The covers--made of a thick pasteboard called “millboard,” and cut
to the right size by shears (fig. 3)--are fitted to the sides of the
book, the ends of the string-bands are then passed through holes in
the sides of the boards, and are beaten flat and glued down. The book
is then covered with cloth, vellum, paper, or leather, as desired,
and finally pressed in a powerful press to make the leaves smooth.
Ornaments, such as gilt bands or corner decorations, are produced
by gold-leaf put on and stamped by means of tools engraved at their
ends, or, where the margin is to have a pattern or line on it, by
means of wheels with engraved edges (fig. 4). Leather-backed books
are glazed on the outside with white of eggs, which forms a kind of
varnish when dry.