Binding

Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book from a number of folded or unfolded sheets of paper. It usually involves attaching a book cover to the pages.

In our UK workshops our craftsman trims & cut the folded pages to size, then they hand stitch and sew the folded sheets (signatures) of paper to create a base spine. This is performed on all our books. Looking from the top of the spine, the book can be seen to consist of a number of signatures bound together. When the book is opened in the middle of a signature, the binding threads are visible.

This outer-case of the book block is then ended with Marbled or Noble Macmillan signature end pages. We then attach a ribbon marker and head bands that protect the top and bottom of the spine. The book block is then gilded in either silver or gold leaf.

Then we cut the leather casing to size and clad the book block using glue. The corners are folded over and stitched to finish the binding process. This technique dates back to the mid-20^th century and is one of the most stable ways of binding books to date.

Though almost any existing book can be repaired to some extent, only books that were originally sewn can be rebound by resewing.

This is the same process for our Original Thickcard Albums but the signatures in this case are Thickcard acid free boards, which are hand sewn using linen strips to the spine.

Once the book is bound, we then move onto spine or cover embossing to finish a Noble Macmillan Social Book or Thickcard Album that will last a life time.