Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1900-05-03
(lNeW York Lottery

| ENeT Since the MlOule Ages, W0eu
patient monks toiled day after day
and year after year illuminating with
loving art the sacred text, there have
been book lovers who valued a book
not for Its object matter, but for its
artistic binding. The majority Of
Americans accustomed to poor type,
poorer paper and poorest binding
would think it a great extravaganza
| to pay 800 or more to have a favorite
volume rebound in a fashion worthy
of the nobe thoughts expressed.
To the inexperienced eye the hand
made fooled" book covers do not look
very different from the cheap stamped
patterns of the bargain counters. But
the book lover cannot be deceived. He
holds the volume tenderly and looks
| for the distinguished mark of this or
that 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
erned by the same impulse that rules
a painter or sculptor the ideal striv.
ing to make itself palpable.
Book-binding offers a congenial &C.
cupation for women of original ideas
and artistic tastes. II Is not a craze
suitable for woman dependent upon
her own resources, for the field Is
necessarily limited and the returns
smaller, or, to speak properly, slow.
Until recently it was impossible for
woman to master the art of book
binding in America. The greater num-
Der of women whose work is In de-
mand received their instruction
abroad. principally at the famous
Dove bindery in London, founded by
Cobden-Sandenso In the ordinary
shops women are only allowed to
stitch the leaves. But now the Nord-
hoff Bindery In New York gives a
young woman every opportunity to 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
the art, and whose untimely death
prevented her carrying out the plan
herself.
Miss Nordhoff was particularly
adapted for this line of work, She
understood ornamental leather work,
she was a good etcher on copper and
was not only clever designer, but a
cultured woman, with the breadth of
understanding that much travel and
diversified associations invariably
bring.
Bookoinding necessitates close ep
pllcatIon and eoneiderable outlay. The
first cost of learning Is great, and Aha
tools and materials employed are very
expensive. The beautiful feathers are
extravagantly high. and many have to
be especially imported for the pur-
pose. ..-,
In binding a book by hand the first
step 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
in other binderies, mostly for bibles,
law books, dictionaries and other
heavy books that are to be frequently
used.
Then the back is glued. But in the.
Nordhoff Bindery very little glue Is
used, the sewing being depended upon
for strength in holding the leaves in
place.
The book is now ready for the GOV.
ers, and the edges are made even and
smooth by what are known as the ]
pillow and press.
The head.bandings, the bits OF
bright color at the top and bottom of
a volume, can be made by embroidery
silk, woven in and out with three
needles.
The lettering Is the finishing touch.
The title may be put on In single-han,
die letters, which In England Is always
done, or the type is set up all on one
palette and the whole name Is put
On al once.
One woman, Mrs. Henry w. Grim.
wood, being Unable to Obtain instruc,
ton In the ordinary bihderies, studied 4
the whole subject out from ]. W.
Zachnsdorf's Treatise on Practical
Bookbinding." She declared this to
be very comprehensive and compre-
hensive, as 1t ought to be, since he 10
one OF the masters of the handicraft.~
Many women In England have takA
up bookbinding. The Guild of Woman
Binders has sixty members, and In.
cluded several women whose names
have become well known as artists
In the bookbinding. The Princess Vic
toria or Wales Is an enthusiastic
bookbinder and has done some very,
creditable work. 1t is said. She OBJ.
tanned several prizes In an exhibition
some time ago, having entered her
work under the name OF Miss Mat.
thews, as she did not wish her rank !
to influence the decision OF the judg.
es.
But after the'mechanicaI details are
mastered. tie real test remains that
must determine whether woman |
shall receive recognition In this craft |
or not. She must be original In her
designs and must have the discrfhnin. y
ating taste which determines which. |
material, color or establishment Is |
best suited to the subject treated OF |
In the book.
A French novel or a volume OF mod, |
ern verse requires a very different |
treatment and material than a volume
OF Shakespeare or copy Of the Bible,
The craft demands not only skilled |
fingers. but artistic sympathy, and |
subtle insight into the thoughts OF |
he author who wrote the book.
Perhaps l should more definitely
state that the business Is not one that |
offers great raWard for The aaIf ann.