266 82 \N ESSAY AS AN ART ,!■> I K INS TO COLLECTORS ON THE CARE OF BOOKS IPANY '//' • 'SMs/r/s/ / . J///;, %/£>?/¥> efiftlW AN ESSAY ON BOOKBINDING AS AN ART '"PHE general appearance of one's Library is a matter to which the tasteful collector does well to attend. We have a right to consider books, as to their outsides, with the eye of a painter. A Library without color is dreary and repul- sive. It should be one of the most inviting and cosy places in the house. Let the book-case, however humble, be made as attractive as pos- sible. A case filled with volumes bound in cloth, no matter how effective and elaborate the gold may 4 AN ESSAY ON BOOKBINDING be upon their backs, has never the varied and rich appearance of a book-case filled with volumes bound in Calf, Vellum, Morocco, or Russia leather. The taste for fine bindings with which to clothe good books in the best attire, is growing among those in America who have the leisure to think about the fitness of things. A practical rule by which to be governed is that a book should be bound in harmony with its character and its value. The bibliophile, if he could give rein to his passions, would bind every book he cares to possess in a full coat of Morocco. But this is beyond the power of most of us. Only works of rarity or value should be full bound in Morocco or Vellum. For most books a good, substantial binding in Half Morocco, Calf or Russia — leather backs and corners, with marbled paper or cloth sides — is AN ESSAY ON BOOKBINDING 5 the favorite style. It combines economy and dura- bility, and can be made to exhibit a great deal of neatness. Russia leather looks rich and pretty, and wears well on books that are much handled, as it absorbs the oil from the hand. If not frequently handled the leather is apt to become dry and cracked, caused by the use of Oil of Birch in the tanning. Calf takes color well and gives a showy and attractive back to a book, though apt to stain and appear soiled from usage. None of the ready- made bindings of the present day are more beau- tiful than Tree Calf — full gilt volumes resembling bricks of gold; but in course of time the colors will fade and the sides will shrivel. The one leather which i.s lasting and good- looking is Morocco, of which there are various grade the richest and most dur- 6 AN ESSAY ON BOOKBINDING able; Turkey next, then imitations of various degrees of cheapness. Genuine Morocco is a goat-skin, and has a long, tough fiber; the fiber of calf-skin is fine and close. Morocco takes color as well, if not better than Calf, and holds it far longer. A well dyed Morocco is said to be the only binding which does not fade, or change its hue. Sheep-skin, which is used on law books, dic- tionaries and other works of reference, wears well, and is not expensive. A dyed Sheep-skin with a polished surface is called a roan, and serves well enough as a cheap substitute for Morocco, especially in books of the magazine and pamphlet order. Now, in the process of binding a book, the operation of folding is of great importance, the beauty of a book depending upon this being properly and correctly done. In fine books this AN ESSAY ON BOOKBINDING J is usually done by hand, so that when trimmed, the margins of the different pages may be uni- form, presenting no transpositions, and the print- ing on each page registering with its opposite. The various sizes of books are denominated according to the number of leaves in which the sheet is folded, as folio, quarto, octavo, 12 mo. r 16 mo., 18 mo., 24 mo., etc. After gathering the folded sheets in consecutive order, they are collated by an experienced workman, and then pressed until smooth and solid. Then, if to be leather bound, with a tenant saw the proper number of grooves are made across the back to sew the sheets to the cords or bands that hold it together. The bands vary in distance apart according to the size of the book and the number used. It should be sewed strongly with three <>r more bands, so that two or three of them can >r lacing on the board covers. 8 AN ESSAY ON BOOKBINDING After sewing, the book, is taken by the for- warder who trims the edges, taking every precau- tion to cut the volume accurately and square, after which it is rounded and again put under heavy pressure. The next process is the gilding or coloring of the edges of the volume. The tops of Library "-■bboks s^uUKhfre either gilt, marbled or colored, polished edges so that the dust may be easily removed. For Table books in full Morocco or other fine bindings, full gilt edges are best. If you desire to revel in the full enjoyment of a flexible back, have it sewn with silk upon silk bands or cords, and you will have a combination of elasticity and strength that cannot be surpassed. For large volumes of engravings in order to secure strength, and also allow the plates to lie flat when the volume is open, the plates should be mounted upon linen guards. The next step is to put on the AN ESSAY ON BOOKBINDING 9 boards, then the leather covering, after which it goes to the finisher, where the necessary finishing, gilding or tooling, and lettering are done. We call book-binding an Art; and when we consider all that is necessary to the perfect cover- ing of a book it must be admitted to be one of the Arts. Bsuiit Library The requisition npon the binder's skill is to put the book into a cover which will effectually protect it and permit it to be used with ease; then to give it the substantial appearance, without which the eye of the connoisseur will remain un- satisfied. The volume must not only be well protected but should seem so. Thus far the mechanical skill of the binder In the choice of his style of binding and in the decoration of his book, if he performs his with taste and skill, In- rises to the rank of an Artist. IO AN ESSAY ON BOOKBINDING Having sketched the methods and ideals that govern us in the binding of books, we will mention a few of the well-known, finely illustrated works, published serially and other- wise, which we are constantly binding in Tree Calf, Full and Half Levant Morocco and various less expensive bindings, namely The Art Journal, Chef D'CEuvre UArt, Longfellow's Complete Poetical » and Prose Works, Gallery of British Art, Mas- terpieces of French Art, Bryants Library of PMry and Song, Science for All, Boy dell Shakespeare, Works illustrated by Dore, and many others. Visitors are cordially invited to visit our manu- facturing establishment — the largest on the Pacific Coast — and witness the various processes of book making. Marbling of edges, for many years a secret, is one of the most entertaining sights. AN ESSAY ON BOOKBINDING I I No branch is more interesting than the manu- facturing of Blank Books, which, includes every description of paper book from the Memoran- dum, which is simply covered with marble-paper, to the most firm and elaborately bound Blank book, Ledger and Journal, used in the counting house of the merchant and banker. HINTS HERE AND THERE TO BOOK COLLECTORS. Treat books gently, since "books are kind friends, we benefit by their advice, and they exact no confessions." Books placed in a library should be thoroughly dusted two or three times a year (too much dust- ing and rubbing is injurious), to keep them in all their freshness, to prevent any development of in- sects and to examine for signs of dampness. Always remove the dust from the top of a book before opening it, in order to prevent it from sifting down between the leaves. The finger marks AX ESSAY ON BOOKBINDING 1 3 seen in books are more often caused by placing the fingers upon dust that has sifted through than from soiled fingers. Upon opening a new volume, do not grasp the leaves rightly in your hands, else you may break the back. If the book is too tight in the back, lay it upon a flat surface, and open it by taking a few leaves at a time, lightly pressing upon them; thus repeating from beginning to end, until the required freedom is obtained. Never cut the pages of a book or magazine with anything but a paper-knife. Do not wet your fingers to turn a leaf. Never turn down the corner of a page, or put in a soiled card to mark your pla r leave a book open face downward; if it remain long in that position, it will probably open at that place ever afterward. r in mind when building book-cases that in- 14 AN ESSAY ON BOOKBINDING sects do not like to pierce Cypress, Cedar, Ma- hogany, Sandal or very dry and sound Oak, on account of the compact grain and strong aroma; and do not keep your books near the ceiling when the room is lighted with gas as the results are highly injurious. Avoid a dry heat or a damp atmosphere; the one destroys as much as the other. The former will affect the binding, and the latter the paper. EVERY DESCRIFJION OF BINDING IN LEATHER FROM THE ORDINARY PERIODICAL TO THE FINEST WORK IN Vellum, Levant, Morocco, Calf, and Russia WITH ELABORATE TOOLING tl attention given to binding rare and privately- illustrated books A. L. BANCROFT & COMPANY ARTISTIC BOOKBINS AND BOOK MANUFACTUl San Prani : s, Prim 721 B BET •