Flexible or limp bindings have been made widely in Europe for many hundreds of years. About one in ten medieval books had a limp binding. Limp bindings were made extensively for libraries and archives. Over the course of the sixteenth century, the covers of limp bindings became more commonly reinforced with pasteboard inserts but the...
Theoretically, leather inlays are a relatively simple way of getting your design onto a book,but it can be nerve wracking to make that first irreversible cut into the cover of a book that you have spent the last few days/weeks/months forwarding. And, in order for them to look smart, it is vitally important that they fit perfectly and...
In this practical demonstration Glenn will show a range of techniques used in contemporary bookbinding to decorate leather or cloth covers. He will talk about airbrushing, spraying and sprinkling to add colour to designs. Leather onlay techniques will be demonstrated as will impressed leather to create texture and pattern. And whilst he won’t talk in...
Working with local bookbinder Barry Clark you will make a hardback notebook suitable for writing or sketching. First, we will make the flat-back sewn book block, with tipped-on plain endpapers. We’ll add endbands and spine linings. We will then make a cloth and decorative paper covered case (the covers) incorporating a French groove. Finally the...
With Michael Burke, bookbinder and specialist in ancient and medieval bindings This lecture tells three stories of extraordinary ancient books that were lost for centuries and then found again. All three stories have in common that the manuscripts were deliberately buried underground. The various reasons for their burial, and the occasions of their discovery will...