The blocking of the cover may be proceeded with now. Assuming this to be of morocco, put the cover on the tray, and make a light impression on it by pulling the lever partly home, at the same time adjusting the pressure so that when the lever may have been pulled to the full extent of the stroke the impression will be as deep as desired and sufficient to make the gold adhere to the leather. The impression is, of course, adjusted by raising or lowering the bed of the press. It is usual to wash morocco leather with paste water, and this should be done with the cover in hand. The paste water should be thin and slightly heated; wash over the entire cover with a sponge and afterwards brush lightly with a soft brush, like a cloth brush. This prevents a streakiness appearing while the cover is drying. When dry the entire impression is painted over with glaire, using a small camel hair brush or pencil.

Glaire is best prepared by beating up the white of fresh eggs to a thick froth and allowing it to settle, when it will become a clear amber coloured liquid. At the present time, however, egg glaire is being replaced somewhat by dried albumen dissolved in water; it is unnecessary to give the proportions of each, some operators preferring the glaire thick, others preferring it thin. While the glaire is drying, examine the press and try the blocking plate to see whether it is hot enough. The usual way to test this is to wet the finger upon the tongue and touch the plate with the finger, judging by the amount of hissing which takes place; experience alone can teach the amount of heat necessary.

The gold leaf may next be put on. Place a few leaves of gold upon the cushion and cut as desired, rub the cover over with a greased rag, that is, a rag with a little olive oil evenly distributed over it and allowed to soak in. Take a piece of gold on the tip or laying on cotton and press it gentle on the cover; the greasiness from the rag will make it stick. Go on in this manner until the whole design is covered with gold leaf. Then place the cover again on the tray, making sure that it lies well up to the stops, and place the tray well up to the gauges on the bed of the press. Next pull down the lever. It may be necessary to rest a few seconds, or a sharp pull and immediate release may be preferred. When the lever is released, the cover and tray are taken out, the cover is placed on the bench, and the surplus gold is rubbed off with the gold rag, a rag or cloth kept for this purpose only. Any gold still adhering where not desired is cleaned off with rubber. The impression on the book cover' should be clear and bright, every part showing the same depth of impression. The other side of the cover is done in like manner, and when that is finished the operator is ready for the next job.

A few remarks may now be given as to the preparation of various other materials for gold blocking. Ordinary bookbinders' cloth requires very little preparation. If the case are fresh made they will work without addition, but can be washed over with very weak glaire; use a large sponge and avoid streaks and froth. A spot of olive oil in the glaire will keep down froth. Paste grain roan can be worked without glaire or other preparation. If the block is a heavy one, blind the impression lightly first and pencil in with glaire. Morocco, grained roan, calf, and russia should be washed with paste-water and glaired as described above. White vellum is difficult to work, but should be washed with size prepared from its own cuttings or vellum scrap; Young's patent size or paste-water may be used. After drying, the impression is glaired as for leather.

Paper and cards, if white and plain, may be washed over with clean glaire. If enamelled, as shop window tickets or photographic mounts, blocking powder is used. This is generally composed of various proportions of shellac, gum sandarach, and resin very finely ground. It is best bought ready prepared, as home-made powder is not sufficiently fine. The gold can be laid on the cards, if glaired, but if powder is used the gold must be laid on the stamp. Cards may also be pencilled in with glaire like leather. Silk or velvet may be pencilled in with glaire or powdered, and with both the greatest care is necessary. With velvet the impression must be well blinded in first so as to set down all the nap and to get as solid a foundation as possible. Dust in the powder to the impression, or pencil carefully with glaire, avoiding any unnecessary spreading.

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