PREPARING FOR COVERING.
Nearly all modern books are bound with hollow backs, except where the
books are sewn for flexible work or otherwise meant to have tight backs.
Much of the paper used at the present day is so hard, that the binder
is almost forced to make a hollow back, in order that the book may open.
The head-band is first set with glue, if worked, by gluing the head and
tail, and with a folder the head-band is made to take the same form
as the back. This is to be done by holding the book in the left hand
with its back on the press, then a pointed folder held in the right
hand is run round the beading two or three times to form it; the silk
on the back is then rubbed down as much as possible to make all level
and even, and the book is allowed to dry. When dry it is put into the
lying press to hold it, and the back is well glued all over; some
paper, usually brown, is now taken, the same length as the book, put
on the back, and rubbed down well with a thick folder: a good sized
bone from the ribs of beef is as good as anything. The overplus of the
paper is now to be cut away from the back, except the part projecting
head and tail. A second coat of glue is now put on the top of the brown
paper and another piece is put on that, but not quite up to the edge on
the left hand side. When this is well rubbed down it is folded evenly
from the edge on the right side over to the left, the small amount of
glued space left will be found sufficient to hold it down; the top is
again glued |88| and again folded over from left to right, and cut
off level by folding it back and running a sharp knife down the fold.
This is what is generally termed “two on and two off,” being of course
two thicknesses of paper on the back and two for the hollow; but thin
or small books need only have one on the back and two for the hollow.
Thick or large books should have more paper used in proportion to their
size. Books that have been over-cast in the sewing should have rather
a strong lining-up, so that there be not such a strain when the book
is opened. When the whole is dry, the overplus of the paper, head and
tail, is to be cut off close to the head-band.
I need hardly say that the better the paper used the more easy will be
the working of it. Old writing or copy-book paper will be found to be
as good as any, but good brown paper is, as I have said before, mostly
used.
The book is now ready for putting the bands on. These are prepared
beforehand by sticking with glue two or three pieces of leather
together or on a piece of paper, well pressing it, and then allowing
it to dry under pressure. The paper must then be glued twice, allowing
each coat to dry before gluing again. It should then be put on one side
for future use, and when wanted, the proper thickness is chosen and
cut into strips of a width to correspond with the size of the book.
The book is now to be marked up, five bands being the number generally
used, leaving the tail a little longer than the other portions. The
strips of band are then to be moistened with a little hot water to
cause the glue upon the paper to melt. Each piece is then to be
fixed upon the back just under the holes made with the compasses in
marking-up. This will be found to be a far better plan than to first
cut the strips and then to glue them. By the latter plan the glue is
liable to spread upon the side, where it is not wanted, and if the book
has to be covered with light calf, it will certainly be stained black:
|89| so the coverer must be careful that _all glue is removed_ from
the back and sides before he attempts to cover any of his books with
calf. It is rather provoking to find some favourite colour when dry,
having a tortoiseshell appearance, which no amount of washing will take
out. When dry the ends of the bands are to be cut off with a _bevel_,
and a little piece of the boards from the corners nearest the back also
taken off on the bevel, that there may not be a sharp point to fret
through the leather when the book is opened. This is also necessary
so that the head-band may be properly set. A sharp knife should be
inserted between the hollow and should separate it from the back at
head and tail on each side so far as to allow the leather to be turned
in. Morocco may have the back glued, as it will not show through, and
will facilitate the adhesion of the leather.
_Flexible Work._—This class of work is not lined up. The leather
is fastened directly upon the book; the head-band is set as before
explained, and held tight by gluing a piece of fine linen against it,
and when quite dry, the overplus is to be cut away, and the back made
quite smooth. The bands are then knocked up gently with a blunt chisel
to make them perfectly straight, being first damped and made soft with
a little paste to facilitate the working and to prevent the thread from
being cut. Any holes caused by sawing-in, in previous binding, must be
filled up with a piece of frayed cord, pasted. Any holes thus filled up
must be made quite smooth when dry, as the least unevenness will show
when the book is covered.
In “throw up” backs, or in “flexible not to show,” a piece of thin
linen (muslin) or staff called _mull_ is glued on the back first, and
one piece of paper on the top. For the hollow, three, four, or even
five pieces are stuck one on the other, so that it may be firm; whilst
the book itself will be as if it had a flexible back. The bands, if
any, are then |90| to be fastened on, and the corners of the boards
cut off. It is then ready for covering. “Mock flexible” has generally
one piece of paper glued on the back, and when marked-up, the bands are
put on as before, and the book covered.