Medieval Bookbinding

The Middle Ages

Kai FayDecember 2, 2013

Materials: Wood-Quarter-sawn to resist warping-Type of wood varied by location -Oak in England

Materials: Leather-Soak skin and treat with lime-Scrape to remove hair-Treat to neutralize lime-Wash again-Tan or taw-Allow skin to dry-Soften and trim to desired thickness

Materials: Parchment and Vellum-Parchment: sheepskin-Vellum: calfskin-Process begins the same as making leather-Skins are dried on a frame, then pared and sanded to desired thickness

Sewing Structures-Kettle-stitch at head and tail-Sewing over tapes or cords-Packed or single

Anatomy of a Book

Catch Plate

Fore Edge

Head

Band(Sewing Support)

Tail

Spine

Endband

Carolingian Bindings (8th-12th c.)-Text block flush with cover boards-Herringbone sewing on double cords-Thick, unshaped boards-Lacing through edge of boards-Flat spine

Romanesque Bindings (mid 11th-late14th c.)-Text block flush with boards-Straight or packed sewing over split strap-Thick, unshaped boards-Lacing through edge of boards-Flat spine

Gothic Bindings (early 14th-17th c.)-Text block smaller than boards-Straight or packed sewing on cords-Thick, shaped boards-Laced over top of and through board after sewing-Rounded spine

Limp Bindings (14th-17th c.)-No boards-Single or multi-signature-Sometimes included rigid spine piece

Girdle Books-Frequently held religious texts-Leather at tail is left untrimmed-Exposed edge of board is covered with separate piece-Some books were later rebound as girdle books

Paper Repair

Further ReadingClemens, Raymond and Timothy Graham. Introduction

to Manuscript Studies. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2007.

Hébert, Henry. Work of the Hand. henryhebert.wordpress.com.

Szirmai, J. A. The Archaeology of Medieval Bookbinding. Brookfield: Ashgate, 1999.