Basic Bookbinding (Paperback)

~ A. W. Lewis (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Modern, easy, inexpensive techniques (minimal equipment) for binding new books, rebinding old. Best elementary book. 261 illustrations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; New Dover Edition. edition (June 1, 1957)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486201694
• ISBN-13: 978-0486201696
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #136,824 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

193 of 194 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A simple but reliable and comprehensive reference, August 19, 2000

By	nat quintos (Palawan, Philippines) - See all my reviews

Basic Bookbinding may seem underwhelmingly dull in comparison to all the other books on bookbinding available today-no gorgeous vividly-colored photographs, no sophisticated page layouts, no selection of cute or thematic projects to work on once you've learned the techniques, no unconventional material, no gallery of artists' works...NO FUN, right? But I've been both an experimental and traditional bookbinder for 12 years, and I have yet to come across a book that covers the BASICS of the craft the way A.W.Lewis's does.

It is really important to master the nitty-gritty of the CRAFT...precision of measurement, the right stitches and knots, putting the skeleton of a book together so that you understand WHY/HOW it works, and KNOW it'll last a hundred years...and only THEN should one go off and explore the big "candystore" of fancy papers, funky found-object covers, and clever bindings. When I want inspiration, I leaf through yummy picture books like Shereen LaPlantz's COVER TO COVER, or Linda F.Kenzle's PAGES...but when I want to put an archival journal of medieval proportions together so that my great grandchildren can read it someday, I return to Basic Bookbinding. My respect for the great bookbindinders of the past is renewed by this very technical, unpretentious and stern manual.

If it's short on innovation, keep in mind that this Basic Binding book is a reprint of the 1952 edition! Learning from this book feels less like a weekend crafts class, and more like an apprenticeship with some terse old master.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear and instructive, September 4, 2001

By	"earthmamazon" (Coralville, IA United States) - See all my reviews

Gave nice clear instructions. Good graphics and explenations. I used it with my kids, and even they understood it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bookbinding Made Easy, July 26, 2008

By	Barry S. Nickelsberg (Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you want to learn basic bookbinding, this is a great book. It shows step-by-step exactly what to do and how to do it.