Paper Leaf Bindery, our family, has demonstrated bookbinding at the Colonial Festival in Orem, Utah, since 2017. Dressed in colonial-appropriate clothing and using equipment that would have been used by bookbinders in early Colonial America. We demonstrate the work that would be required for bookbinding in the colonial era, which the Founding Fathers and many others of that time so treasured.
Interested in learning colonial bookbinding? We have a class for you!
Bookbinding during the colonial era
Colonial bookbinding, an art form steeped in tradition, craftsmanship, and historical significance, offers a window into the past. This craft, practiced with great skill and care during the colonial era, not only preserved knowledge but also showcased the cultural and material sophistication of the time. With techniques that emphasize handwork and the use of natural materials, colonial bookbinding connects us to the innovative spirit and community values of our ancestors, inviting both novices and aficionados to explore its rich legacy and enduring beauty.
The process of colonial bookbinding
1. Folding & Pressing
Large sheets of paper were printed with text on the printers, and the papers were folded into smaller sections called signatures. One bound signature was called a pamphlet, and several bound signatures were called a text block. Once the signatures were folded, they were pressed overnight or longer in a standing book press.
2. Punching & Sewing
A measured series of small holes would be punched or cut in the fold or crease of each signature. This hole would later allow a needle and thread to pass through and bind the signatures onto cords attached to a sewing frame. The sewing frame and cords allowed the binder to make consistent and tight bindings, like the books made in Europe.
3. Rounding & Backing
Once a book was sewn, all the thread inside the folds of the signatures on the spine side would make the book thicker and lop-sided. Rounding the book displaces all the threads and allows the book to lay flat and even. Once a book was rounded, it needed to be glued and lined. Gluing and lining the spine consolidates all the signatures and allows the book to stay in that preferred shape. Scraps of paper were adhered to the spine for this purpose.
4. Lacing & Covering
The cover boards were attached to the text block using the ends of the cords. The cords were laced or glued onto the boards. The sewn book was now ready to be covered. Books were bound in calf, goat, and sheep skin leathers. Books were fully or partially covered in leather; decorative paper was used as an accent.
Interested in learning bookbinding in-person, online, or virtually?
We have in-person classes for those in Utah. Paper Leaf Bindery also offers virtual classes that include supply kits and tool recommendations to help you learn to bind books. Join us on an adventure as we bind our way through history. We will explore many bookbinding styles from around the world and provide you with the historical context for the books as you learn to make them.
Wanna join the journey? Simply fill out this form.