BOOK MODELS
Historic Book Structures Practicum Summer 2023, NYU
Instructed by book binder and conservator, Jeff Peachey
Sixteenth-Century German Gothic Binding
Characteristics:
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The textblock is sewn all-along on three raised double cord sewing supports.
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Two color front bead endbands were sewn on parchment and adhered to the spine.
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The spine is lined with parchment, traditionally printers waste.
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This text is covered in alum-tawed calfskin over quarter sawn white oak boards.
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The boards were shaped with a block plane and a set of rasps, the beveled edge profile is common.
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These structures typically feature furniture and clasps - I will finish these eventually!
Eighteenth-Century French Trade Binding
Characteristics:
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The textblock is sewn in a 4 - on abbreviated pattern on five raised single cord sewing supports.
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Two color front bead endbands were sewn around a rolled paper core, traditionally blue and white thread was used.
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Bound in full leather marbled calfskin over laminate paper boards.
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Sprinkled edge decoration, a red silk ribbon bookmark, and blind tooling are common decorative features​
Mid-Nineteenth-Century English Half Leather Binding
Characteristics:
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The textblock is sewn in a 2 - on abbreviated pattern on three recessed single cord sewing supports.
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Two color front bead endbands were sewn around a leather core with a rectangular profile.
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Bound in thinly pared half leather goat skin with marbled paper sides over paper boards.
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Features five false raised bands and blind tooling.​
Nineteenth-Century Publisher's Binding
Characteristics:
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The textblock is sewn in a 2 - on abbreviated pattern on four recessed cord sewing supports.
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Of the four cords, the two interior cords were trimmed, and the exterior cords were laced through the boards.
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Features a tight back spine covered in cream paper, typically with blue paper over pasteboards.
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Edges are uncut with little square. ​
Nineteenth-Century Cloth Case Binding
Characteristics:
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The textblock is sewn all-along on two recessed single cord sewing supports.
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The bookcloth was made using unbleached muslin toned with Golden acrylics. The cloth was sized in a mixture of methyl cellulose and wheat starch paste, and then pressed with a teflon coated die to emboss a textured pattern.
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The case was prepared and then adhered to the sewn textblock.
Library of Congress Advanced Book Conservation Internship 2025, Washington, D.C.
Instructed by book binder and conservator, Tamara Ohanian
Medieval Armenian Binding
Characteristics:
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The textblock is sewn all-along in a herring bone pattern on four raised double cord supports.
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Tri-color traditional endbands were sewn on three cord supports using red, black, and white silk thread.
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Textile doublers were pasted into the interior of the laced-in wooden boards.
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The binding is covered in brown goat skin. Additionally, the fore - edge flap and straps were made from the same leather. Wooden dowels were shaped and hammered into the upper board as part of the clasp mechanism.
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Blind frames were tooled on each boars and on the spine of the book.
Islamic Lapped Case Binding
Characteristics:
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Half of this model was bound in the tradition style, while the other half was bound using conservation techniques.
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The textblock is sewn all-along using an unsupported link stitch pattern. Traditionally, the link was not a fully closed loop; the conservation sewing incorporated an additional sewing station and a closed loop (coptic).
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Traditional herringbone endbands were sewn on cord cores in pink and green silk thread.
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The boards were covered individually in maroon goat skin with a leather flange at the spine edge. The traditional side used one 4-ply board, while the conservation side used two 2-ply boards laminated at the head, tail, and fore-edge with PVA. The textblock was positioned between the boards, and the leather flanges were pasted onto the spine, one overlapping the other. The fore edge flap was made with 4-ply board.
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Doublers were made with western paper coated in methylcellulose and then sprinkled with gold leaf. The surface was burnished with smooth stones to achieve a semi-glossy surface sheen.
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An Islamic medallion was pressed into both boards using a laser-cut die.
Library of Congress Advanced Book Conservation Internship 2025, Washington, D.C.
Instructed by book binder and conservator, Katherine Kelly
Atlas Binding
Characteristics:
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The textblock is sewn all-along on two tape sewing supports and features 16 map fold structures. Due to the multiple fold-outs in this book, pages had to be removed, and compensation had to be added to prevent a wedge-shaped textblock from forming.
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The book was cased-in, with a textile spine and paper sides. Cloth corners are under the paper covering material.
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Paper and Book Intensive 2025, Ox-Bow School, Saugatuk, Michigan
Instructed by book binder and conservator, Kyle Clark
Greek Binding
Characteristics:
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The textblock features bi-axial sewing. The book was sewn in halves on a wooden board, ensuring that the spine fold of the first gathering was flush with the exterior edge of the spine of the board. Gatherings were sewn all-along with an unsupported link stitch, linking two stitches down. Both halves were then sewn together, forcing the gatherings into a natural round.
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Endbands were sewn on a double cord support in the traditional Greek style.
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The book was covered in brown goat skin, and features braded leather straps and bone pins.
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Blind lines and tooling were done without heat on dampened leather. Metal bosses were added as a final step.