What we do
With some before and after pictures
A guide to the sort of work that we can undertake. We can do other things as well – do ask if what you need is not here.
Binding and Rebinding
Binding can range from simple cloth to full leather and can include all the usual variations such as quarter leather (leather spine), half leather (leather spine and corners), with cloth or marbled paper sides. Journals can be bound up into permanent volumes. Leather and cloth are available in a wide range of styles and colours and we can obtain in many different marbled and decorative papers. If you would like to see samples of materials please ask.
A professional journal bound up into volumes making them easier to handle.
A late eighteenth century volume in a much worn library binding. This has been removed and replaced with a more suitable binding in quarter calf and marble boards.
A collection of unbound eighteenth century history pamphlets. These have repaired where necessary and bound in a simple quarter calf and marble boards.
Repair and Restoration
With repairs to older books we try to retain as much of the original binding as possible and where modern materials are used these are matched as closely as possible to the original.
Typical decorated cloth bindings from the late nineteenth century. Repaired retaining as much of the original material as possible.
A visitors book. Like so many books of this type this has been heavily used over years and then roughly repaired with various sticky tapes. These have now been removed, the pages re sewn and the cover cleaned and repaired.
Short Run Edition Binding
Small publishers and private presses sometimes have a requirement for the binding of' small quantities of books. We can work on runs of just one to one hundred. Such books can be bound a few at a time as they are required by the publisher.
Fine Bindings
These represent something very special. Each book is carefully selected for its content and quality of production, often it will be a private press book or a limited edition. It is then bound in the best available materials and the design of the binding is intended to reflect the content and the spirit of the book. The materials and techniques used include leather, handmade papers, inlaying and onlaying, gold tooling, moulding and many others. Each design is unique and is never repeated. We usually have a number of these books for sale. Alternatively we are happy to accept commissions for this type of work on clients' own books. In this case we would submit designs for approval before starting the work. Take a look at the Picture Gallery on this website to see some examples.
Slip Cases and Solander Cases
Some valuable books need extra protection in the form of boxes. Slip cases can provide this while the books are on the shelf. Solander cases are ideal for damaged or fragile books, and other items that are best left unbound. They can also be used for collecting together journals prior to binding into volumes or for keeping together documents that do not lend themselves to conventional binding.
click here for a guide to pricing