The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1897-10-21
HOW BOOKS ARE BOUND.
A Simple and Clear Description of This
Interesting Process,

Interesting Process.
Bookbinding has been practiced
for centuries. Many years previous
to the invention of printing the
leaves of missals and other manu-
scripts were preserved by being
fastened together and inclosed in
covers of wood, sheepskin, etc.
Often the covers were richly orna-
mented with gold, silver and jewels.
Some of these volumes are still to
be seen in the museums and monas-
teries of the old world.
There are two main divisions in
modern beokbinding = forward
ing" and finishing in each
of these departments there are va
rious subdivisions Forwarding COM
prises what is really necessary for
the preservation of books; finishing
is simply embellishing them.
The first operation in bookbinding
is to fold the sheets by means of a
thin piece Of ivory called a folder.
Machinery has been used with much
success in folding. The object is to
bring the pages together in regular
order.
After being folded the sheets are
gathered and collated according to
the numbers, /, 2, 3, etc., that are
placed at the foot of the outside
page of the folded sections. These
numbers are called signatures. The
book is then made solid by being
placed in hydraulic press or under
some other pressure such as the ma
ture and the size Of the book NAV
require.
The next process is to saw linden
tations i'll the back of the book pre-
paratory to sewing. This is accom-
plished by passing the back of the
book or sheets over rapidly revolv-
ing circular saws. The book is then
sewed on a frame called sewing
bench, each sheet being attached by
thread to cords across the back.
When removed from the sewing
bench, the book receives its waste
papers, or blank leaves Then it
is trimmed by being cut on the
edges with a knife apparatus. The
edges are either left white or are
colored by being sprinkled with col
or thrown on with a brush. MAR
bled" edges are made by dipping
the edges of the leaves in colors
that float ON the surface of gum wa
ter.
The comb edge" is made by
drawing & comb through the colors
on the surface of the gum water be-
fore the book is dipped. If the book
is to have gilt edge, it is placed in
a press and coating of red color
applied. The edges are then sized
with white of egg, gold leaf is laid
over the sizing, and after it has
dried thoroughly the gold leaf is
FURNISHED with agate or bloodstone.
A coating of glue is then applied
to the back of the book, after which
1T is backed by means of a machine
that gives roundness to the back
and prepares it for the cover. The
cover is made by boards, cut larger
than the leaves of the book, over
which the outside material, such as
cloth, leather, etc., is fastened with
glue, space enough being left be-
tween the two boards to fit the back
of the book.
After the cover has dried the en-
bellishment is done by stamping the
desired letters or design in gold,
black or colors. The cover being
thus finished, the back of the book
is fitted into it and glued, the blank
pages are pasted to the inside of the
cover, and the book is placed in
press to remain until dry, from
which it comes ready for the pub.
lie -Phi1adelnhia Times