PRESERconVersATION

What's in a Book?

Most people working in libraries handle hundreds of books every day and are reasonably familiar with types and shapes of books. But how many can name the different parts of a book? For this article I will bare all to help you impress friends, family and readers.

Sewing

The process of securing the sections or leaves of a publication by means of thread. This is done by sewing through the centre folds of the sections by machine, but in fine binding sewing, is done by hand on a sewing frame.

Bands

The cords or thongs on which the sections of the book are sewn. They may be raised, flat or recessed.

Endpapers

The paper placed at the beginning and end of a book which are not generally included in the pagination. In the simplest and most common form, the endpapers consist of a folded sheet of paper, one leaf of which is pasted down to the inside of the cover.

Marbled Paper

Paper decorated with patterns of a veined or mottled appearance made by means of colours floated on a liquid. Marbled paper is often used as endpapers.

Book Cloth

A generic term for the woven fabrics used in covering books. The book cloth used in library bindings is generally not waterproof.

Buckram

A book cloth made from cotton or linen and closely woven, occasionally with a double warp. It is filled or coated and calendered to give it a smooth finish which is reasonably durable and water-resistant.

Leather

The skin of an animal which is tanned or otherwise dressed and prepared in such a manner as to render it useable leather with desirable softness and strength. Its chemical nature gives leather the property of adhering well to paper, board, linen etc. Leather is very durable and probably the most permanent covering known at this time.

Vellum

Vellum is a beautiful material of apparently unlimited durability which for hundreds of years, has been used for the pages and covering of books. The lighter, thinner skins of calf are used for writing, fine printing, and small books, and goat vellum is used for large heavy bindings. Vellum however, is difficult to handle and reacts drastically to changes in humidity unless controlled by the method of binding.

Blocking

The process or technique of impressing a design into the covering material of a book by means of a stamp or brass block having an engraved or etched surface. This is done by a machine, press or by hand.

French Joints

These are grooves in the cover which result when the boards are positioned a short distance from the shoulders of a book, leaving a gap between the shoulders and the boards. This kind of joint is usual in case-bound books. They are often used when books are covered with vellum or very thick material, so that the covers can hinge freely.

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