Finishing includes all the methods employed for decorating the cover of a book. The most usual form of decoration consists in impressing on the book cover, in leaf metal (gold, silver, or other suitable metal), various designs of an ornamental character. A similar impressed design, with the metal leaf omitted (called blind work), is also employed. Book covers are also decorated with super imposed metal ornaments, which are riveted on. Ivory and other materials are also employed for purposes of ornamentation; but the most usual form of decoration is by gilding and blind work. The finishing of leather books is imitated in cloth. In the former, all the decoration is done by the hand of the workman, the design being worked out or built up bit by bit; in the latter, the ornamented cover is produced in a mechanical manner by printing from an engraved block. The comparing together of two ornamented books, one cloth and one leather, will enable even a superficial observer to see the difference in the style of decoration, and will give some idea, too, of the great number and the variety of the tools required by the finisher. The more necessary of these numerous tools are described below.

The finishing press is a small screw press (Fig. 73), smaller and less powerful than the ordinary lying-press; it stands on the bench or counter at which the operator works.

The finishing stove is used for heating the tools, and generally is a specially contrived gas stove. Fig. 74 shows a small one that can be stood on the work bench or on a tall tripod. An ordinary oil stove can, of course, be used if gas is not available.

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