MEL JEFFERSON Mel has been binding in a very sporadic fashion for the last twelve years. He produces one-off fine bindings, four of which have been awarded first prize in national and international competitions. Structure forms an important part of Mel's approach to design, as illustrated by the bindings pictured below. He likes to experiment with both structural and decorative techniques but rarely employs the same methods twice. Mel is a past Editor of BOOKBINDER, the SoB journal (Vols. 12-14). More of his bindings can be seen in the 1999, 2003 and 2005 Competition reports and at... www.meljefferson.com click on the thumbnails to see a bigger picture

Bestiary Translation by Richard Barber The Folio Society, 1992. 265mm x 165mm Bound, 1993. Boards covered with heavily puckered goatskin. The front board has a central frame constructed from strips of bone which surrounds a recessed area containing one of three interchangable decorative panels. These are magnetic and consist of multicoloured leather collages, sanded, tooled and inlaid with brass and bone fragments to accentuate animal-like images.
	A Book of Remembrance 185 x 155mm Bound, 2002 A ‘limp’ crossed structure binding. Laminate of floreated Harmatan goatskin and reversed suede. Four sections of Indian handmade paper. Leather 'buttons' of laminated 'craquelé' alum-tawed goatskin.
The History Of England by Jane Austen A facsimile of her manuscript aged sixteen. The Folio Society, 1993. 212mm x 172mm x 28mm Bound, 1994. A ‘limp’ binding in laminated goatskin with leather onlays and leather collage. Bound in two volumes joined at the foredge. A removable brass hinge-pin links the two spines. The first volume contains the Introduction and Facsimile whilst the second contains the Transcript and a reading of the text by Amelia Jarvis (aged 16) on a CD specially recorded and produced by the binder. Three-stage partially exposed sewing with wrap-around laminated flyleaves of paste paper and reversed suede. The edges of the text blocks are gilt ‘in the rough’. When the hinge-pin is removed, two cameos are revealed. These are leather collages based on illustrations from the book and depict Queen Elizabeth I (in negative) and Mary Queen Of Scots. Whilst in this format the two volumes may be opened side by side to compare Facsimile and Transcript.