Bookbinding

Early books were made from sheets of vellum, which were folded in half. The leaves were sewn together along the central fold onto bands. It was later that wooden boards were attached to the leaves, making an early book cover. The introduction of paper and moveable type were the most significant changes to the development of book transformations. The use of paper instead of parchment reduced the price. Gutenberg and the invention of the printing press contributed enormously to the transformation of the book industry in the fifteenth century. Printing increased the number of books being produced, which led to the schism of professions of the printer and the binder. This made it possible to focus aesthetically on bookbinding as an art form in its own right. Consequently, in the early-sixteenth century there was a boom in decorative bindings. Books previously had their titles written on the fore-edges instead of the spine, because of the manner of which they were stored on the shelf; with concentration on the binding, titles were later written on the spine.

Techniques in bookbinding have altered throughout the centuries. The differentiation in materials, binding technique and style of the book may help make it possible to trace the date and origin of the book. However, this may sometimes be difficult as alterations are sometimes made to help maintain the condition of the book. Books were often bespoke and handmade, varying in size and format. In the late nineteenth century, David McConnell Smyth patented a machine to bind books through sewing. Perfect binding was introduced to bookbinding in 1931: a form of binding books with glue instead of sewing. Cold glues were first used in perfect binding until a ‘hot-melt adhesive’ was used to bind books which made the binding last longer than cold glue binding. Binding systems excelled after the Second World War. Spiral binding had been in evidence since the 1920s, but it was not until later that this technique became an important part of office stationary.

Bookbinding involves various techniques, each suited to specific styles, materials, and purposes. These techniques vary depending on the style and purpose of the book, from simple notebooks to elaborate fine bindings. Mastery requires practice and attention to detail.

Here’s a summary of key bookbinding techniques:

Folding and Gathering

• Folding: Sheets of paper are folded into sections or signatures (e.g., folio, quarto).
• Gathering: Signatures are assembled in the correct order for binding.

Sewing 

• Coptic Stitch: An ancient technique with exposed spine stitching, allowing the book to lay flat.
• Saddle Stitch: A simple method where signatures are sewn or stapled through the spine.
• Long Stitch: Decorative stitching visible on the spine, often used for leather bindings.
• French Link Stitch: Offers strength and flexibility with linked sewing across the spine.

Gluing

• Perfect Binding: Pages are glued along the spine, common in paperback books.
• Case Binding: Text block is glued to the spine of a hard cover.

Covering Techniques

• Case Binding (Hardcover): A separate cover (case) is constructed and attached to the book.
• Softcover Binding: Flexible covers, often glued or sewn to the spine.
• Leather Binding: Books are covered with leather, often with decorative tooling or gilding.
• Japanese Stab Binding: A simple method using thread to stitch pages and covers together.

Decorative Techniques

• Marbling: Decorative patterns applied to paper or leather.
• Tooling: Impressions or designs pressed into leather covers.
• Gilding: Application of gold leaf to edges, spines, or covers.
• Embossing/Debossing: Creating raised (embossed) or recessed (debossed) designs.

Reinforcements

• Headbands and Tailbands: Decorative elements at the top and bottom of the spine that provide extra support.
• Endpapers: Decorative or plain sheets that join the text block to the cover.

Spine Construction

• Flat Spine: Pages lie flat along a glued or sewn spine.
• Rounded Spine: Spine is shaped into a curve for added durability and aesthetics.
• Hollow Spine: A flexible spine structure allowing better opening.

Conservation and Repair

• Rebinding: Replacing damaged bindings with new materials.
• Leaf Casting: Filling missing parts of pages with new material.
• Guarding: Adding strips to strengthen weak or torn pages.

Allied crafts include:

• Paper making
• Paper marbling
• Parchment and vellum making
• Tanning
• Fore Edge Painting

• Training issues: Bookbinding has been dropped from many universities – it is sometimes included within printmaking, but the standard, knowledge & skills in that setting is generally poor.
• Training issues: At present the very real concern within bookbinding is the lack of training facilities in the UK. Where there were once college courses with well-trained teachers from professional backgrounds, these have now mostly closed down. Adult education has suffered similar cutbacks. What is clearly missing is the cohesive training that is available within Europe with good courses taking students through to professional level. Those students in the UK who wish to become professionals have to pursue their training through short courses. Apprenticeships, traineeships and internships are few and far between. Students of bookbinding are keen and talented but frustrated and deeply concerned by the lack of opportunities for in depth training within the UK.
• Market issues: The electronic book has gained many fans but there is still a market for fine bindings, repair of antiquarian books and containers for ephemera and photographs.
• Skills issues: New ways of binding are appearing which work along conservation lines. Artists’ books also represent a strong field within the craft but seldom employ the full use of skills that a professional bookbinder has mastered.

• Society of Bookbinders – a UK based educational charity dedicated to traditional and contemporary bookbinding and to the preservation and conservation of the printed and written word. The Society is organised into eight UK regional and an overseas group. There are regular meetings, masterclasses, lectures and demonstrations on various topics of bookbinding or related subjects. At national and international level they organise education and training conferences and seminars and an International Bookbinding Competition. Members receive regular newsletters along with the annual flagship journal BOOKBINDER.
• Designer Bookbinders – one of the foremost societies devoted to the craft of fine bookbinding. Founded over fifty years ago it has, by means of exhibitions and publications, helped to establish the reputation of British bookbinding worldwide. Its membership includes some of the most highly regarded makers in the fields of fine bookbinding, book arts and artists’ books, each with a passion for presenting the bound text as a unique art object.
• Book Arts Web
• Guild of Bookworkers – U.S.
• Institute of Conservation
• Wessex Guild of Bookbinders
• City & Guilds of London Art School – book and paper conservation
• West Dean College – book and paper conservation

Higher Education courses

• City & Guilds of London Art School – BA (Hons) Conservation: Books & Paper course. This intensive program encompasses a wide range of artefacts, including printed paper, delicate watercolours, illuminated manuscripts, maps, and books of various materials and constructions. Students engage in live projects, working on cultural paper artefacts or books lent by leading public and private institutions, as well as individual collectors.
• West Dean College – Foundation Degree in Arts: Books and Binding. This program is designed to provide comprehensive knowledge and skills in bookbinding, using various materials such as papers, cloths, and leathers. It prepares students to become makers and craftspeople, continue studies in higher education, or seek employment in the creative industry sector.

Specialist short courses

• The Society of Bookbinders has a list of short courses available on its website
• The Designer Bookbinders offer a range of workshops and masterclasses in bookbinding and book crafts.
• West Dean College offers a range of short courses in bookbinding and related crafts, suitable for both beginners and those looking to enhance their skills.

• The Society of Bookbinders publishes a list of binders.
• Designer Bookbinders has a list of members on its website.

• Wayte Binding, History of Bookbinding