The edges of a book may be ornamented in a variety of ways, and this ornamentation is necessary almost, because plain edges rapidly become dirty. The forms of decoration now commonly employed are colouring, sprinkling, marbling, and gilding. The style of decoration is governed by the character of the binding, and the character of the binding has generally some reference to the character of the book.

Colouring the edges of a book in a self or sole colour is not very much in vogue at the present day, except for prayer books, hymnals, and devotional books, the edges of which are sometimes colored red. But many years ago the practice was a very fashionable one, some of the commonest colors, after red, being dull green, yellow, and blue. The colour, which should be well ground, is mixed with a little glare and oil, and if one coat is not enough, the first coat must be thoroughly dry before the second coat is applied. The book must be knocked up even at the head and laid on the edge of the press or table, the left hand holding it tightly to prevent the colour running in. The colour may be applied with a small sponge passed evenly towards the back one way, and the fore edge the other, to prevent the colour forming in a mass at the back or fore edge. The tail of the book is treated in the same manner as the head. For the fore edge the boards will have to be thrown back and a cutting board held firmly above. The colour is more liable to run in at the fore edge, therefore a little more care will be necessary. If a number of volumes are to have the same edge, they can be done by simply placing them one above the other. Sometimes binders put their books in the lying press when colouring them as a precaution against the colour running in. In applying colour with a sponge or brush, there is this risk of the ink finding its way between the leaves, and it may be found safer to use a spray producer such as is shown by Fig. 48.

In this figure A is a 1-oz. bottle, B and C are two pieces of glass tube about 1/8 in. bore, and D is a small piece of wood or metal. When A is filled with ink or dye, upon blowing down c a fine shower of spray is directed downwards. A far neater arrangement made wholly of metal can be bought very cheaply. Having obtained a suitable sprayer, cover the book to be colored with paper, leaving only the edges bare; take the spray producer, hold it over the book, blow down C, Fig. 48, and the book will soon be colored with an even coat. If this is done for a short time only it will give a speckled appearance. If a few grains of rice or such like be spread along the edges before the colour is applied, the effect will be similar to marbling; and if it is done first with one colour say red the grains of rice shaken off some more dropped on, and then done with some other colour say blue the result wiII be very pleasing indeed. Another method is to dip a toothbrush in dye, hold it over the edges of the book and then draw a knitting needle from one end of the bristles to the other.

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