| STAGES OF A HAND-SEWN BOOK | First, paper is folded to form signatures or gatherings (1). Next, signatures are sewn together (through the folds) and endsheets are attached at both the front and the back of the text block (2). The spine of the text block is rounded and a heavyweight Japanese paper called "sekishu" is pasted over the spine to cover and add strength to the sewn signatures (3). Headbands are glued to the head and tail of the spine (3). The cover of the book is constructed from carefully measured binders board and buckram (4). Lastly, the text block and cover are attached in a process called "casing-in" and the book is then placed in a book press between brass-edged boards to insure a solid bond (5). |
