Cover to Cover
Exposing the Bookbinder's Ancient Craft
Bookbinding is a humble pursuit. Rarely does it receive the attention and glamour afforded to other ancient crafts. Unlike the silversmith or the glassblower, whose talents are immediately obvious, the binder’s craft of construction is largely concealed. Durability and function are foremost in the bookbinder’s mind; theirs is a role of guardianship – they serve to protect the book’s contents, guaranteeing its access for generations of readers.
But what if a book’s binding was a story in itself? Could we appreciate and value the intricacy and complexity of its sewing system, its control centre in many ways, if we knew why it was sewn in a particular style? Hidden from view, we hardly spare a thought for its purpose, and yet, the bookbinder does. In fact, there are always reasons why these skilled craftsmen and women choose to bind a book in a certain way.
A binding tells us as much, if not more, about a book’s provenance than an owner’s signature or bookplate. It assists librarians and historians to date and place a work. It provides insight into an owner’s economic and social standing. It imparts information about the spread of ideas, customs, technologies and artistic tastes of the time. It reflects the perceived significance of the book’s content and, importantly, it tells us exactly how a book was intended to be used and how it was actually used.
From forwarding to finishing, and all of the steps in between, this exhibition celebrates the bookbinder, and the unique combination of utility, dexterity and artistry required to excel at this ancient craft. On display in 2017 was a variety of exposed bindings; old, rare and fine bindings; bookbinding supplies, and tools and equipment from Rare Books & Special Collections and the curator’s personal collection. In 2018, this exhibition was converted into the following online display.
Curator: Lee Hayes
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The Three P's: Papyrus, Parchment and Paper
So omnipresent in our daily lives is paper that it's easy to take it for granted. It allows us to communicate, to teach, to illustrate and to create.Ìý It forms the newspapers, magazines and books that we read, it adorns our walls and our wallets, and as a tissue it is our best friend when we have a cold.
Folding the leaves
As the knowledge of papermaking spread it was discovered that sheets of paper could be folded. In fact paper was pliable enough to be folded several times. This process of folding became the first step in the craft of bookbinding.Ìý
Beating, rolling, pressing, and collating
Until the late 1820s most books were beaten before they were sewn. The purpose of this was to make the books as solid as possible; softer, hand-made papers were capable of compressing up to half their thickness. A beating-stone was required for this purpose.Ìý
Sewing and other methods of leaf attachment
Once the sections had been collated, the next step in the binding process was to sew them together. The purpose of sewing was to connect the leaves in such a way that they would be firm and yet easily opened when bound; it also provided the best means of attaching the book to its cover.
Endpapers
When opening an old, well-read book, readers will inevitably find its first and last sheets have suffered more than those in between. It is the purpose of endpapers, or endsheets as they are also known, to protect the valuable text at the beginning and end of a book, essentially taking up any strain of opening the covers which would otherwise be on its first and last sections.