fine book binding

The craft of book art, handmade books, fine book binding and conservation.

idesignbooks.com
Fine book binding for any period book can be bound in cloth, cloth and paper, full leather, half leather, or three quarter leather, and finished with gold stamping.

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conservation boxes

clam shell or tray case construction

slip cases

portfolios

available in custom sizes

 

All custom projects are reviewed for condition, design, and customer preferences regarding materials and treatment. Prices can be estimated for individual pieces, larger collections or editions, based on requirements and cost of materials. Standard sizes can be made from any requested measurements.

Boxes can best be fitted directly from the book or materials, but other methods can work as well.

 

The box shown was made for an 1857 Book of Common Prayer in a personalized binding of the period. The book was treated with consolidating gel and mended, reattaching the front cover.

Clam shell or tray case boxes offer a book like appearance, ease of access, and little or no ware.

 

 

 

All work is custom made to order. At this time we do not have stock items available for purchase on line or otherwise. Please allow time (one month or more) to plan any fine binding projects.

A conservation box in cloth and paper protects a book or collection of pamphets very well.

a clam shell or tray case conservation box

A tray case can be labeled or stamped with title in gold.

The tray case cver can be labeled or stamped with title in gold.

The clamshell box closely fits the book inside and offers easy access.

The personalized Church Service book of Jonas B. Kissam in the custom box- private collection.

 

fine book binding

Most of the books below are facsimile and conservation bindings done for customers that like calf and marbled paper boards. The front label design I came up with for smaller books with less spine area to be stamped by any means other than by hand, so this is a cost effective as well as handsome titling method. All materials used in these book bindings are archival or made specifically for fine book binding. Books that we work on are studied for appropriate technique and handling. We repair or restore according to customer preference, appropriate style and materials, or custom design according to original construction. Small volumes such as some of these, having no more than 36-48 pages, can be washed and mended or we recommend they be sent to a paper conservator before being bound. Many do not need washing, depending on condition, as the paper of periods before the later 1800's is stronger and less acidic.

A fine binding in red calf and marbled papers with gold stamping and tooling.

Documents relating to the Embargo Act

 

A fine calf and marbled binding forThe Battle of Breed's Hill, an account of the battle near Bunker's Hill.

Battle of Breed's Hill

A fine binding for the trial and execution of two slaves for murder which became a brutal piece of Massachusetts history.

Mark & Phillis

A fine binding in calf and marbled papers of Lucretia Cannon, supposedly held an infant to the flames and was a notorious gang leader.

Lucretia P. Cannon
The confession of Charles Gibbs, Pirate has colored end sheets.
An unusual title page with wood engraved illustration.

 

New Englands's Rarities Discovered tastefully bound in calf and stone marbled paper boards with gold tooling.

New England's Rarities Discovered

 

 

 

A facsimile binding in calf and marbled papers, for the story of the Shipwreck of the Brig Neptune.

Shipwreck of the Brig Neptune

A facsimile binding, The Captivity of Mary Velnet is the unfortunate story of a woman taken to sea.

The captivity of Mary Velnet

 

Palmer's Narrative, a facsimile binding in calf and marbled papers with a fine leather label tooled in gold.

Palmer's Narrative

The title page of the book about an awful shipwreck where the survivor's are lost at sea.

Frontis and title page of Palmer's Narrative
 

A history of Saco and Biddeford bound in ful antique calf with a gold tooled spine.

Saco and Biddeford

1st Maine H.A.

The Green Room beautifully bound in leather with inlay and gold tooling is filled with stories about the room where actors wait to go on stage in 1796.

The Green Room

 

Thomas Prince's History of New England

.The concertina or accordian book can be useful for various applications.

concertina or accordion style book

 

Custom leather blank books can make fine gifts or journals.

miniature & small leather bindings

A book can be reasonably bound in cloth and paper cover boards.

handmade books covered in paste papers

 

handmade paste papers