424 BOOKBINDING 



projects beyond tho width of the Lack so as to form two -wings ; these, with the 

 projecting ends of tho cross-cords or bands and the end papers, form the combined 

 material for securing the book in the case. The back of the book, however, before its 

 insertion in tho case, is rounded, either by a peculiar manipulation with the left hand 

 and the use of tho hammer in tho right hand of tho workman, or by the use of 

 tho rounding-machino. By this operation a concave surface is presented at the fore- 

 edge of tho book corresponding to tho convex surface produced by rounding its back, 

 and lastly each volume is tightly nipped (its back slightly projecting beyond the pros- 

 sure) either between ' backing boards,' or by the jaws of a backing machine (fig. 162, 

 as manufactured by F. Ullmer). The whole surface of tho back is then hammered and 

 pressed till it spreads out beyond the thickness of tho rest of the volume, and a 

 projection is produced along each edge of the back, forming two ridges, which fit into 

 tho space before described as being left by the case-makers between each board and 

 tho hollow of tho case, thus combining to form a hinge and give the needful play to 

 tho opening and shutting of the lid of tho book. 



As before indicated, the end papers, the flap of the lining cloth and the ends of the 

 cords or bands are then pasted to the inside of the case first on one side and then 

 on the other, the projecting ridges of the back being at the same time pressed by 

 the workman into the space left for them between the band and the hollow of tho case 

 the volumes are carefully laid between pressing-boards with their rounded backs put 

 outside the edges of each pressing-board so as to escape the coming squeeze and tho 

 pile of boards and books is then subjected to pressure for a needful period, either in 

 an hydraulic or screw-press. After a sufficient space of time and pressure to allow 

 the paste to dry, the press is emptied of its contents, each volume opened and ex- 

 amined to see that it is correctly inserted, and the lot is then ready for delivery to 

 tho publisher. 



Such, with some variations of detail in different establishments, are the processes 

 by which the myriads of books issued by the large publishing houses throughout the 

 year are bound with great rapidity, at a low price, and in endless varieties of style 

 to suit every taste. i 



We turn now to the more elaborate and complete style of binding, (technically 

 termed ' extra binding,') which is substantially, with certain modifications, the system 

 adopted ever since the book proper, with its rectangular figure, and its distinct leaves 

 united together at their back edge, superseded the extended sheet or series of sheets 

 which in ancient times were rolled round a cylinder and formed the ' volumen ' or roll, 

 from which our term ' volume,' no longer strictly applicable, is derived. 



Instead of a case completely fitted and finished being pasted or glued upon the 

 book prepared for it, as previously described, the cover of tho book in extra binding 

 is generally fitted on piecemeal, drawn over the boards, and the lettering or ornament 

 added last when the cover has been fitted and attached to the book. The edges of a 

 bound book after being cut round are generally either sprinkled, wholly coloured, 

 marbled, or gilt. In the first, a brush slightly charged with colouring fluid is struck 

 smartly over the edges of the books so as sprinkle them with a uniformly distributed 

 shower of small spots; in the second a sponge or brush dipped in colour is applied to 

 the edges, which are tightly compressed so as not to allow the colour to penetrate the 

 margin of the books ; in the third, the edges are applied to colours which by a peculiar 

 process are made to float on water in patterns combined so as to produce a marbled 

 effect, and which are transferred by contact from the surface of tho water to that of 

 the book-edge which is afterwards burnished; in the fourth, gold-leaf is laid upon 

 the edges which have been previously coated with a solution of whito-of-egg, &c. 

 termed 'glaire,' to which the gold-leaf adheres, and is then burnished with a 

 polishing tool, tipped with agate. 



The ends of the cords are then drawn by the ' forwarder ' through holes pierced in 

 the boards, near their back edge, unravelled, spread out and hammered down to tho 

 level of the board so as to present no unsightly lump under the leather. The leather 

 for the cover is pared round its edges, softened by manipulation and the application 

 of paste-water to make it pliable, and is then pasted evenly and smoothly over the 

 boards and back of the book, worked well into the hinge and round the ' raised bands,' 

 (if there are any), turned neatly over the edges and round the corners, and rubbed 

 down with a folding-stick ; ' head-bands ' giving a neat and finished appearance and 

 additional security to the turning in of the leather at the back are then added to the 

 top and tail of tho book. Sometimes lettering-pieces of a different colour to tho rest of 

 the book are used, being pared very thin so as to avoid any unsightly swelling, and 

 pasted and rubbed down on that part of the book which is to receive tho lettering. 

 If the book is ' half 'bound, 1 instead of ' whole-bound,' the leather is limited to a strip 

 at the back "and" a short distance from the back on each side, and to the corners ; 

 the sides of the book being covered with either marbled or coloured paper or cloth, 



