Bookbinding and The Care of Books
Douglas Cockerell with Drawings by Noel Rooke and other
Illustrations New York 1902
Bookbinding Chapter VIII Part 1
that all sheets and plates have been caught by the thread,
and special attention should be given to end papers to see
that the sewing lies evenly.
The ends of the cords should next be cut off to within
about two inches of the book on each side, and the free
portions frayed out. If proper sewing cord is used, this
will be found to be very easily done, if a binder’s bodkin is
first inserted between the two strands, separating them,
and then again in the centre of each separated strand to
still further straighten the fibres (see fig. 34).
The fraying out of the thick cord recommended for heavy
books is a more difficult operation, but will a little trouble
the fibres of any good cord can be frayed out. Vellum or
tape bands will only require cutting off, leaving about two
inches free on each side. The free parts of the
The book is now ready for gluing up. A piece of waste mill-board or an old cloth cover is put
on each side over the slips, and the book knocked up squarely at the back and head. Then it Is
lowered into the lying press and screwed up, leaving the back with the protecting boards
projecting about three-quarters of an inch. If the back has too much swelling in it or is spongy,
it is better to leave the slips on one side free and to pull them as tight as possible while the book
is held in the press, or a knocking-down iron may be placed on one side of the projecting
another, and then the slips pulled straight (fig. 35). The back must now be glued. The glue for
this operation must be hot, and not too thick. It is very important that it should be worked well
between the sections with the brush, and it is well after it has been applied to rub the back with
a finger or folder to make quite sure that the glue goes between every section for its entire
length. If the book is too tightly screwed up in the press, the glue is apt to remain too much on
the surface; and if not tightly enough, it may penetrate too deeply between the sections. If the
glue is thick, or stringy, it may be diluted with hot water and the glue-brush rapidly spun round
in the glue-pot to break it up and to make it work freely.
Very great care is needed to see that the head of a previously trimmed book is knocked up
exactly square before the back is glued, for if it is not, it will be very difficult to get it even
afterwards.
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