The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-01-19
AMATEUR BOOKBINDING.
bow Paper Covered Books Ms1 lie
Treated at Home.


Treated at Home.
If YOU wish to bind for yourself pa
per covered book, carefully strip Lack
ward the paper cover, trim the 1rayed
edges and lay the cover aside. with
sharp awl bore fresh holes through the
book. as close to the back as may be
without danger of breaking. Sew the
leaves together lcngthwise through
these holes with fine cord or coarse
darnirg cotton, knotting it securely.
Take a strip of cotton or linen cloth
and sew singly over tho back, following
the line ard stitches already taken, tas-
tening we'll.
This strip must be made wide enough
TO allow an inch on each side to be past
ed upon the boards which are to form
the cover. Cut the two pasteboards with
care, allowing bit 10 extend beyond
the leaves in length and depth, referring
to>any we'll bound volume as a model OF
proportion, the depth Of the cover pro-
tecting the leaves.
Having good -four paste, scalded but
not boiled, brush the lip of the muslin
loose at each side of the back and place
the side board upon this strip, fitting 1t
exactly, making sure that this adheres
and being careful to wipe away the
paste oozing out. Then paste over all
the back, bringing down over the paste
boards an inch or more generous back
ing of stout silesia of any color. This
should be doubled in at the top and bot
tom to strengthen the silesia inrhs fu-
ture wear.
Next, having cut from stout wrapping
paper two pieces sufficiently large to
bring over top, bottom and front edges
of the boards, brush the payer over its
entire surface with paste and apply 1t
dexterously to the boards, having its
truest edge neatly applied to the silesia.
Then folding over top, bottom and
front, cut the corners aslant, as the
sides are brought over upon the inside
of what now may be called the cover.
Lastly apply upon this tough paper the
original front cover of the volume. If 1t
has been soiled in the least, wash its
face delicately with a cloth dipped in
soapy water and dry it carefully.
If the back of the original is present
able and has character worth preserv-
ing, paste that upon the back Of the
new cover. Last of all paste within the
fresh fly leaf Then for each cover or
half of the cover prepare double sheet
of pretty paper, possibly ccIored, one
half of which shall be pasted perfectly
to line the insides Of the cover, the other
left loose as an ornamental leaf. Before
the silesia is quite dry with the bow OF
the scissors run along heavily the ridge
of the board where it meets the back OF
the book. Repeat this while the work is
drying to insure o fixed depression, a
gutter, which gives finished style and
admits easy play in opening and shut
ting the new bound book.
Making sure that no splash Of paste
is overlooked, now place clean paper
around the volume and lay it where it
will rest evenly under heavy weight
Before it is quite dry iron it we'll with
a moderately heated iron, which should
be moved discreetly over all the pasted
parts, neither scorching nor ruffiing the
papers. In rebinding several books, If
they have varied only little in size,
they may be brought to uniform ap-
pearance by judicious suiting CT the
covers.
Much of the contriving for bookbind'
ing may be done before the paste work
begins. If the measuring and cutting
of the boards and the outer paper and
inner and outer muslins be done at ono
time, the work is we'll begun and may
be left for the day. When at the real
work of binding one must move rapid
ly on, not doing half upon one book and
as much upon the other, then going
back to the first, but the first book must
be entirely finished and put under press
before the pasting upon the other be-
gins.
When once the brush is dipped il the
paste cup it is better not to be inter
rupted, as imperfect drying discolors or
blisters the paper and warps the boards
Attention and accuracy secure good re-
sults.-New York Tribune.