- About Bookbinding -
Bookbinding
With numerous engravings and diagrams
by Paul N. Hasluck 1903
More Cover Ornaments
To show how the above tools are used on the covers of books is unnecessary, when so many examples can be seen in the shop windows of high class booksellers and in bookbinders' show cases. One example, however, of a book back may be given (Fig. 99), and from it will be seen how it is possible to produce elaborate effects by combinations of simple ornaments.
Finishing requires not only careful attention in every detail, but a considerable amount of taste and ability; taste to form a true estimate of what will harmonize with the nature of the work and add to the beauty of the binding, and ability to execute the designs.
According to the custom of the shop, the finisher's first business may be to examine the book critically, and if he finds any defects in the forwarding he should point them out. With a bandstick (a piece of hard wood about 10 in. by 1 in. by ½ in. planed square) the leather is rubbed close into the sides of the bands, providing there are bands. If the book is bound in calf, a small piece of thin leather of a colour harmonizing with the colour of the cover is cut out, pared neatly, and pasted on where the title is to appear.
Morocco and roan binding seldom have colored titles, so they are not" pieced," as it is termed. The book should next be trimmed, that is, all inequalities left by the forwarder in the cover should be pared evenly by the finisher. Backs, corners, sides, and insides should be treated in this manner, for a bad appearance is given to a finished book by lumps of leather showing beneath the cloth or paper of the sides or insides. The board should be opened, one of the end papers torn out (back and front) and laid aside for lining the boards afterwards and the joints scraped to take away any little pieces of paste or glue that may have lodged there. The end paper which is to be pasted to the board should be trimmed at the sides, so that it will be at equal distances all round from the edge of the board. Attention to these little matters, although they may seem trivial, will go a long way in adding to the beauty of the finished volume. But it may be that all the finisher will be required to do is to proceed at once with the finishing directly he receives the book.
All leather bound books are washed with paste water, that is, clear water with a little paste mixed in it. This replaces, or in some cases supplements, the vellum size used formerly. Calf, because of its great porosity, requires to be well rubbed with paste before washing. Paste the back with the brush, and rub the paste well into the leather with the folder, taking care not to rub too hard. Sometimes a little oxalic acid is added to the paste water, and this helps to clear the lighter colors of leather. Discretion will have to be used in this matter, as the acid will destroy some colors.