by placing two plates and two guards together , and sewing through the centre between
the guards, leaving of course a space between the two guards, which will form the back.
With regard to maps that have to be mounted, it is better to mount them on the finest linen, as it takes up the least
room in the thickness of the book. The linen should be cut a little larger than the map itself, with a further piece left,
on which to mount the extra piece of paper, so that the map may be thrown out as before described. The map should
first be trimmed at its back, then pasted with rather thin paste; the linen should then be laid carefully on, and gently
rubbed down and turned over, so that the map comes uppermost; the pasted guard should then be placed a little
away from the map, and the whole well rubbed down and finally laid out flat to dry. To do this work, the paste must be
clean, free from all lumps, and used very evenly and not too thickly, or when dry every mark of the brush will be
visible. When the map is dry it should be trimmed all round and folded to its proper size, viz. - a trifle smaller than the
book will be when cut. If it is left larger the folds will naturally be cut away, and the only remedy will be a new map,
which means a new copy of the work. For all folded maps or plates a corresponding thickness must be placed in the
backs where the maps go, or the foredge will be thicker than the back. Pieces of paper called guards, are folded from
1/4 inch to 1 inch in width, according to the size of the book, and placed in the back, and sewn through as a section.
Great care must be taken that these guards are not folded too large, so as the overlap the folds of the map, if they
do so, the object of their being placed there to make the thickness of the back and foredge equal will be defeated.
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