Making A Medieval Book By Hand - Part 1 - Folding Pages, Endpapers, Piercing & Sewing

Hello everyone, and welcome to my bindery!

In this new in-depth video series I'll be taking on the challenge of making a medieval-style book. Follow along while I use traditional bookbinding techniques and a combination of historic and modern materials to craft a unique artisan book. This film has no speaking and a minimal amount of music for those who want to enjoy the peaceful simplicity of quiet hand-work. For those seeking insights into my materials and techniques, you can turn on subtitles to read my full commentary on the process as you watch!

The style of book I'm making is properly called a 'Gothic' binding. This type of binding was characterized by raised cords, wooden boards, leather covering, blind tooling, and metal clasps and corners. It was in use as early as the 14th century, and remained the standard technique in Europe well into the 17th century. Much of my knowledge of this binding was drawn from 'The Archaeology of Medieval Bookbinding' by John Szirmai, which I recommend if you are interested in further reading.

It is not my purpose with this book to make a 100% accurate historic reproduction using authentic period materials. That being said, much of the craft of traditional hand-binding has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, and the medieval binder would have found many of the tools and techniques to be very familiar. The single biggest anachronism is my use of synthetic PVA glue rather than period-appropriate animal glue. The second historic anomaly is my use of marbled paper, though it could be argued that the earliest European marbled papers of the mid 17th century do overlap with this binding style. The 'nonpariel' pattern I have chosen for the endpapers, though, dates from the 1820's, and so is distinctly out of place. But apart from those, virtually all of the other materials in this book would have been available to the medieval bookbinder.

In the next video I will glue the spine, trim and round the book, smooth, sprinkle, wax and burnish the edges, line the spine, and weave the endbands. If you enjoyed the film do consider subscribing so you won't miss future installments. Thanks for watching!

List of Materials

Text Paper: Fabriano Accademia 120 gsm drawing paper, 65 x 50 cm, long grain
Endpapers: Four Keys Book Arts handmade marbled paper, Fabriano Accademia 120 gsm drawing paper, red handmade paper
Thread: Undyed Linen 25/3, unknown brand
Cords: Leather, unknown type, roughly 3 oz/ 1 mm
Wax: Natural Beeswax
Glue: Mix of Acid-Free PVA and Methyl Cellulose, 3:2 ratio.

List of Tools

Paper Knife (made from an old kitchen knife)
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)
Small Carpenter's Square, unknown brand
Pencil (Blackwing)
Steel dividers, unknown brand
Lithography Stone (circa 1925)
Cotton Rag
Agate Burnisher
Piercing Cradle (handmade in-house)
Awl
2" natural bristle brush, generic
parchment release paper
blotting paper
Acetate barrier sheets, .01 gauge
Dahle Vantage 12e Guillotine (found at a thrift store)
Scissors
Bookbinding Needles
Sewing Frame (handmade in-house)
Brass H-Keys (handmade in-house)
Linen sewing tapes, 12 mm
Pins

Selected list of Suppliers (Not affiliated)

________

Follow me on social media:

Instagram

Facebook

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

[byv]

You know you are watching a true artisan and master of their craft when there are no wasted movements. Everything is so smooth, calculated and precise. It's one of those things that when you see it in action, you know from the very first step that the end result is going to be a masterpiece.

[jhy]

I love how he shows the process of making the book instead of it being a time-lapse. not ashamed of watching the whole thing

[mothlee]

For those who are unaware (like I was until part 3), turn on the captions for wonderful narration amd comments on the process! Also TONS of cool info in the description.

[danieljamesbinderystu]

As a professional Artist and Binder, I ALWAYS have your vids playing on my studio monitors. I enjoy watching other professionals craft, create, design and work their magic... you sir are one or these artists. I got into binding long ago, because as a professional artist... I couldn't find a decent watercolor sketchbook with artist grade professional 100% cotton watercolor papers. I wanted a watercolor sketchbook with Arches, Saunders Waterford or Fabriano Artistico also Fabriano's handmade papers. Sure there are a few watercolor sketchbooks with cotton paper like Etchr, but their spines break, crack or split. They are made by machines and not reinforced for heavy water use. They throw an extremely thin layer of glue over cheap machine stitched sections and call it a day. Plus their paper is house brand and you can't find any info on it except " 100%, cotton paper " there are others that make the sketchbooks I wanted... but I wanted to make a piece of art in its self, I wanted the watercolor sketchbook to be a piece of art, for art lol. I make my books with grade 1, highest quality Goatskin leathers from Italy and France. I do leather tooling and alot of geometric Designs and patterns, gold tooling and gilding, I marbled my own papers as well. I learn, studied, researched and took classes on Finishing. I turned my art studio into a bindery as well, the passion only gets greater everyday. I usually like when there is talking in the videos more, iam NOT a fan of any asmr stuff.. its soooo played out on YouTube. I can sit through your vids without talking because I do appreciate your style and eye As a Binder. Anyways, sorry for the rant lol, I can't help geeking out over art, supplies, binding and leather working. Have a wonderful day sir and thank you for your videos, cheers mate!

[ElveeKaye]

No idea how this landed in my YouTube recommendations, but I'm glad it did. It's so relaxing, minimal music and no narration, just a video of a master artist slowly and methodically making a book. Are you self taught, or did you take classes in this remarkable skill? Who makes all the materials and equipment? Even those little brass things that secure the binding cords look specially made for that purpose.

I can understand why books were so precious back then. Paper wasn't mass produced in factories, it had to be handmade by master craftsmen, and each book meticulously constructed and then lettered by skilled calligraphers. I've seen pictures of Medieval illuminated books, and they are works of art.

[jrgordon]

Love your vid's...When I watch them, I have to watch them at least 5 times. I watch, I read, I watch again, then I explain to myself what I'm watching and finally I watch and know what I'm watching...🖖👍🐝💪

[starrynyte]

Absolutely fascinating! I'm doing my MA in Medieval Literatures and Languages right now, so I spend a ridiculous amount of time focusing on what was written in manuscripts, but never really considered how those books were made. It was lovely to see the wonderful craftsmenship

[IMHAVINHOOPS]

Thankyou, Thankyou THANKYOU for not drowning this beautiful, soothing video with hideous YouTube music.The ambient sounds of the manuscript being made just adds to my appreciation of your skill.

[PiggieMafia]

I loved this! It’s time-consuming and meticulous, which means it’s the sort of thing I would enjoy doing myself.

[JohnEllzey]

Fascinating to see and I know most are watching the books but as someone that loves woodworking those are beautifully made vises and tools

[mariettamccoy]

I'm so inspired to create books of my own.

[Roadmaster]

The work..the material, the sound, the light....perfect!!!!

[mattinkel]

Bought an english 10 x 12 cast iron book press recently..no makers mark sadly but I bought it for embossing vegtan leather .. Now I made a journal many years ago for a loved one as a gift, hand sititched signitures, tooled leather cover etc and it came out pretty nicely, but I only ever made one ...came across your video's after my book press purchase and its honestly got me wanting to make some books again, I found it a very peaceful almost medative passtime Fantastic videos thankyou !

[taitano]

This is the third time I've watched this playlist. I love it.

[die_rabenfrau]

No annoying music, no pointless rambling. Just a master of his craft, at work.

[RLNTEX]

Even the background music is period correct. Well done!

Man, and I thought I was patient... So labor intensive. Kudos.

[stylincarrie]

OOOOhhhh. That big knife just slices paper so beautifully, I love the sound of it.

[grayashton]

Bless your hands. What a privilege to see this process. Thank you for sharing.

[dsdragonspawn]

This brought me back to my childhood, I had an old friend of the family who would watch over me and my sister while my mom was at work who is a bookbinder out at Scarborough Faire in Texas. I remember spending many summer days in hit workshop while he was blind books in this method, though his workshop was a bit more disorganized.