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.

From the author of the highly praised The Pencil and The Evolution of Useful Things comes another captivating history of the seemingly mundane: the book and its storage. Most of us take for granted that our books are vertical on our shelves with the spines facing out, but Henry Petroski, inveterately curious engineer, didn't. As a result, readers are guided along the astonishing evolution from papyrus scrolls boxed at Alexandria to upright books shelved at the Library of Congress. Unimpeachably researched, enviably written, and charmed with anecdotes from Seneca to Samuel Pepys to a nineteenth-century bibliophile who had to climb over his books to get into bed, The Book on the Bookshelf is indispensable for anyone who loves books.

An introduction to the history and techniques of bookbinding that offers a thorough and accessible historical overview of techniques and processes, illustrated with examples, diagrams, and photographs of craftspeople at work.

Book lovers and collectors will want to read this! Arthur Boutiette has compiled the very first book to specialize in antique leather bound books and bindings for collecting and investment. Spanning over 500 years of leather bound book examples, the book provides the reader with thousands of book values. Chapters are also included on the history of the book and the printed word, types of bindings, how to collect books and where to find them, the anatomy of a book, and the care and preservation of books. Over 1,000 color photographs supplement the more than 2,000 listings. It's arranged alphabetically by author's name for easy, quick reference. See for yourself why this book is sure to be the most comprehensive price guide on leather books on today's market.