Continuing the book recommendations from my previous posts, here are several books that I recently came to own and would recommend. Several of these were recommended to me and one I picked up out of interest (Encyclopedia of the Book).

Check out part 1 and part 2 of my recommend book lists if you haven’t yet!

Endbands From East to West How to work them

By: Jane Greenfield & Jenny Hille

Another book by Jane Greenfield, this time with the help of Jenny Hille. This is a small book but very useful nonetheless! It has simple pictures diagramming the various endbands. Greenfield and Hille do a good job explaining a brief history of the endband style before giving clear and straight forward instructions. There is also a lovely annotated bibliography at the end! This third edition of the now-classic manual originally titled “Headbands: How to Work Them”.

“This manual, written by two experienced book conservators, is an easy to use, step-by-step guide showing how to create fourteen different types of historical endbands. Separate chapters are devoted to each, with all the necessary materials listed at the beginning. Among the examples are Coptic, Ethiopian, Islamic, Greek, Armenian, French, Monastic, Renaissance, Italian, German, and modern style” (Oak knoll Press)

This book can be rather expensive if you try to find it through online retailers however if you go directly to the publisher you can find it for great price (currently 18$ as I write this, compared to Amazon which has it for 55$).

A History of English Craft Bookbinding Technique

By: Bernard C. Middleton

In my first recommended book list I recommended a book from Bernard Middleton on leather. This book of his goes into the history and background of bookbinding techniques from the English.  It provides historical information but also covers how each is done. Some of the topics it covers are: the material of leaves and folding, beating and pressing, sewing endpapers, gluing the spine, rounding and backing, boards and their attachment, edge-trimming and decoration, headbands, back linings, covering, finishing siding and pasting down, equipment, book repairs and restoration.

It’s a well written and comprehensive guide to bookbinding, the English way!

This book you can still find for a decent price online at various retailers such as Talas (bookbinding shop) or Amazon. You can also still get it directly from the publisher, so shop around a little to see where you can find the best price!

Encyclopedia of the Book

By: Geoffry Ashall Glaister

This book is exactly what it says it is — an encyclopedia. The encyclopedia contains almost 4,000 terms and definitions used in bookbinding, printing, papermaking and the book trade.  From the publisher it says: “This work aims at providing “a reference companion to be constantly available during the study or processes of bookmaking” and is particularly essential for the “bibliophile, apprentice printer and binder, publisher, bookseller, papermaker or librarian.””  There are also “five appendices, showing type specimens, Latin place names used in the imprints of early-printed books, surveys of contemporary private presses, illustrations of proof correction symbols and a list of the works consulted in the preparation of this book.” (Oak Knoll Press)

I got this book because I love words… I love knowing the definitions and jargon and I just enjoy having encyclopedias and dictionaries around (even with the internet and Google at my side).

You can also find this one decently priced online at various retailers and at Oak Knoll Press.

Non-Adhesive Binding: Books without Paste or Glue (Volume 1)

By Keith A. Smith

This text is the first in many on the topic of non-adhesive bindings. He has five in total, and then books on other aspects of bookbinding, you can find Keith Smith’s website here: http://www.keithsmithbooks.com/

This book starts with the basics: understanding paper grain, folding paper, threads, knots and simple tools. Then it gives detailed written instructions for 33 simple to complex bindings. Smith includes 350 drawings to diagram step by step the instructions given. And that’s only part two of this volume! Part three covers tapes, interlocking tapes, pleats, and more, and part four is references and a glossary!

You can order this book directly from Smith’s website, or Oak Knoll Press (each offers it for 30-35$. Used copies are available on Amazon for the same price, but new copies on Amazon job up to $100+. Crazy! If you’re interesting in bindings that don’t require much more than a needle and thread definitely check this book out!

That’s all for this book list, I just bought two more books — one I know is amazing! The other one I am sure is but I can’t open it because its currently in it’s unbound form and needs to be bound and the pages ploughed before it can be opened nicely. They’ll get their own post because they are really worth it!

Let me know if you have any good books on bookbinding to recommend! I’d love to check them out.

Until next time,