Aldis, M.A.
Cambridge: at the University Press 1916
revolves is sometimes used; and straight lines are put in
with a similar tool called a fillet.
In the eighteenth century plain brown sheepskin was in
general use for ordinary books, and is often found to be still
in remarkably good condition. Roan, basil, and other modern
forms of sheepskin are hardly likely to come out of the test
so well, and should not be used for books of permanent
value. Vellum, more in favor in the sixteenth century than in
recent times, is not a kindly material for binding. Books,
especially thin volumes, bound in vellum object to open freely
and will not remain quiet when in use. Moreover it is much
affected by atmospheric conditions, and generally requires
ties or other inconvenient devices to keep the book properly
closed and prevent it from warping on the shelf. Buckram,
publishers' bindings, but they are also invaluable to the bookman who desires to keep his shelves tidy. Provided the
sewing and other structural work is sound, these materials are sufficiently durable and comely to serve the purpose of
the lover of books who cannot afford the luxury of leather. The lettering on these books should always be on the
binding itself, and not take the form of pretentious-looking leather lettering-pieces stuck on the back. Opinion is much
divided as to the relative qualities of buckram and cloth, but those who elect to bind in buckram would do well to
remember that the red colors are usually very fleeting.
A book entirely covered in leather is called whole or full-bound. A half-bound book has leather back and corners, and
the sides are covered with cloth or paper. When only the back is leather, the book is said to be quarter-bound. A
particular form of this style in which the back is of brown leather and the sides covered with crimson paper is called
Roxburghe binding from its being the pattern adopted by the Roxburghe Club for its publications. Quarter leather with
cloth sides and vellum tips to protect the corners makes a specially neat and useful binding for octavo books.
With the covering of the book the forwarding
process is complete, and the volume is passed on to the finisher for lettering and decoration. Leaving aside publishers'
cloth bindings, on which colored inks and pictorial designs often figure, lettering and external decoration is mostly
worked in gold. For impressing the letters and ornaments on the leather the finisher employs wooden-handled brass
tools on the end of which the letter or ornament is cut in relief. These tools are used heated to a certain temperature,
the exact degree of which is a matter of experience. Armorial stamps and large ornaments which require heavy
pressure are applied by means of a press; but lettering and decorative designs built up of separate small ornaments
are worked in by hand.
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