Making A Medieval Book By Hand - Part 2 - Trimming & Rounding, Edge Decoration, Sewing Endbands

Hello everyone, and welcome to my bindery!

In this installment I begin by trimming the book to size and rounding the spine. I first cut down the oversized endpapers and glue down the free decorative flyleaves to make what's called a 'stiff' leaf. Next I glue out the spine and trim the fore edge of the book using my bookbinder's plough. With the fore edge smooth I can round the spine of the book and then trim the head and tail. The spine of the book is not 'backed', meaning I don't form the type of shoulders seen on later bindings. Instead I line the spine with a piece of leather that is cut to fit around the sewing thongs.

The next major operation is to decorate the edges of the book. Like the marbled endpapers this is not an especially medieval feature, but I wanted to make this piece extra special, so the edges get an upgrade. I begin by scraping the fore edge to eliminate the stepped 'starts' created by rounding the thick signatures. The head and tail don't need this treatment as they are smooth from the plough. I then sprinkle the edges with acrylic paints and burnish them with beeswax.

Finally I weave head and tail bands onto the book using hemp cores and linen thread. I've tried to make this part of the video as clear and complete as possible so you can see all of the steps.

In the next video I will cut and shape the oak boards for the covers, attach them to text block, and apply the leather covering. If you enjoyed the film do consider subscribing so you won't miss future installments. Thanks for watching!

List of Materials

Glue: Mix of Acid-Free PVA and Methyl Cellulose, 3:2 ratio.
Spine Lining: Leather, unknown type, roughly 3 oz/ 1 mm
Paint: Golden Brand acrylic paints, yellow ochre and burnt sienna
Wax: Natural Beeswax
Cores: 2-ply hemp cord
Thread: Undyed Linen 25/3, unknown brand
Cores: 2-ply hemp cord

List of Tools

French Paring Knife (made in Sheffield)
Bone Folder (handmade in-house)
Scrap book board, various sizes/thickness
Pressing Boards (1/2" maple plywood, made in house)
Cast-Iron Book Press (Patrick Ritchie, Edinburgh, circa 1850)
Stainless Steel rulers, various sizes
Small Stanley Knife
Maple Laying Press (handmade in-house)
Laying Press & Plough
Curved Card Scraper
Pencil (Blackwing)
Lithography Stone (circa 1925)
Cotton Rag
Agate Burnisher
2" natural bristle brush, generic
Small synthetic brush
parchment release paper
blotting paper
Acetate barrier sheets, .01 gauge
Scissors
Bookbinding Needles
1/4 inch wire mesh
Scrap construction paper for flags

Selected list of Suppliers (Not affiliated)

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All original works of art in this video are copyrighted exclusively by Four Keys Book Arts.
Music Credits:

Image Source Bibliography:

'Fig. 21: Mediæval Book-Binding', from 'Gately's World's Progress', Edited by C. E. Beale. Édition de luxe, Boston : Gately & Co, 1886, p. 283.

'Fig. 8: 'Travail de la Reliure', from 'Procédés de la gravure (Nouv. éd)', Lostalot, Alfred de, A Quantin, Paris, 1882. p. 26

#bookbinding #fourkeysbookarts #handmadebooks #medievalbook

[Aelinnia]

Not only are your bookbinding skills incredible, the quality of the cinematography is stellar. You've no doubt done a thorough storyboard for the production because every shot follows the next to tell the complete story impeccably. Camera angles, shot selection, time lapse, lighting, editing, transitions, all excellent. The art, craft, technique, and technology come together to create a valuable teaching tool for the ages. You even include a list of tools, materials, and sources. Thank you for all your time and hard work to produce this educational and mesmerizingly beautiful series. (Now I'm off to PayPal to provide a more practical expression of my appreciation.)

[clydebalcom]

I knew bookbinding is a very meticulous process, but I couldn't imagine the sheer enjoyment of watching it.

[mattjanzen]

This is probably the most beautiful, thorough, and informative series on bookbinding I've seen.

[BlueEyedColonizer]

This series really shows why book were treasured items. Love this. Thank you

[booksandcrafts-lm]

I've just started a bookbinding elective at my college. I'm absolutely in love with the craft, and these videos are making it even harder for me to focus on my other classes! I'm not at all complaining, your work is fantastic.

[tinderbox]

He's been so gentle and meticulous up to now that when he brought out the hammer and starting beating the crap out of it I nearly spit out my elderberry tea!

[CascaydAzgard]

As someone whom is about to start the bookbinding journey I find these videos invaluable, thanks very much!

[TheSeptemberRose]

6:15 WOW! This is great for all us Visual learners (like exactly what is going on! Cool!

[tylerkrug]

I love all the toolage you have.
The presses, the vices all of them are so cool!

[AvalonDreamz]

Had to comment before even finishing the video!😂 I love all the touches you are adding like the paint splatter and burnishing it on the outer edges of the pages! I didn't think I would like it at first and it ended up looking SO good! Just goes to show, the Master at his craft knows what he is doing!

[annagray]

Really enjoying watching a true craftsman at work! I wish my Dad was still alive, he would have been able to build all your fantastic equipment for me! He was a craftsman too. My Granddad was a watch repairer and Daddy used to make pieces of equipment for him from 2d black and white pictures. Guess creating runs in the family!

[annieo]

That was absolutely mesmerizing to watch. Craftsmanship at its finest.
Thank-you for sharing.

[matnaylor]

What a joy to watch this craftsman, you can now understand why books were so expensive and treasured in times gone !

[addisonkillam]

Glad to see this beautiful skill/art is being practiced and preserved for future generations! A pleasure to watch.

[bradleyleben]

Excellent work! I’ll never look at an old book the same way again.👍👍

[jamieturnbull]

Fantastic. I wont look at an older book the same! A greater appreciation is called for.

[curly]

Such patience to detail in this craftsmanship.

[neoteraflare]

I have no idea why youtube suggested me this video, but I glad it did. It was a really relaxing and interesting half an hour. I will check the other videos too.

[deldridg]

Thank you again - I'm finding this so incredibly calming and moving. Perhaps add in a little pining for those simpler days when folks more commonly shared passions like these. Your work is humbling in its beauty, your fingers are dextrous and your patience is enduring. Many of us have much to learn from you! Regards - Dave

[tonywatson]

I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying this series; great camera work from different angles, detailed explanations of how you're doing each process, unashamed about showing your mistakes AND (more importantly) how you fix them. Love it! Subscribed and now bingeing!