Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-02-12
HAND BOOK BINDING
WOMEN WHO MAKE A SUCCESS
or 1T.
a school in New York Where It "a
Taught--The Price Of Most Artistic
Work-The Princess Of Wales 4
Rookbinder.
New York Lottery

Nccn book lovers VINO valued q DOCK
not for it's object matter, but for it's
artistic binding. The majority OF
Americans accustomed 70 poor type.
poorer paper and poorest binding
would think II a great extravaganza
"a pay 500 or more to have favorito
volume rebound in n fashion worthy
u the nobc thoughts expressed.
To the inexperienced eye the hand.
made fooled" book covers do not look
Very different from the cheap stamped
laderng Of the bargain counters. But
he book lover cannot be deceived He
holds the volume tenderly and looks
'Cr the distinguished mark OF this or
hat master with eager. loving eyes.
The handsome book covers will never
become popular. because It Is only the
wealthy man or Unsuitable book collec-
tor that would dream of paying hun
dreds of dollars for a book. But as
money Is no object to the wealthy
book lover so in many cases money
IS no object to the men and women
who do the binding. They are gov
crned by the same impulse that rules
"a painter or sculptor the ideal striv-
ng to make itself palpable.
Bonk-binding offers a congenial oc-
equation for women of original ideas
nd artistic tastes. It Is not a craze
suitable for a woman dependent upon
her own resources. for the field Is
necessarily limited and the returns
mailer, or. 10 speak properly, slow.
Until recently it was impossible for
q woman 10 master the art of book
binding in America. The greater mum.
Der OF women whose work is in de
mand received their instruction
abroad principally at the famous
! Dove bindery in London, founded by
l cobden-Sandenson In the ordinary
shops women are only allowed TO
! stitch the leaves But now the Nord-
non Bindery In New York gives a
1 Young woman every oppG unity 10 ac-
Quire the secrets of the craft. This
school has been established by the
! friends of the late Evelyn Hunter
Nordhoff, a pioneer among women In
he art, and whose untimely death
4 prevented her carrying out the plan
herself.
Miss Nordhoff was particularly
: adapted for this line OF work. She
understood ornamental leather work,
sle was a good etcher on copper and
VS. not only a clever designer, but q
cultured woman, with the breadth OF
| understanding that much travel and
diversified associations Invariably
/ oring.
Bookbinding necessitates close ap.
piication and considerable outlay. The
first cost of learning is great, and the
tools and materials employed are very
expensive. The beautiful feathers arc
eytravagantly high and many have to
be especially imported for the pur-
pose.
IN binding q book by hand tho frst
steD is to take the leaves In sections
and sew them in the back. All are
sewn on common cord. which forms
hinge for the books to turn on. This
is called flexible sewing and Is used
n other binderies, mostly for bibles,
law books, dictionaries end other
heavy books that are to be frequently
used.
Then the back is glued But IN the
Nordho4 Biz lery very little glue Is
used. the seV ing being depended upon
Tor strength IN holding the leaves in
place
The book IS now ready for the COW
crs. and the edges are made even and
smooth by what are known as the
flow and press.
The head-bandings, the bits Of
bright color at the top and bottom Of
n volume. can be made by embroidery
iik woven ia and out with three
needles.
The lettering is the finishing touch.
The title may be put on IN singlehan-
dle letters. which in England is always
tone. or the type is set up all on one
nalette and the whole name is put
IN at once.
One woman, Mrs. Henry w. Grim
wood. being unable to obtain instruc-
ion in the ordinary binderios, studied
The whole subject out from j. w.
iachnsdorf's Treatise on Practical
BoOkbinding.' She declared this to
be very comprehensive and compre-
hcnsive as it ought to be. since he Is
one Of the masters OF the handicraft.
Many women in England have taken
MP bo0kbinding. The Guild Of Woman
8inders has sixty members. and in.
. Guided several women whose names
nave become well known as artists
the bookbinding. The Princess Vic.
: oria Of Wales is an enthusiastic
hookbnder and has done some very
creditable work. II is said She OBJ.
tanned several prizes In an exhibition
: some time ago, having entered her
/, work under the name Of Miss Mat.
hews, as she did not wish her rank
o influence the decision OF the iudg
rs.
But after the mechanical details are
mastered, the real test remains that
must determine whether q woman
shall receive recognition in this craft
or not She must be original in her
designs and must have the discrimin
ating taste which determines which
material. color or establishment Is
best suited to the subject treated OF
Ia the book.
A French novel or a volume Of mod
orn verse requires a very different
treatment and material than a volume
~ Shakespeare or copy Of the Bible
The craft demands not only skilled
{ hugers but artistic sympathy, and a
I subtitle insight into the thoughts OF
be author who wrote the book.
, Perhaps should more definitely
: state that the business is not one that
uters sreat reward for the self.sup
porting young woman. But as show
ls the widening circle of women's
work It is worth attention. And h
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