Now roll up tightly, and with a flat board, such as a backing board, roll the back over the bench several times, pressing heavily all the time; then set it aside to dry. The diameter of the roller should be about half the width of the back itself. When the back is thoroughly dry it should be well rubbed down on the edges and forced on the back of the book. The waste sheet of the end paper of one side of the book is now glued and folded back up to the linings and brought over the back. The other side is also glued and brought over the back in the same manner, and all are well rubbed down, a board being placed on each side of the book close to the back and the whole put into a press and given a good nip. This will make all flat and draw the back tight. The linings and end papers form a kind of hinge on each side, and with these the side boards are fastened. Make a cut in this hinge on both sides at the top and bottom (thus there are four cuts), about 2 in. in from the outside. This is to allow for turning in the cover. The boards for account book backs are made of several thicknesses, and the inside board of the series is generally a thin one; in making, this is only glued halfway. Now, after squaring up the boards, they are added to the book by gluing this part on both sides and inserting the hinge in the split, allowing the two small pieces to remain outside. When both boards are put on, the book is again pressed; when dry it is taken out, and is then ready for covering in the usual manner.

To allow time for the glue to set, cut the ends of the book, and mottle them as directed for the foreedge. It will be necessary to take great care in cutting the ends of an account book, as owing to the deep groove in the foreedge, caused by the rounding of the back, the paper is apt to break at the corner. This can be avoided by padding up the foreedge with waste paper.

There is nothing special about the manner of covering account books. They are covered in much the same manner as letterpress books, with the exception of knatching, which is done as soon as the cover is turned in. A pair of knatching boards, that is, boards with a projecting piece about the thickness of a small cane screwed along the top edge is placed in the grooves made between the back and the boards on the sides of the book, and the whole screwed up in the lying press. After knatching, a cord is tied round from end to end and the heads are set. The setting of the heads should be carefully attended to, as; when properly done, the book is much enhanced. There should not be any hammer or folder marks on the edge of the book. When the cover has become dry the cloth sides are put on if the book is half-bound, and the end papers are glued up; a strip of thin board is placed close up to the joint on both sides of the book during this process: this acts as a lever and causes the book to spring when being opened. After gluing up, the book is put in the standing press, and left there all night if possible, and the forwarder's work is practically done.

Account books, like letterpress books are covered in various styles. They are half-bound in sheep, goat, calf, morocco, Persian, and full bound in the same materials. When covered in goat or calf, it is generally the flesh side of the skin that is on the outside. Full calf with green vellum corners rounded instead of being cut square, is a good style. Full calf, with Russia bands laced with white vellum, is very commendable for large books, but does not add so much to the strength, it is believed, as is commonly supposed; do not leave the lacing inside the board, as when glued up it presents a very bad appearance. Instead of this, open the board and lay it down on an iron block, and beat it well with the hammer on the inside so as to close the holes well up, and after drawing the lacing as tight as possible, cut off the laces and beat again and again, until not a trace of roughness is seen upon the board.

In finishing account books, the ordinary leathers are treated as described later in this book. Rough calf and goat are cleaned by rubbing with bath brick. The black lines are put on with iron liquor carried in a sponge tied to the end of a piece of whalebone or stick, and held upon the roll as it is being run upon the backs or sides of the book. These hints on finishing wiII be quite intelligible after reading this book.

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