The Restoration Of Leather Bindings [Hardcover]

Bernard C. Middleton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 2004

Fourth edition, revised and expanded from the 1998 edition. A welcome new addition in this book is a full-color section for the identification of leather and marbled papers. From the author of HISTORY OF ENGLISH CRAFT BOOKBINDING TECHNIQUE (also published by Oak Knoll & The British Library), this classic in the field of bookbinding is a practical guide to the restoration of leather bindings. Revised and expanded, this work reflects advances in techniques and materials, and contains current information on suppliers and related publications. The book has chapters concerning definition of terms, tools and materials, cleaning, removing the spine, resewing and alternatives; gluing, rounding and backing; headbanding, back lining, preparation of boards, rebacking, replacing the spine, repairing caps and outer joints, repairing caoutchoue bindings, repairing corners, blending new endpapers, straightening warped boards, rebinding pasteboards, salvaging old sides; staining, aging, tooling and refurbishing, recording repairs, and a section of selected reading. Alternative approaches are included for rebinding when the original covers have been lost or are beyond restoration, modern rebinding, and replication of original bindings by combining elements of both modern and historical binding techniques. Middleton's work is designed to be a comprehensive handbook for practitioner and student alike when formal training in restorative techniques are unavailable. Also included is an updated listing of binders' suppliers. With numerous photographs and line drawings. Co-published with The British Library.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Occasionally a reviewer is presented with a volume which he knows instantly from author and subject he is going to praise. The Restoration of Leather Bindings by Bernard Middleton is such a work. Middleton is pre-eminent as practitioner, demonstrator, and writer on this subject. Restoration is the authoritative work on leather binding repair. It should be required reading for anyone who owns or is responsible for the care of valuable leather binding. --Frank Broomhead

"The definitive work on the subject." --Robert Salisbury

Product Details

• Hardcover: 334 pages
• Publisher: Oak Knoll Press; 4th Revised & Expanded edition (February 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0712348476
• ISBN-13: 978-1584561194
• ASIN: 158456119X
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic!!, October 24, 2010

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Sotiris - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Restoration Of Leather Bindings (Hardcover)

In the world of book restoration, this book is a classic and for many of us is a bible. I regret I did not find the Spanish translation, since I am taking classes of restoration in Spanish and I would like to be a little more familiar with the jargon. It is very well detailed and beautifuly written.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bookbinding!!!, February 21, 2010

By 

Virginia Bonatt-bingham "Ginny" (Cape Cod, Mass) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Restoration Of Leather Bindings (Hardcover)

I bought this among others for my daughter. She decided that she wanted to get into bookbinding. During the summer, she worked at one of the big libraries in Philadelphis, PA doing for some hands-on learning. Now she is at the MIT library in Cambridge, MA doing the same thing. Nothing like the good old books.