Michael
Keller / Bookbinding and Restoration
Michael
Keller / Bookbinding and Restoration
Revised September, 2024
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I
have a collection of emails that I would like to have bound. It is
currently approximately 150 pages in length. The pages are 5.25"
x 8.25".
Preferably, I would like to keep the cost of the
endeavor below $*00. Could you possibly supply me with a range of
prices, given different materials for the binding (ie leather vs
cloth).
T. D., Maryland
First,
I will need to know if the "150 pages" are in the form of
single sheets. If so, I regret that the only practical method of
securing them together with anything approaching a hope for
longevity, is to pinch the spine together using a very strong thread
and permanent adhesives. This will, of course, limit the inner
'gutter' (space running between the two text areas of facing pages)
and the finished text block will never be able to lay flat when
opened. The deeper the 'pinch', the more secure the binding.
As
to outer cover, I will quote you for a 1/4 cloth (spine only)
case-binding, with decorative paper covering the boards. The price
will include all materials, return shipping/handling, and a hand-set,
small label affixed to the spine.
I regret that time will not
permit me to explore all of the possible materials and variants
possible in a job such as this.
Could
you please specify how much space is needed for the inner gutter, so
I might format my pages properly?
T. D., Maryland
The
quick answer is: the wider the 'gutter'[see previous answer], the
easier it will be to read the text. The method I usually employ for
binding single sheets together involves 'dovetail' cuts made into the
spine edge of the sheets, the deeper they go into the paper the more
effective the hold. I would think that given your dimensions and no.
of pgs., a quarter inch would be more than sufficient. To illustrate
the effect, take a sheaf of paper, pinch it tightly about a quarter
inch into the spine, and then see the effect as the sheaf is opened.
From a structural viewpoint, 'books' should Always be created
from folded double pages juxtaposed in multiples to create
'signatures' Whenever possible. This allows the 'signatures'
[sections] to be sewn together (through the fold) - thus creating a
typical book format - structurally sensible and opening flat.
How
does one get your printer to print juxtaposed pages on both sides of
the paper ? Now that's the $64.00 question. There are numerous
programs out there but it all depends on your systems. I hesitate to
go into any greater detail, as this is a very broad subject.
How
would you require I submit my manuscript? Currently, it is a
Microsoft Word document, formatted with 5.25" by 8.5" page
size and quarter inch margins.
If you require me to print it
beforehand (which I expect would be the case), do you have any
specific requirements as to how it is printed, etc?
T. D.,
Maryland
"From
a structural viewpoint, 'books' should Always be created from folded
double pages juxtaposed in multiples to create 'signatures'..."
To put it another way, the ONLY way to wind up with a "real"
book is to print the text into signature format. Binding single
sheets permanently together has severe limitations. How one does this
with your particular computer system, programs and requirements would
require finding, learning and executing one of a number of programs,
[or utilities, or even a program macro(s)].
I
believe that I have found a way to produce my project in signature
format.
I took a look at the trial version of Adobe Pagemaker,
but really couldn't get it to work that easily. So, I did some more
research on the internet and finally came to a good understanding of
exactly what a signature was... With this in mind, I decided to go
ahead and manually format my Word document, basically cutting and
pasting the pages so that they were in the proper order for the
signature...
I intend to print the pages in the following
manner:
each formatted page of text is 5.5" x 8.5"
Two
pages per side, on 11" x 17" paper
Pages 1 and 16 on
front, with 2 and 15 on back of first page... Pages 3 and 14 on
front, with 4 and 13 on back of second page, etc.
Correct me if
I am wrong, but if I followed that format, the manuscript would be
suitable for signature format?
T. D., Maryland
Sounds right to me. Just one little thing though; when interleaving or 'nesting' multiple folded sheets within a single gathering, you cannot end up with a square [flush] fore-edge (front edge of the pages). When sewn together, the combined effect is called a picket fence edge, for obvious reasons. Some folks like the look of it, while others insist on trimming it square.
I
would like to get a quote on a one-of custom binding project The page
size is approximately 9" high by 6" wide, and I have it
printed on 70 lbs acid-free stock. It is printed in 5-sheet
signatures (20 pages total per signature) that are currently 17x11
and will need to be cut down and sewn together. There are 14
signatures total, for a total of 280 pages.
I'd like it case
bound with a dark brown leather cover, and I'd like to get a quote
both with and without gold stamping on the cover and spine.
My
goal is a beautiful book that will last, if cared for, for a couple
hundred years.
I'd like to get both a price quote, as well as
an estimate of how long it will take you to return a completed book
once I have shipped you the pages.
P. K., California
First
of all, your bibliographic specifications are impressive and much
appreciated;
As to the actual work, the fact that you had the
knowledge and foresight to print on double-page sheets should make
the matter of hand-sewing onto cloth tapes, backing, etc. a very
straight forward matter.
The only exception I would make to your
proposed project is the matter of the 'FULL' leather binding. As this
would entail a sizeable piece of calf, which I rarely have to hand;
may I suggest a 'HALF' leather binding (i.e. leather spine and board
corners / with the remainder of the boards covered in an imported
hand-marbled paper). Most people seem to prefer the finished look as
being much "showier" than just leather - it also has the
advantage of requiring much smaller pieces of leather which I always
have in abundance, in a wide variety of colours.
I also regret
that I do not normally do gold leaf hand-tooling; I do however make
hot-stamped spine labels with a variety of metallic foils. As this
spine will be rather skinny, may I suggest a simple 2 or 3 word spine
title in (usually) an 18pt. romanesque font on a binding cloth label
of a complementary colour, which is then applied to the spine ? {will
need title...}
If the above is suitable for your purposes, I
would be willing to do this project (as described) for $*.00
(Canadian) + S/H. or: brown binding cloth (half-bound) $ *.00 (Can.)
+ S/H. [which, if you are an American, is currently equivalent to
about $ 2.87 (joke)]. The time required shouldn't be more than 30
days from receipt of materials.
Just one more tech. detail while
I think of it: are there blank sheet(s) at the beginning and end of
the book which could form natural pastedowns (endpapers) ?
I'm
still enamored with the "full-leather" binding idea, but
you were not the only person to suggest a half-leather binding, and
I'm trying to decide now.
P. K., California
Hmmm, lets put it this way; if you want to find a suitable source (online ?) for a full or even half skin [calf, goat, etc.] of high quality, properly tanned - suitable for binding, in a colour and finish of your choice, at a price you can handle; order it, and when it finally arrives (via Europe ?), ship it off to me with the printed sheets - then I would be delighted to execute your full leather binding for you at the same price quoted for the "half leather" binding...
I
would be interested to see what the hot-stamped foil spine label you
are suggesting would look like.
P. K., California
Pretty straight forward stuff here. I hot-stamp the hand-set type onto an appropriate coloured piece of binding cloth, trim and adhere with PVA. Neat and aesthetically simple. Theoretically, it could be done on a piece of leather, but this requires the leather label to be hand-pared down to "skiver" thinness and that presents a time-consuming challenge, so I never bother anymore (nor even offer the option). I do have a modest selection of type fonts and a fairly wide range of coloured foils; but if left to my own good judgment - which is nearly always, I go with a matching or at least co-ordinating colour cloth / roman font in an appropriate size / and 'gold' foil.
You
asked if there are any blank sheets at the beginning or end as
natural endpapers: there are at the back, but not at the
front...
this brings to mind another question: before printing
the finalized document, is there anything else I should consider re.
endpapers ?
P. K., California
If
the pastedowns are not part of the first and last sewn signatures,
they will be added toward the end of the binding process. The
downside is, they are added by "tipping in" simply using a
tiny bead of glue along the fold... this can present a potential weak
spot in the overall structural integrity of the binding - as opposed
to the security of having them literally sewn into the text block
with everything else. Structurally this is a fairly minor point,
however, in the interest of aesthetic uniformity, if you are printing
your pages on special paper, you should either include several blank
pages at the beginning and end of the text, or include several full
size blank sheets with the printed text. If I have nothing else, I
will simply use white archival paper to create 'tipped-in' endpapers.
If you have any special decorative paper(s) in mind, you may
wish to supply them yourself, and perhaps even include enough to
cover the boards on the outside binding; thereby guaranteeing your
complete satisfaction with what the finished book will look like.
I
have an old family leather bound bible that is in need of repair and
restoration. In particular, I would like to be able to add some extra
pages in the family history section. Do you do this sort of work, and
if so, what is the rough cost for this type of service?
K.
G.
...Inclusion
of additional paper is usually a routine matter.
For the rest,
all I can say without actually handling the book in question is that
a typical full restoration for a large [family] Bible is between
$*00.00 and $*00.00 (Can.) and the time element is wholly dependant
on what other work I have at hand at any particular time... usually
anywhere from 4 weeks to 3 months.
...I
would like some of my photoprints bound. The prints consist of 2 sets
of of 8½ x 11" 35 lb. matte photo quality ink jet paper,
printed on one side only. They are not page numbered, but will be
placed in the correct order. ... one set needs to be bound in
horizontal (landscape) format, the other in vertical (portrait)
format. The usual end-papers should be added, and the cover may be of
cloth or other appropriate stock, with a small title stamped on the
front and the spine.
H. D. P.,Elliot Lake, Ontario
Before I can give any estimate as to how big a job this could be; the wide variety of binding options would have to be explained and discussed at some length. It really has to do with what type of book you want to wind up with (i.e., one that opens completely and lies flat as a typical book does, would require joining your single sheets into pairs so that they may be folded and sewn through that fold... etc., etc.)...
I
have what is probably an unusual inquiry. I would like to have a
black leather hard-cover bookbinding made. I do not want any pages
bound in it; instead I intend to have a standard 3-ring binder
mechanism riveted into the spine, and if this was something you could
also include, that would be better still. What I am describing to
this point may not seem much different than a nice photo album, but I
need to place 17" x 13" sheets into the book, so it is
going to be unusually large (but only 2 inches deep). Is this
"Artist's Portfolio" something you can make?
J. E.
B.
There
are all sorts of styles and sizes of 'ring binder' devices; it sounds
as though you might be best off supplying the device, and let the
binder build the spine element of the "book" around it.
I
would be willing to take on this challenge if you would agree to one
change... Instead of a full-leather binding which you suggest
(requiring a rather substantial piece of black leather - which I
seldom have to hand) may I instead offer either a black cloth or
black leather spine with complementary corners on the boards; the
rest of the boards being covered with a decorative paper. This
binding style is called a "half binding" and seems to be
widely preferred by most people as being much more "decorous"
than a plain "full binding". It also has the advantage of
requiring relatively smaller pieces of cloth or leather, which I
usually have in abundance in a wide variety of colours and finishes.
I would be willing to do this project as described above, in
cloth (mechanism provided by you) for $ *.00 (Canadian) + S/H. In
leather (half-binding): $*.00 (Can.) + S/H. The turn around time
probably wouldn't exceed 30 days from receipt of the mechanism.
Can
you custom-make a book for me? I am looking to have made a blank book
bound in leather, about 300 pages with handmade paper that I can
supply myself. The dimensions of the book should be roughly 81/2 by
11 inches. Can you give me a quote on cost?
F. H.
...The
quick answer is yes. I presume you are familiar with sewn books and
realize 300 pages represents 150 'leaves' [a page on each side], and
since it will be sewn together through the folds of 'sheets' [1 sheet
folded = 2 leaves = 4 pp.] the dimensions of this hand made paper
must far exceed 8 1/2 x 11".
Having said that, I can create
a hand-sewn (on cloth tapes) volume of this size, and bind it in half
calf style (leather spine and corners with decorative paper covered
boards for apx. $*.00 - $*.00 (Canadian) dependant on the number of
folded sheets in each 'signature' (gathering) [i.e. the amount of
time required for hand-sewing].
I
am writing from the ... Reading Series and the ... Festival of
Authors. Every author who reads for us signs an autograph book.
Unfortunately, our current book is full and we need to purchase a new
one.
It needs to be archive quality, on acid free paper. It
needs hard covers and to be apx. 17 cm wide by 25 cm tall. The book
we currently have is about 60 pages. What would it cost for you to
make and how long would it take?
M. A.
I
have created several such Guest Books over the years for various
institutions affiliated with the Univ. of Western Ontario.
...Some
things to consider:
covering materials - I can offer a wide
variety of colours in calf leather or binding cloth, assuming a
"half-bound" style [leather spine and corners w/
hand-marbled paper] is acceptable. However, if there is any cloth
(tartan, printed, etc.) you feel might be appropriate; it can usually
be treated in such a way as to make a stable binding
material...
blank text block - you asked if I could create a
sewn block of blank archival stock - yes, but this could represent a
high percentage of the final cost. If you could find a "ready-made"
blank book appropriate for your needs (with or without covers); it
could be used as the basis of a special binding; thus affording your
organization a significant savings over having one built from
scratch.
cover embellishments - have you considered any
"artistic extras" for the outside binding ? Is there any
simple logo emblem, etc. that might lend itself to being recreated
into the finished exterior ?
title page - any printed sheets you
wish to supply can be added to the beginning or end of the text block
prior to binding. This would be entirely at your discretion. Ideas
and requirements can be discussed...
As to time, dependant of
course on your choices, I would think a month would normally be
sufficient turn-around time ...
I
have a hard cover large format copy of Richard Scarry's Busy Busy
World that needs to be re-bound. Could you please give me an idea of
the type of binding that could be used (in laymen's terms) and a
ball-park cost and time.
H.
...please
refer to my webpage for restoration factors you should
consider.
Without having the item before me, or any description
as to condition, the only cost/time ball-park I could give you is:
1
to 8 weeks / $65.00 to $650.00 (Can.)... pretty big stadium...
...I
have found a copy of GONE WITH THE WIND belonging to my mother.
...There is much sentimental value associated to this book. Knowing
nothing about books I am guessing it is a first edition, fifth
printing. The condition of the book is in my opinion poor. There is
no spine at all and the two covers are being held by tape. Most the
pages are torn and some are loose.
I am interested in see what
cost would be associated in attempting to return this books to
display condition.
I can take a number of digital images of the
condition of the book if this would help in determining the amount of
work that would be needed to restore the book.
Perhaps being a
fifth printing the book has no value and we would be better served
purchasing a better quality version from a rare book dealer.
D.
H.
...I
recall doing a couple of copies of this title over the years, and
seem to remember them being a bit larger than the usual
novel.
...Images would of course be helpful, but I am loathe to
give any estimate without a hands-on assessment.
...The question
of commercial value vs. the relatively high cost of hand-restoration
is an important one; please see my comments on this at my website.
As you see from my address, I am located in southern Ontario,
Canada, and if you wish to further pursue hand restoration, you would
be best advised to send the item along to me for a free estimate
(although there is a $**.00 Can. return shipping and pkg. cost,
regardless of outcome). Complete contact information is also found on
my website.
Please advise prior to sending any item.
I
have recently purchased a wonderful edition of the Federalist
Papers.... the only problem is that during the sixties someone bound
the edition in red silk!!! I was hoping you would be able to rescue
this book.
What would you recommend to make the book's binding
as original as possible to what was used during the period and how
long a turn around time from start to finish?
...if I wanted
full calf where would I get the leather from? Could you supply it and
I would pay you for it?
J. K., New York
Assuming
a very straight forward hollow spine, 1/2 calf /w. marbl.ppr.
binding; leaving the text block entirely alone, save for rebacking of
course, my rate would be $*.00 (Can.) per standard quarto volume,
materials incl. This would include a hand-set, 2 line spine label in
gold foil on cloth, headbands, plain replacement endpapers, should
they be required; and a variety of leather colours to choose from.
The "full leather" option would be about the same
price, however *you* would have to supply the leather in a size
sufficiently large enough for the work.
As to what I would
recommend to make the book's binding as original as possible to what
was used during the period; good question... long answer. The norm
for that period [up to mid-19th cent.] was for publishers to issue in
"publisher's binding" i.e. either printed paper "wraps"
or a very temporary 1/4 cloth with (usually printed) paper covered
boards. The assumption was that the purchaser would take it to his
favourite binder and have it 'properly' bound.
I do a
traditional 1/4 cloth (unbleached cotton) w/ ppr. covered boards
binding which approximates a common publishers' style; the problem is
that it looks Very New And Clean and thus rather incongruous.
As
to 'turn-around time for this commission; if it is as straight
forward as stated, after receipt of item, it shouldn't be more than
3-4 weeks + return post time.
And while I think of it, you
stated the text block itself appears to be in good shape, however, if
it is still held together with the original sewing - that is by far
the weakest link in the chain and it is just a matter of time before
it begins to fail. As this sewing is what actually holds the book
together, the problem is that once you spend serious money to
*permanently* fix the outer covering, this very work greatly adds to
the problems and expense when the text block begins to 'unravel' and
the whole tome needs complete disassembly and resewing. I believe I
address this common concern on my website, and I mention it here just
to be certain you appreciate the down-side of dealing only with the
outside of a very old book.
If, once I have had an opportunity
to fully examine the item, I find any part of the text block already
too structurally compromised; I must, in all good conscience, NOT
proceed any farther as you would just be wasting your money on any
covering over an intrinsically unstable book. Should this be the
case, after communicating the problem(s)/ solution(s) to you, if you
decide a full restoration is not to be done... the item [as is] will
be returned to you at your expense, and I will not be held
responsible for ANY work/damage done prior to its return to you. I
regret that an element of trust on your part is necessary due to the
potential problems inherent in any 'blind' negotiation. And
unfortunately, due to the myriad of variables, any accurate work
estimate prior to actual inspection, is virtually impossible.
please
advise if you bind childrens school work into book form i would like
an estimate and time frame for completeing if possible the content
would include school work, art work, school photos etc 100 pages +
please advise if a hard or leather cover sould be done
k m
...While
a hand-sewn, hand-bound album is of course possible, you should be
aware that such a project would easily exceed $100.00 and more than
likely exceed $200.00.
Single sheets, to be properly rendered
into freely opening sewn pages, would require individual "guarding",
etc. At *.00/hr., this can quickly become a very expensive book...
On the plus side, the resulting bound book will be permanent
[dependant on the physical qualities of the contents] and open flat.
The aesthetics of the covering could be as expensive, or plain
as you wish.
As for time-frame; right now I could probably
manage such a project within a month or two of receipt of contents.
We
are interested in receiving an estimate to restore a family bible.
Please advise if you have weekend business hours when you could look
at our bible.
D. C.
I assume you are writing from South Western Ontario. My restoration studio is in my home and appointments can usually be arranged, given enough notice, for any day of the week most convenient to you. You may advise me of a date and time that's good for you and I will get back to you with confirmation.
I
have a textbook that requires binding that would require a durable
cover. It doesn't have to have anything on the cover, just a plain
colour. We are looking at doing short runs of 20 to 30 at a time. The
book is currently used in high schools but only has a soft cover and
we are getting requests for a hard cover. The total number of pages
is 104 and it is printed on 28lb colour laser paper. We haven't had
any luck with companies that are willing to do a short run so we are
looking outside of T* now. Could you tell me what the cost would be
to bind a set of 20 books with a hard cover so it looks like a real
textbook?
D. A.
...I
am fundamentally a book restorer / hand-binder and my price per unit
(even after a quantity discount) will reflect this fact. Also, the
style of binding will be in keeping with hand-work, as opposed to
mass produced machine work.
Having said that, I could handle a
run of 20 - 30 units at one time ["turnaround" apx. 1 to 2
months from receipt of units]. The binding would be a "hollow-back"
case; quarter [spine only] cloth [blue binding cloth]; boards [ .066
millage assuming finished book does not exceed 8" in any
direction] would be paper [blue?, grey?] covered. The spine would be
reinforced (depending on whether it is squared or rounded) with
either stiff card or a strip of binding board. The price would
include a very short 2 or 3 word spine title, hot-stamped [gold or
black] onto the spine.
The above relates only to the external
cover and assumes the text block is received intact and ready for
"casing in".
If the text is in folded, unsewn /
unbacked signatures [folded sections], they can be hand-sewn and
backed - however, depending on the number of signatures, this could
at least double the final binding price.
Per unit cost (making
a lot of assumptions as to dimensions and nature of the text-block)
would be $*.00 (CND) each, plus shipping and handling. I will require
50% in advance of each lot.
I cannot, of course, commit myself
to this project before actually seeing the book in question. I would
be glad to render a single copy for the above stated price, for the
purpose of example.