Re: [BKARTS] official binding name?

[Gavin Stairs <stairs@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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At 06:07 PM 23/03/2004 +0100, you wrote:
> the binding looks like a page folded in half so that it's kind of a
> "double page" binding and the inside of the page is blank. if anyone is
> familiar with the book "i am almost always hungry" it's the binding
> they used. and if memory serves me right i believe the hardback edition
> of "beowulf : a new verse tranlsation" by seamus heaney is bound in the
> same manner.

I call this an Asian or modified Asian style binding.  Older Asian books
made with hand made paper (eg., washi and mulberry bast papers) could only
have print on one side of the sheet, because of excessive print-through, or
soak through in the case of brush work.  Their solution to the problem was
to fold the sheet, with the fold at the fly edge, and to bind by sewing
through on the cut edges.

This solution is still useful today for the same reasons, especially when
we want to use a thin paper and have very inconspicuous print-through. The
spine can be bound by the old Asian methods, basically stab stitching with
various patterns of visible thread-work, or by a modern western method like
double-fan adhesive binding.  The former leaves and open spine, while the
latter can be finished like any standard western binding.  The only
difference in binding is that the book must be knocked up square to the
fore edge, and cannot be trimmed at the fore edge.  This means paper cases
must be made up to the finished dimension before gluing, and they must be
assembled accurately.


Gavin Stairs
Gavin Stairs Fine Editions
525 Canterbury Road
London, Ontario
Canada   N6G 2N5

telephone: (519) 434-8555.
email: stairs@xxxxxxxxxxxx

Gavin Stairs Fine Editions is a small, computer press specializing in book
design and fine, hand-made books.

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