From Paperback to Flat Hardback Bradel Binding
Just before I start work on commissions again, I decided that I should do a small practice to refresh my bookbinding skills after making boxes for almost 2 months.
I bought this reference book “The Archeology of Medieval Bookbinding” some years ago and have read some parts of it. I find it very annoying because the paperback is laminated and due to the humidity in Singapore, it has started to curve outwards. The lamination is peeling and the cover tends to get caught when I put it back into the shelf. I decided that it is time for it to get a makeover.
This paperback is commercially made, in the most economical way. The adhesive used is a heat-set adhesive that is thick and with most paperbacks, will eventually harden and break. After removing the paperback cover and the horrid adhesive, I started its rebinding process.
I used a flottage paper I made some years ago, and paired it with a very nice olive green paper. As with everything that I do, I try to find opportunities to learn something new with every book or box I make. For this, I decided to attempt making the made endbands using book cloth, and adding stripes by sewing silk threads on it. It turned out really beautiful once it was placed on the textblock. Finally I used an old green book cloth which I find very charming with its wear, and paired it with a linen canvas book cloth that has foxed. Due to the humidity of Singapore, a lot of my materials tend to suffer the fate of foxing, and usually the external surface that is exposed to the air often get affected. Instead of throwing them away, I decided to use these materials for myself. Since I know why it happens, and that it will not affect the integrity of the binding too much. Anyway, this binding is for myself, so if I am happy with it, that is all that matters.
