Considered by many bookbinders and librarians to be the clearest and most valuable exposition of hand bookbinding in English, this volume concisely covers virtually every aspect of the craft — from folding and collating pages, trimming and gilding edges, to preparing covers, designing and inlaying on leather, and creating clasps and ties.

The Book Block is a manual of industrial binding techniques, the first in the Making a Book collection, which focuses on manuals for graphic book production. With the aim of elevating knowledge about graphic production among designers — helping them to produce better books and communicate more effectively with all those involved in the process — The Book Block brings together the 17 most common industrial binding techniques in 6 categories, exploring each one in detail, describing them and showing what is possible to do in this day and age. Conceived from scratch to be bilingual, in Portuguese and English, the book seeks to systematize Portuguese terminology in the printing industry, while providing the same information in the lingua franca of today’s global market: English. In an international context, with customers, employees and producers sprinkled throughout the world, this book provides the perfect tool for an effective communication. Developed by experienced book designers and bookbinders — Itemzero and Maiadouro — this book is a summary of decades of know-how, now easily made available.

Craft Bookbinding introduces some of the numerous binding styles that can be achieved with little or no experience, from simple structures that can be made with folded paper to the classic case binding. Techniques for handling paper and glue are explained in detail, along with a range of different methods of sewing and a variety of cases to be used as covers. There are various ideas for how the different binding styles can be lettered. Lavishly illustrated with photographs and diagrams, clear instructions describe the bindings, which can be adapted to bind books that are uniquely yours. There is a guide to adapting or making tools, plus specialist equipment and an emphasis on best practice so the skills can be developed and used as a foundation for fine binding. Lavishly illustrated with 73 colour photographs and 17 diagrams.

From zines you can fold in a minute to luxurious leather journals and sumptuous sketchbooks, How to Make Books will walk you through the easy basics of bookmaking. Whether you’re a writer, a scrapbooker, a political activist, or a postcard collector, let book artist Esther K. Smith be your guide as you discover your inner bookbinder. Using foolproof illustrations and step-by-step instructions, Smith reveals her time-tested techniques in a fun, easy-to-understand way.