Beyond tree calf: bindings decorated by staining -- Not altogether unpleasing: the experiment with canvas bindings -- Wrapped with care: overcovers -- Good enough for Galileo: books made for scholars -- A gift from the desert: a report on the Nag Hammadi codices / co-authored with Pamela Spitzmueller -- A model approach.

The purpose of this book is to guide the reader through the sequence of operations involved in creating a book bound in leather, or a fine binding. The author defines a fine binding as a book fully covered in leather, with leather-jointed endpapers, gilt edges, and leather doublures. Although a basic knowledge of bookbinding terms and techniques is assumed, this book is meant for both novice and experienced bookmakers.The book is intended to be used as an active guide during the process of fine binding. It is arranged into sixteen sections, listing the sequence of operations, beginning with preliminary work and ending with preparing and putting in leather doublures. Each section includes appropriately numbered instructions allowing the user to find his or her place in the sequence of operations with a reference for what step is next. There are also numbered explanatory sections that include a rationale (why you do it) and technique (how you do it). The work includes close to 300 black and white illustrations, four appendices, and a bibliography.