Chapter VII: Suggestive Course

In the previous discussions of the three main types of books, practically every process used in elementary hand-binding has been described.

The following outline is the result of several years of effort on the part of the author, to develop a series of problems involving the bookbinding processes, meeting some of the constructive needs of the various grades of the school, and relating in some vital way to the regular school interests.

It was thought that confusion would be avoided by indicating the methods and processes of a set of specific problems. It is understood that these problems are only typical and that from these, a great variety of books may be worked out in response to special needs. In the practical work of the class, these problems are not dictated step by step and in detail, to the pupils; but as far as possible each pupil plans for himself, size, number of pages, proportions, color combinations, decoration, etc. A very large part of the value derived from such work, comes from the necessity of thinking and planning in advance, and from the privilege and exercise of choice.

Let us assume that we are taking the problem of the fourth grade spelling book, page 53, Fig. 38. The first thing necessary is the spelling paper as a basis for our plans.

Each child is given a sheet of paper, say 3½×8 inches. The class is questioned to bring out the general characteristics of the cover needed, such as the direction of opening, the necessity for a hinge in the top cover, etc.

Then the matter of the squares or the extension of the boards is taken up and the pupils express opinions as to the amount of the extension. After reasons are given for various opinions, the pupils calculate and write on the sheets of paper the sizes the boards are to be cut.

Then comes the question of the distance the hinge is to be from the back. One pupil may answer three inches and another one-half an inch. Reasons are brought out why neither is satisfactory and also why it may vary, say, from three-fourths of an inch to one and one-half inches, and each child writes on his paper the distance he prefers. The same plan is used with reference to the width of the hinge; and since this may vary greatly, even from one-fourth to two inches, guided always by the ideas of good proportion and fulfillment of purposes, the pupils are asked to write down their preferences.

Then is taken up the question of the proportion of cloth to paper on the covers. In the first place, it is apparent that constructive considerations demand that the cloth must reach from the back some distance beyond the hinge toward the foredge, but how far beyond is a question of good proportion. It is always found that children vary but little in their judgments of proportion in this matter. The author has made this proposition to scores of children:—“Let’s have the cloth and the cover paper meet at the middle of the cover,” and in the whole number of children, there has never been one who would agree to any such an arrangement. When the matter of the cloth has been determined, the pupils calculate the sizes the pieces of cloth and paper must be cut, allowing the proper turn-ins. These dimensions are written down with the other decided points. From this information, the pupils make simple drawings. From samples of various colors of cloth, paper, and cords, the pupils select satisfactory combinations. In this, as in all other matters, if pupils make wrong selections or show poor judgment, it is the opportunity of the teacher to suggest and to convince them of the wisdom of some other choice.

_Fig. 36._
]

_Fig. 37._
]

The material is next marked out and cut. Of course, this is done by each pupil from the information he has written on his sheet of paper.

The actual pasting of the boards into the cloth and paper requires but few suggestions or directions if the pupils have gone through the work of the previous grades. If they have not, then they are asked to place the board upon the cloth in the proper position, mark around it, and clip out corners as at a, Fig. 36. When the cloth is pasted on, the same process is used with the paper allowing it to lap one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch on the cloth, b. When the covers are completed and pressed, the punctures are made and the cord tied in.

PLATE IV
1. Tilo Matting Poem Book 2. Nature or Sketch Book 3. Home
Book
]

FIRST GRADE.

1. Home Book.

This is made to contain the freehand cuttings of the house and its furnishings, the family, the barn, the chicken house, all the animals, machinery, etc., about the home. It is made up of sheets of manila paper with colored sheets of the same size for covers. These are all tied together with a heavy cord through two holes punched at one end. 3, Plate IV.

2. Nature or Sketch Book.

Made of the same material as the Home Book except that only one colored sheet is needed. But the sheets are all folded in the middle and three or four punctures are made with a darning needle or a punch along the fold. A cord threaded into a large needle is run into the top puncture and out at the bottom puncture; then back into the second puncture from the bottom around the thread and out at the same puncture. This is repeated at each puncture until the top one is reached, where the ends of the cord are tied together, 2, Plate IV. The book may be made by finding the middle of the paper, punching the holes and tying the cord before the folding is done.

3. Portfolio.

This is made of two sheets of paper, one of which is one-half inch narrower and one inch shorter than the other. The small one is placed upon the large one in such a way as to leave a half inch strip around three sides. The two corners of the large sheet are cut out and the edges pasted and folded over upon the small sheet.

SECOND GRADE.

1. Portfolio.

Made of one piece of tough paper by simply cutting rectangles from the lower corners of the sheet, as shown in Fig. 37 A, and folding the rectangles a, b, c on dotted lines. The two smaller rectangles are pasted to the larger one, c.

2. Scrap Book.

Made of single leaves with a two-inch fold at one end. Covered with a folio of Bristol, reinforced at the back with strip of book cloth, and tied through five punctures with heavy cord. Fig. 37. See 6, Plate IV.

3. Nature Book.

Cover same as Scrap Book with the addition of pieces of cover paper pasted on the covers, reaching from the cloth to the foredge. Book made of folios sewed like 2, grade one. Pasted into cover.

4. Spelling Book Cover.

Made of light boards which are covered with cover paper. Pieces of cover paper are pasted on the inside as end papers, and are decorated by the children. The two sides of the cover are fastened together by inserting rings or cords in holes punched at the end. 5, Plate IV.

5. Language, Poem or Arithmetic Book.

Single leaves covered with folio of crash or burlap, tied with cord through three punctures, cover lined with one piece of cover paper, and edges and design of cover worked with coarse thread. 4, Plate IV.

THIRD GRADE.

_Fig. 37A._
]

1. Spelling Book.

Single leaves with separate boards, covered with book cloth pasted all over. The top board is cut into two parts, leaving a flexible hinge near the back. Boards lined with cover paper. Tied through two, three or four punctures by Japanese method, Fig. 38.

_Fig. 38._
]

_Fig. 39._
]

2. Literature Illustration Book Cover.

Half cloth. Narrow boards, leaving wide limp back of book cloth. Back reinforced with super and boards lined with cover paper. Two or three boles are punched from side to side, and tied with heavy cord or fastened with rings. Fig. 39.

3. Portfolio.

Made of one long, narrow piece of cover paper or Manila board. The bottom third is folded up to form the body of the portfolio, and the top third is folded down for the hap or cover. Two strips of cloth are folded and pasted to the ends of the portfolio to hold the front and back together.

4. Nature Book.

One section sewed with five punctures, same as number 2, grade one, covered with heavy marbled boards, with buckram back, super put on, and first and last leaves used as pastedowns.

5. Poem Book Cover.

Made of two boards. Joint made in top board as in Spelling Book. Boards are covered with crash and lined inside with cover paper. Tied with heavy cord through four punctures.

6. Japanese Book.

The book part is made by folding a long piece of paper first one way and then the other until it is all folded accordion fashion. Boards are covered with cover paper and pasted to the first and last pages.

FOURTH GRADE.

1. Portfolio.

Made of heavy cover paper, with some method devised by the class for increasing and decreasing the thickness of the portfolio.

2. Clipping Envelope.

Made of one piece of heavy cover paper or light Manila board. Rectangles a little longer than half the body of the envelope, are folded over and pasted. The small flap at the bottom is folded up and pasted. See Fig. 39 A.

_Fig. 39A._
]

3. Spelling Book.

Same as that of third grade except with half instead of full cloth covers. See Fig. 38.

4. Language, Geography or History Notebook.

More than one section. Sheets folded and cut. Sections arranged in book form, and a colored folio tipped in to the second endpaper on each side. The book is marked up for a sawed puncture one-half inch from each end, and for stabs immediately under the sawed punctures and every half inch along the side and about one-fourth of an inch from the back, a, Fig. 40. The stabs are made with a sharp punch or awl.

A needle is put on each end of a long linen thread. Then with the thread lying in the head puncture, a needle is inserted from each side into the head stab and the thread drawn through. The needles are then run into the next stab and then into the next, until the foot puncture is reached. Here the threads are brought up and tied so that the knot sinks into the sawed puncture.

_Fig. 40._
]

A piece of super is now thoroughly pasted upon the back and about one and one-half inches down the endpapers. These outside leaves of the endpapers are cut off at the front edge of the super and a piece of the cover paper as long as the book and as wide as the super is glued on, b, care being taken to have it fit flat across the back with sharp turns at the edges.

The boards having been covered separately, except lining, are now pasted on about three-eighths of an inch from the back or one-eighth of an inch in front of the stitches. The book is now put lightly into press. When dry, the colored endpapers are pasted to the covers and the book again put into press.

Fig. 41.
]

FIFTH GRADE.

1. Nature Book.

One section. Large sheet folded and cut or torn to proper size. Sewed through five punctures. Bound in full or half cloth. Case binding. Super put on and first and last leaves pasted to covers by closing the cover on the paste-covered endpapers. Fig. 41.

2. Spelling Pad.

Made like the top cover of the spelling book shown at Fig. 38, except that it has cloth corners, which are put on the same as the leather corners of the Extra Binding, Fig. 31. Four punctures are made and the narrow part is turned over and tied as at Fig. 42.

_Fig. 42._

_Spelling Pad_
]

_Fig. 42A._
]

3. Soft Leather Cover.

This makes a nice gift for Christmas. The cover is removed from a small book, a folio of cover paper is tipped to each side for end papers, and the book is pasted into a cover of velvet sheep skin.

4. Re-cover.

Some library book or book of the pupil’s.

New super put on, new endpapers tipped in, and a new half cloth case binding made and laid on. Boards as wide as the book and three-eighths of an inch longer. Cloth as wide as desired and one and one-half inches longer than the boards. Cover paper as long as the cloth and seven-eighths of an inch wider than the distance from the back cloth to the foredge of the board. Cloth is folded lengthwise and creased only at the ends, as at a and b, Fig. 42 A. A line c d is drawn ¾ from one end. Lines h f and g e are drawn. The distance of these lines from a and b is half the thickness of the book, plus one joint. The boards are pasted into the angles d h f and c g e, and the cover is put lightly into press. The cover paper is marked up and pasted on exactly as described in Library Binding, page 30.

5. Post Card Book.

Loose leaves of cover paper 7″×11″. Cover made exactly like the fourth grade spelling book at Fig. 38, except that it must be much larger in order to accommodate the larger leaves.

Various devices may be used to hold the cards, but the best method perhaps, is to cut slits for the corners.

6. Rebind Straight Back Book.

a. Old cover torn off.

b. Sections cut apart.

c. Mended and guarded.

d. Endpapers cut.

e. Sewed all along with five punctures. Consult Case Binding, Fig. 14.

f. Back glued.

g. Half cloth case binding made and put on.

7. Magazine Cover.

Case binding in full cloth. Inside of back lined with a strip of book cloth. A one inch piece of cloth or leather runs lengthwise inside of each board to hold the leaves of the magazine. These strips are fastened by turning the ends and pasting them under the end papers, similar to that shown in photograph, Fig. 52.

8. Art Book.

Several sections sewed all along. Heavy gray paper for mounting drawings and pictures. Original work on cover, using combinations and modifications of previous problems. After the book is bound, a sufficient number of leaves may be cut out along through the book to prevent too great thickness at the back.

SIXTH GRADE.

1. Portfolio.

Simply a case binding in half or full cloth, with a cloth pocket inside of each cover. Each pocket is made by taking a piece of cloth one inch wider and two inches longer than the board, and folding the edges of one side and the two ends and pasting to the board. Then the cover is finished according to the method of making a case binding.

2. Memorandum Book.

One section with a small folio of Manila board outside. Cover is made of one piece of buffing, which is cut ¾″ longer and wider than the finished cover. A piece of tough paper exactly the size of the finished cover, is pasted on the inside of the buffing, leaving about a three-eighths inch margin all round. A piece of Manila board as wide as the paper, is laid on the paper at each end. These boards should be short enough to leave a three-quarter inch space at the middle of the leather for the back.

The projecting edges of the leather are now turned over and pasted to the Manila board. End papers as long as the Manila boards and one-fourth inch narrower, are now pasted on. After the cover has dried in press, the ends of the outside folio of the book are inserted under the unpasted ends of the Manila boards of the cover.

3. Binding from Original Printed Sheets.

Small book like “Printing and Bookbinding,” “He Knew Lincoln,” “Man Without a Country,” or “The Other Wise Man.” Arrangements can be made with publishers to furnish unfolded printed sheets at reasonable prices.

Sheets are folded and pressed—not cut.

Sewed all along with five punctures.

Typical case binding.

Full cloth.

Edges untrimmed.

4. Rebind Sets of Books.

Case bindings in full cloth, each pupil making a number of covers at one time.

Where several books are to be uniformly bound, a spacer is used to locate the positions of the boards on the cloth, instead of repeating the measurements on each cover. The spacer, Fig. 43, may be made of press board, tin, celluloid, or other material. By placing the spacer at the middle of the cloth at the head, the angles are located for the corners of the boards.

_Fig. 43._
]

5. Envelope File.

A number of envelopes are made according to the plan indicated by Fig. 39 A, page 55. With two pieces of cloth folded back and forth, the ends of the envelopes are bound together as shown in Fig. 44.

A case binding in half cloth is made similar to the Literature Illustration Book, Fig. 39, making plenty of allowance at the back for the thickness of the envelopes. When the cover is completed, the bottom envelope is pasted firmly to one of the boards, as shown at Fig. 45.

_Fig. 44._

_Envelope File_
]

_Fig. 45._
]

_Desk Pad_

_Fig. 46._
]

6. Desk Pad.

Made of one piece of heavy cloth board. A piece of cover paper one and one-half inches longer and wider than the board, is pasted to one side and the edges turned over. Thin leather corners or end strips are now put on as indicated at Fig. 46, with only the turnovers pasted. Then the under side of the board is covered with a piece of cover paper about one-half inch shorter and narrower than the board.

The leather may be decorated by tooling, cutting, or coloring.

7. Note Book Cover.

Stiff boards with cloth back and corners, and paper sides. Corners are put on the same as the leather corners in the Extra Binding, Fig. 31.

Two strips of board are cut three-quarters of an inch wide, and one inch shorter than the cover. A piece of cloth is cut as long as the strips of board and four inches wider than the back of the cover. One of these strips of board is now pasted one-half inch from each long edge of the cloth. The other sides of the strips of board are covered with paste and the cloth is folded over upon them.

Fig. 47 shows the end of this part which is pasted inside of the back of the cover, the one-half inch projections of the cloth being attached firmly to the boards. End papers are put in and holes for the cord are now punched through these three-quarter inch strips, and the leaves are tied in place. Finished cover shown at Fig. 48.

_Fig. 47._
]

_Fig. 48._
]

SEVENTH GRADE.

1. Decorative Binding.

Blank book or magazines sewed on colored tapes, ribbons or strips of leather with coarse silk thread in decorative stitches, Fig. 49.

Boards are bound separately in fancy cover papers.

Tapes are laced through the boards and tied at foredge. Colored endpapers pasted to covers.

Tapes and stitches left exposed at back.

_Fig. 49._
]

2. Portfolio.

Three rectangular pieces of tar or cloth board are cut, two larger ones for the body of the portfolio and one smaller one for the lid or flap. The large pieces are lined with paper on the sides which are to go inside. This prevents warping when the outside covering is put on. A strip of book cloth or buckram is cut about two inches wide and long enough to reach around one side and the two ends of the body of the portfolio. This strip is folded lengthwise in the middle with the wrong side out. Then each half is folded lengthwise in the middle, turning the wrong side in.

Thus folded, the strip is pasted around the ends and bottom edges of the two large boards, mitering all the corners. Fig. 50. Then the flap is attached by means of two strips of cloth, one above and one below, and the edges are bound to correspond with the body. Then cover paper is pasted on all the uncovered surfaces of the boards, lapping one-eighth of an inch over the edges of the cloth wherever the paper and cloth come together. Scores of modifications may be made of this style of portfolio.

_Fig. 50._

Showing only the cloth on the edges.
]

3. Limp Leather Binding.

Pupil’s blank or printed book.

Sewed all along or on tapes. Colored endpapers sewed in. Bound in one piece of sheep or calf. Cover is used for dyeing and tooling in decoration. Book put into cover by pasting book and fitting leather closely about it and then pressing.

EIGHTH GRADE.

1. Book for Mounting Drawings and Pictures.

Heavy cover paper is used for this book and is cut into large folios. Then strips of the same paper about one and one-half inches wide and as long as the book is high, are folded lengthwise in the middle. One of these folded strips is fitted over the back and one inside of each folio, Fig. 51, except the first and last. This provides for the pasting of a mount on each page of the book without making the body of the book thicker than the back. Sewed on tapes. Cover treated exactly as that of the Library Binding, page 27.

Fig. 51
]

It is much easier to handle this problem by making the book of regular sections instead of using the one and one-half inch strips, and then cutting out every 3rd or 4th leaf after it is completed. These leaves are not wasted. They may be used for smaller books.

2. Typical Library Binding. See page 22.

Half leather.
Sewed on tapes.
Double boards.
French joint.
Backed and rounded.
Head cut and colored.
Cord inserted instead of headband.

3. Portfolio.

Bound in leather and paper or cloth. Three boards are cut the same size. The joints between the boards are treated exactly like the back of a case binding, except that leather is used and that the inside of the joints are also lined up with leather. Small boards for the flaps are joined in the same manner to the ends of the middle board. Fig. 52 shows the portfolio with only the leather pasted on. The cover paper or cloth is cut and pasted exactly like that of the Library or Extra Binding.

_Fig. 52. Showing part of portfolio with only the leather pasted on._
]

List of Bookbinders Terms.

BACK.—The back of a book is the part where the leaves are fastened
together, and does not include the sides of the cover.

BACKING.—The process of hammering the back in order to drive the extra
thickness due to sewing, over the edge of backing boards making
the joint. Fig. 22.

BACKING BOARDS.—Steel faced boards between which the book is placed
while backing. b, Fig. 22.

BAND, OR RUBBING STICKS.—Sticks used in rubbing the leather down over
the cords, or bands, in the Extra Binding. 7, Plate I.

BEATING OUT JOINT.—Hammering the back of the section of an old book in
order to straighten out the part turned over in the process of
backing when first bound. No. 3, page 40.

BLIND TOOLING.—Putting a design upon the leather with hot tools
without using gold leaf.

BOARDS.—The stiff sides of the cover.

BONE FOLDER.—A bone tool for folding paper and cloth. No. 3, Plate I.

BUFFING.—Thin cowhide used in binding.

CASE BINDING, OR CASING.—Where the book and the cover are made
separately and then pasted together. Pages 11 and 14.

COLLATING.—Gathering together the sections of a book in the proper
order.

COVER PAPER.—Heavy paper used on the covers of books.

CROWFOOT STITCH.—The stitch used at the tapes in Library Binding. a
and b, Fig. 21.

DOUBLE BOARDS.—Two boards glued together to make one side of the cover
in Library Binding. Fig. 23.

END PAPERS.—The blank leaves at the first and last of the book.

EXTRA BINDING.—Book sewed on cords and bound in full or three-quarters
leather. Page 31.

FINISHING.—The part of bookbinding that has to do with the decoration,
tooling, lettering, etc. Page 9.

FINISHING, OR LYING PRESS.—A press for holding the book while the
“finishing” is in progress. No. 1, Plate I.

FLEXIBLE.—In Extra Binding where leather is attached directly to the
back of the book.

FOLIO.—A sheet folded once, making two leaves.

FOOT, OR TAIL.—The bottom of the book as it is held upright.

FOREDGE, OR FORE-EDGE.—The edge of the book opposite the back.

FORWARDING.—All the work of binding a book until it is ready for the
finishing. Page 9.

FRENCH JOINT.—Wide space left between the edges of the boards and the
back of the book in the Library Binding.

GOLD TOOLING.—The use of gold leaf to cover the lettering or
ornaments.

GUARD.—A strip of paper used to mend a torn folio or to fasten in a
plate. No. 4, page 40.

HALF LEATHER.—A book bound with a strip of leather at the back and the
boards covered from the leather to foredge with paper or cloth.

HEAD.—The top of the book as it stands upright.

HEADBAND.—A piece of cloth or cord at head of book to strengthen back.
Fig. 29.

HEAD KNIFE, OR SKIVING KNIFE.—A knife used for paring the edges of the
leather. No. 5, Plate I.

HINGE.—The part of the cover at the joint where the cover bends on
opening. It usually refers to a separate piece of cloth or leather
used to strengthen cover at this point.

HOLLOW BACK.—Where the cover is not pasted directly to the back of the
book. Fig. 33.

JOINT.—The narrow space between the board and the back, and also the
projection of the back formed by the process of backing.

JOINT RODS.—Small rods used to press down the leather or cloth at the
joint. No. 10, Plate I.

KETTLESTITCH.—A stitch used in all types of sewing but especially in
sewing all along. b, Fig. 14.

LAYING ON.—Attaching the casing to the book.

LIMP COVER.—Cover without boards.

LIBRARY BINDING.—The type of book which is sewed on tapes, has a
French Joint and double boards. Page 22.

OVERCASTING.—Method of sewing books which are badly torn and cannot be
dealt with in sections.

PLATE.—Picture or other special matter on a separate leaf which is
fastened into the book.

PLOW AND PRESS.—The plow is for cutting the edges of books. The press
holds the book while the cutting is in progress. Plate II, P. 28.

PRESSING TINS AND BOARDS.—Small pieces of tin and board to protect the
book while in press. Nos. 11 and 12, Plate I.

PUNCTURES.—Holes sawed or punched in the book for sewing or tying.

ROUNDING.—Process of making the back of a book curved.

SECTION.—Part of book made from one folded sheet of paper.

SEWING ALL ALONG.—Method of sewing a book with kettlestitches and
without tapes or cords. Fig. 14.

SEWING FRAME.—Frame on which the books are sewed. No. 6, Plate I.

SIGNATURE.—Small figure or letter at the bottom of the first page of a
section to indicate the order of the sections.

SLIPS.—The tapes, super, and endpaper pasted together to insert in the
double boards of a Library Binding. a, Fig. 23.

SPACER.—A device for determining the position of boards in
casebinding, instead of measuring. This is used only where a
number of the same kind of books are being bound uniformly.

SPLIT BOARDS.—In the Library Binding, Split Boards are sometimes used
instead of double boards. These are simply single boards split at
one edge for the insertion of the slips.

SQUARES.—The distance the boards project beyond the edge of the book.

STAB SEWING.—Where books are sewed from side to side through holes
punched with an awl. Fig. 40.

SUNKEN CORDS.—Where book is sewed on cords sunken into large
depressions sawed across the back. Fig. 32.

SUPER.—Thin cloth put on back of book to strengthen the attachment to
the cover.

TAIL.—Same as foot. Part of Book at bottom of page.

TAPES.—Pieces of tape to which book is sewed in Library Binding. Fig.
21.

THREE-QUARTERS LEATHER.—Cover with leather on back and corners.

TIP.—To attach a sheet of paper by a narrow strip of paste.

TURN-IN.—The ¾″ parts of leather, cloth and paper turned over board,
etc.

WEAVER’S KNOT.—A knot used to attach a new thread to an old one. It is
made as follows: Hold old thread between thumb and finger, place
the end of the new thread under the end of the old thread. Then
loop the new thread around its own end. Draw the end of the old
thread down over the new thread into the loop. This forms the
knot; now draw the threads tight. Fig. 15.

ZIGZAG.—A kind of fold made in the end folios of Library and Extra
Bindings. Fig. 20, page 23.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in spelling. 2. Renumbered the Bookbinding section by adding 100 to all of its page numbers. 3. Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed. 4. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.