According to the US Patent & Trademark Office, a man named Edward N. Smith from Massachusetts was granted patent No. 6896, which is the earliest US patent granted for a paper folding machine.
Book binding was considered an ancient art form that began centuries ago. Book binding was seen as a way of protecting sensitive manuscripts made of parchment, which were protected by book "covers" that were actually wooden boards.
Books can be rebound or restored. Restoration uses as much of the original pages and binding as possible to restore the book. If the binding is too deteriorated, partial restorations allow for the use of the binding that remains.
A rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone sold for a record price of roughly $227,421 in May 2013. The book included author JK Rowling’s personal annotations and included references to the Harry Potter series as a whole.
Many believe bookbinding may have originated in India. There, religious sutras—a type of literary composition—were copied onto palm leaves that were cut lengthwise. The leaves were dried, rubbed with ink, and the stain that formed in the wound of the leaves made by a metal stylus was the remaining print. The leaves were numbered, threaded with twine, and bound to wooden boards, making a book.
There are certain books which make perfect personalized gifts for people, such as a Bible. A book binding expert can make them truly unique by foil stamping the cover so the receiver will cherish the book for decades to come.
Sewing through the fold, or Smyth sewing, involves folding a sheet of paper into signatures. The signatures are then stitched together through the fold and glued to a textblock. These books have the advantage of lying completely flat when opened.
What purpose does a dust jacket serve on a book? A dust jacket adds visual appeal through artwork, hides book threads, and protects the binding of a book. It is sometimes call a "book jacket," "dust wrapper," or "dust cover."
Dust jackets in the art deco style of the 1920s are highly prized by collectors. In fact, some dust jackets from this era are worth many times more than the books they cover! Prices for these items have skyrocketed in the collector’s market in recent years.
The earliest book, the St. Cuthbert gospel, was covered in red goatskin with colored and raised designs. This books dates back to 700 AD, is about 5.5 x 3.5 inches, and was made shortly after the saint's death in 697. It's currently at the British Library.
Unfortunately, the binding of a book can often begin falling apart long before the pages themselves show signs of trouble. Working with a book binding service can help you restore any of the well-worn heirloom books on your shelf.
Did you know that paperbacks were first issued in the United States in 1845? They all but disappeared when the Copyright Act of 1891 banned their reprinting, but they came back in 1936 when Penguin Press started publishing them again.
Some of the paperback books in your school library may be particularly popular. When the wear and tear make it too risky to loan them out, have them bound as hardcovers so they can continue to bring pleasure to each new class.
Sometimes, books may be tape bound. As the name suggests, tape bound books are bound with adhesive to keep a book in one piece. Pages often must be bound with stitches before using tape to reinforce a book.
Secret Belgian Binding was created in the 1980s by Belgian bookbinder Anne Goy in an imitation of traditional Japanese stab binding. The method uses primary and secondary sewing to create a distinctive criss-cross pattern. Until recently, it was often misattributed as a historic binding.
Did you know that saddle stitching is considered the most common and economical of all the book binding methods? This binding type is created by punching wire through the document’s outer spine and then bending the wire flat on the inside fold to grip all the pages.
You probably already know the first type of written communication created by humans was in the form of cave pictures depicting animals, plants and hunting scenes. These early efforts are the forerunners of written language and artistic expression in humans.
Perfect binding is a good option for several types of manuscripts, since it’s so flexible and works for a wide range of document thicknesses and trim sizes. This includes traditional books, thick magazines, annual reports, technical manuscripts, and catalogs.
Did you know that one of the earliest book forms used wax as a writing surface? Here, a wooden frame was constructed with a thick raised border, inside which melted wax was poured to create a wax tablet. The wax was then scratched with a stylus and colored pigment rubbed over the surface.
The cost of restoring a beloved book can sometimes exceed the book's resale (monetary) value. This doesn't mean restoration isn't a good idea, though. Often a book either has sentimental value that justifies the work, or has other worth that will cause it to appreciate in value over time.
Medieval books were often made from vellum, a thick parchment made from calf skin. Since this material could swell in a humid environment and change the shape of the codex, books were secured with leather straps and metal clasps called furniture.
Have you heard of "acid free" paper? This type of paper is considered "benign" or "neutral" because it will maintain a neutral pH balance (7.0) over time. This makes it a good choice for important documents and also for use as a protective storage medium.
