Bookbinding and The Care of Books
Librarians by Douglas Cockerell with Drawings
by Noel Rooke and other Illustrations
New York
1902
Book binding Chapter XV
Part 1
on separate letters, each on its own handle, the
Back or with type set in a type-holder and worked
across the back as a pallet. Although by the use of
type great regularity is ensured, and some time
saved, the use of handle letters gives so much more
freedom of arrangement, that their use is
advocated for extra binding. Where a great many
copies of the same work have to be lettered, the
use of type has the back obvious advantages.
A great deal depends on the design of the letters
the thick and thin strokes. At fig. 90 is shown an alphabet, for which I am indebted to the
kindness of Mr. Emery Walker. The long tail of the Q is meant to go under the U. I t might be
well to have a second R cut, with a shorter tail, to avoid the great space left when an A happens
to follow it. I have found that four sizes of letters are sufficient for all books. To make out a
lettering paper for the back of a book, cut a strip of good thin paper as wide as the height of the
panel Lettering on to be lettered. Fold it near the centre, the Back and mark the fold with a
pencil.
right angles to the top and bottom
of the strip. Then make another fold
the distance from the first of the
width of the back; then bring the
two folds together, and make a third
fold in the exact centre. The paper
should then be as shown at fig. 9 I.
Supposing the lettering to be THE
WORKS OF ROBERT LOUIS
STEVENSON, select the size of
letter you desire to use, and take an
E and mark on a piece of spare
paper a line of E's, and laying your
folded paper against it, see how
selected size can be put in, you must see if your title can be conveniently cut up into four lines
of five letters, or less. I t might be done as shown at fig. 93. But if you prefer not to split the
lettering on name STEVENSON, a smaller letter the Back must be employed, and then the
lettering may be as at fig. 94. To find out the position of the lines of lettering on a panel, the
letter E is again taken and impressed five times at the side of the panel, as shown at fig. 92,
leaving a little greater distance between the lowest letter and the bottom of the panel, than
between the letters.
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