The author, Edward R. Lhotka, shares the leather bookbinding techniques he learned and perfected during his forty-eight years at the R.R. Donnelley and Sons Company's "Extra Bindery" in Chicago. For twelve of these years (1924-1935) Lhotka was an apprentice and journeyman under the tutelage of the master bookbinder, Alfred de Sauty.

This work is an illustrated manual that shows step-by-step the art and science of fine leather bookbinding. The author learned the ancient craft from one of England's foremost binders, Alfred de Sauty. In this informative work, he takes the reader through the intricacies of traditional leather binding. Every step is illustrated, along with a short, clear explanation. To lessen confusion, Lhotka doesn't explain all the different ways a procedure may be done; he concentrates on his way, as taught by de Sauty. Edward Lhotka began bookbinding in 1924 apprenticed to Alfred de Sauty. During the next 48 years, Lhotka rose from journeyman to assistant manager of the fine binding department of the famous R.R. Donnelley & Sons. As a teacher, he has taught hundreds the fine art of hand binding after hours at Donnelley's.

An illustrated manual that shows step-by-step the art and science of fine leather bookbinding. The author takes readers through the intricacies of traditional leather binding with the skill of a patient teacher. Every step is illustrated with an explanation. This manual belongs on the shelves of students, conservators, and binding historians.

Each project in this book combines bookbinding with a specific craft such as quilting, jewelry making, or polymer clay, and offer levels of expertise: basic, novice, and expert. Illustrated step-by-step instructions and photographs demonstrate how to construct the cover pages, and a unique binding technique, easy enough for a beginner to master. Each project also features two other versions with the same binding geared to those with more or less experience. The novice version is for those who have no knowledge of the craft and want shortcuts, but love the look. For the quilter's book, for example, vintage quilt pieces become the covers so all that's needing in the binding. Or if you're interested in wool felting use an old sweater. This offers great opportunities for upcycling. The expert version is for those who have a great deal of knowledge and proficiency of a certain craft - the master art quilter, for example. For this version, an expert guest artist has created the cover and the author has created the binding. This offers yet another creative opportunity - the collaborative project. Since crafters often get involved with round-robins and other shared endeavors, this will show them yet another way to combine their skills. No other craft book offers the possibilities and challenges that Adventures in Bookbinding does. Readers will return to it again and again to find inspiration and ideas.

A guide to hand book-binding.